I worked hard to help carry a bill through making any peace officer automatically lose his office whenever a lynching took place in his county. This bill passed but was declared unconstitutional by the supreme court. I was appointed by the speaker as a member of the visiting board for Prairie View State Normal. As a member of the committee on privileges and Election I single handed fought for a colored man elected from Brazoria county, N. H. Haller by name who had the nerve to contest the seat of a white man to whom the certificate of election had been awarded. After a long and bitter fight in which three times I carried in and presented a minority report we won and Haller was seated. This isn't the only case of its kind that I know of in this state. Haller of course had able legal talent to take care of his case. I voted for the purchase of the battle field of San Jacinto which is in Harris country about twenty miles below Houston. It was on this battlefield that Texas won her independence from Mexico in 1836. It is now a beautiful state park. For this action I was publicly thanked by the Daughters of the Republic. Respectfully (Signed) R. L. SMITH. The legislatures which I served in were the 23d and 24th. Charles A. Culberson, now U. S. senator was governor and our relations were very cordial. In 1902 I was tendered and accepted a position in the U. S. Marshal's office for the Eastern Dist. of Texas by Pres. Roosevelt. Held same until 1909. This was the most honorable and best paid federal position ever held by a Negro in Texas except that held by Hon. N. W. Cuney who was collector of the Post of Galveston. In 1915 I took charge of the Extension Service work for Negroes in Texas which I now hold. SOME NEGRO MEMBERS OF THE TENNESSEE LEGISLATURE DURING RECONSTRUCTION PERIOD AND AFTER[29] By Honorable J. C. Napier, of Nashville, Tenn., register of United States Treasury, May, 1917 Year Name County 1871-73 Sampson W. Keeble Davidson 1877-79 Thos. A. Sykes? Davidson 1879-81 S.A. McElwee? Haywood 1881-83 T. Frank Cassells Shelby J.F. Norris Shelby Thos. A. Sykes? Davidson S.A. McElwee? Haywood 1883-85 J.W. Boyd Weakley S.A. McElwee Haywood D.F. Rivers Fayette 1885-87 G.E. Evans Shelby W.A. Fields Shelby W.C. Hodge Shelby S.A. McElwee Haywood D.F. Rivers[30] Fayette 1887-89 1889-91 ---- Goodman Fayette 1891-93 1893-95 1895-97 J. M. H. Graham Montgomery