The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-04-13
LIFE IF GENERAL LEROY POPE WALKER Work Will Soon Be Completed
 By Colonel Weeds REASONS FOR THE WORK General Walker Was a Member of the Confederate Cabinet Under Presi-
 dent Jefferson Davis-His
 Early Public Career.
REASONS FOR THE WORK

I understand you are writing?" was asked of Col Michael Woods today, He replied:
 The work upon the life which I un- dertook in earnest more than two ears ago, has been interrupted for several months, I regret to say, by my i'll health. But I am happy to be able to state that my health having been restored I am now devoting my whole time as assiduously as possible to its completion. I expect to be able to deliver the manuscript to the pub fishers within few weeks.
 Reasons for the Work.
 There are many reasons why tho life of General Walker should be writ ten. The lives of nearly all the other members of the cabinet of President Davis have already been published. At the present time Col John Calvin Reed. an author of well established reputa- lion, Is preparing the Life of Ger. Robert Toombs. the brilliant and able Georgian, who was appointed Secre- tary of State of the Confederate states the same day General Walker was ap- pointed Secretary of War.
 Walkers Services.
 "The early beginning of hostilit;es between the remnant of the old gov ernment and the new government, which sprang into existence almost like the twinkling of the eye, and the proportions the armies of the con- tending government suddenly reached brought the conduct of the affairs of the war department into constant dis cussion and gave that department a prominence beyond any oe the others. The burden of the gigantic struggle was upon the war department in a far larger degree than upon the others. The reputation which General Walker deserves for his conduct of the affairs Of the department during the most critical and important period of the existence of the government of the Confederate states has never been az corded him by the public. Misrepre- sentation, largely due to a misunder- standing of the facts, has been the cause of withholding from him the place in history which he fairly won by his watchful, faithful, laborious and most capable discharge of the duties of that responsible office. For tunately, the official records have been preserved in a very large degree ard are accessible and are being amply used In my work.
 Early Public Career.
 General Walker early entered the public service of Alabama. His first office was brigadier general of militia which he held just after his maturity. He was representative from Lawrence county in 1S43 and 1844. In 1847 he represented Lauderdale county, having removed to that county in the mean time, and was chosen speaker of the house. He was reelected, both as representative and speaker In 1S49.
 He was elected circuit judge in 1850, the first election of judges by the peo- pie. He resigned the judgeship in 1853, and was elected representative in the legislature when he inaugurated the movement in Iavor of state aid to a railroad company, connecting the navi- gable waters of Mobile bay and the Tennessee river by the introduction of a resolution instructing the committee on internal Improvements to inquire into it's expediency, and should 1t be deemed expedient to report some plan having this object in view.
 General Walker opened the discus- sion to a crowded lobby and gallery and full house of attentive memb srs in their places, in speech of very great ability. The discussion was con- tinued by Messrs. J. E. Belser D. C. T. pbr ria Dar Uyc1 1lra Judge, John Cochran, J. L. M. Curry, Joshua L. Martin, A. B. Mack and others, constituting an army of talent seldom exhibited upon any one ques- tion, at any session of the legis'a- ture.
 Comprehensiveness of Walkers Plans.
 MT. Buffers appreciation of Secre- tary Benjamin's care and industry in attending to mere details of the de- partment work will be contrasted with the comprehensive policy of Genera; Walker which embraced the raising and equipping of large armies to repel the invaders of our country which re- suited in the early creation. as General '1orgas reported in his first report "almost literally out of the ground foundries and rolling mills at Selma, Rich mond, Atlanta and Macon; smelt- ing works at Petersburg, chemical works at Charlotte, N. C.; a powder mill far superior to any in the United States and unsurpassed by any across the ocean, chain of arsenals, armor- les, and laboratories equal in their ca pacityes and their Improved appoint Inents to the best of those in the United States, stretching link by link from Virginia to Alabama"
 The motive of General Walker'z resignation as Secretary of War will be shown by the official correspond ence between him and President Dav,s at the time and by contemporai-eols proceedings of the Provisional Con- lress. This incident has been most cruelty perverted by historians and writers.
 Later Career.
 General Walkers part in the presi- dentiai campaigns of 1868 and 1876 will be dealt with. His large acquaintance with the leading politicians and scho'- ars of New England. New York, Penn sylvania and other north ern states, will be discussed. His action at Chicago 5S delegate to the national demo cratic convention in 1884 and the re- suits, as viewed by MT. Samuel J. Ran- dall and such leaders, which l state from personal knowledge. will be treated. President Clevelands ap- pointment of General Walkers son as examiner of pensions A New York city, and incidents attending 1t will be noted. Particular attention will pc given to General Walkers efficient and valuable work as president of our constitutional convention of 1875. Ip-