Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-04-07

This weeks paper carries the card
Of Claude Smith, who is a candidate.
for county attorney of this county,
subject to the action of the voters at
the Democratic primary August first.
Claude is young man of ability and
Thorough training, with the necessary
backbone to back up his principles
and judgment, and is worthy of con-
sideration. He makes his own state
ment, which is as follows
To the voters of Bryan County :
/ take this means of announcing to
the voters Of Bryan County that I am
candidate for the Democratic nom
ination for the office of County Attor-
ney of Bryan County, Oklahoma, sub
iect to the action OF the Democratic
Primary election to be held on the
/ st day of August, 1915.
In offering myself as a candidate,
and in asking for your support and
influence in the campaign, l do so
with the full knowledge of the fact
that the great majority of Democrat
ic voters desire and demand some in
formation regarding the personal his
tory and qualifications of any person
who seeks to be elected to a public
office. And in view of that fact
deem il proper at this time for me to
give you some information regarding
myself and my qualifications for the
office of County Attorney.
am the son of w. T. and Louvina
Smith. who reside at Caddo. Oklaho-
ma. My father came from Tennessee,
and my mother was born and raised
near old Mayhem. in Choctaw County.
near the Bryan County line. My
mothers maiden name was Bohan-
non. was born and raised in Bry-
an County and have lived in this
county all of my life. ] was born at
Jackson, miles east of Bennington,
on the 26th day of March, 1891,
When / was about one month old
my parents moved to Caddo, where
they have resided ever since. AS soon
as I was old enough 1 started to
school at Caddo, and continued as a
pupil of the public school there until
graduated in May, 1908. In Sep
tember of that year I entered the
Academic Department of Washing
ton and Lee University, Lexington
Virginia. / was a student of that de-
partment for two years and obtained
certificates in the study of Econom-
les and History. In the fall of 1910
1 entered the law department in the
same University. / was out of school
during a part of the year 1910 or
account of trouble with my eyes
But 1 re-entered Washington and
Lee in the fall of 1911 and resumed
the study of law. 1 continued tC
study law there until l graduated
with the degree OF Bachelor of Laws
in the spring of 1912 l immediate
ly returned to Caddo and engaged
in the practice of law. being admit
ted to practice in the Supreme Cour
of Oklahoma in June, 1913. / con
tinued the practice at Caddo unit
= september, 1914, when / entered thu
: Law Department of Yale University
at New Haven, Connecticut, to taxi
Il
= al Law and Criminal Law. re
= mained at Yale until January, 1915
! and in February, 1915, / moved Z,
I Durant, where engaged in tn,
e practice of law and where / hav
since resided, being at this time
member of the law firm of Smith 4
e Stinson. am a member OF the Pres
r byterian church. VA
/ If I am elected County Attorne
d it is my purpose to devote my ever
: energy to the affairs of the office
e and 1 promise to perform the dutie
S of a prosecutor fairly. honestly, eaI
S nestly, and vigorously, regardless q
t who a defendant may be or wha
o station in life he may occupy. Thi
d lis my conception of the duties Q
u the County Attorney, and shall d
" all in my power to capably and con
" scientiously carry out those dutie
It impartially and without fear or ia
n vor.
e 1t is not my purpose to make thi
d campaign on the demerits or lack Z
IS qualifications of any opponent. Th
e people should choose their officer
e on merit and qualifications alon'
e and If / am not fitted for the offiC
rs by reason of my own merits and m
q own qualifications. then am nj
e fitted for the office because of som
m demerit or lack of qualification O
the part of some other candidate.
Is / ask that you give my candidaC
ID your careful and thoughtful consi,
lie Grafton. ! hope to see every vott
f. personally before election day. Yol
of support and influence is earnesC
ID solicited and will be very greatly al
lie preciated. Respectfully,
n CLAUDE SMITI
Of