for twenty years he was the foreign correspondent for the grand lodge of masons. he also represented the republican party at several conventions. in 1896 he attended the republican national convention in st. louis, missouri. as an influential person in the republican party, as well as having connections with the farmer's alliance, he helped to pass a bill in 1891 that led to the establishment of the agricultural and mechanical college for the colored race, which was later renamed north carolina agricultural and technical state university. in 1912 dudley, along with the help of the director of the agricultural division of the college, professor j.h. bluford, organized the farmers' union and co-operative society. this group helped local unions in each county of the state. the aim of the society, which was said to have raised the living standards of african american farms in the area, was "to discourage the credit and mortgage system among negro farmers in north carolina; to assist them in the buying and selling of products; to control methods of production and distribution of farm products; and to secure uniform prices."