Collections : [University of Michigan William L. Clements Library]

Blank labor contract to be filled in by workers binding themselves to William B. Whitefide for his assistance to emigrate to California. "Whereas we are desirous of leaving the lead Mines of Wisconsin & Illinois and being anxious to emigrate to the gold mines of California. And as we have no teams or Conveyance of any kind suitable to carry provisions from here to California and being entirely destitute of any money or means to purchase either… we have bound ourselves to William B. Whitefide for the use of a team & for provisions to use on the rout…" In return for the wagon, oxen or mules to pull it, and provisions, the signers agree to not quit Whitefide's "employment or leave him unless by the request of the said Whiefide until we comply with all of this Contract." Signers must also give Whitefide "half of all our labor profits monies & all matters of interest & every thing of every kind & nature that we possess or may make for the term of twelve months after our arrival in the gold mines of California.. and we do bind ourselves to use all reasonable industry & exertion and will devote our whole time & interest during that period to any employment that the said Whitefide may think most profitable and advantageous to his interest."

Asks for confirmation that he received his gift of a twenty-gauge pump action shotgun. Comments on rumors of a possible congressional investigation into himself, "...no Democratic leader need fear an investigation of me...I am willing to put up money to have myself investigated by Congress so that it can not be said that the investigation was not undertaken on account of the expense involved." Short comments on reading Sullivan's latest book [The Great Adventure at Washington, the Story of the Conference, 1922], bank investments in Europe, Harry New losing his re-nomination to the U.S. Senate, German reparations, and the reception of the Genoa Conference.