The Lexington advertiser., 1919-03-14
w. L. Pettus for
Supervisor District !

II will doubtless occasion some surprise
that w. L. Pettus has entered the race
for the supervisorship of District No. !.
He has acquired a reputation for attend
ing so strictly and assiduously to his own
business affairs and never meddling with
those of other people that it was not be-
lieved he had any ambition to serve in
public capacity But his announcement
will be in the nature of a pleasant and
agreeable surprise, as he is of just the
stamp of a man needed to manage the
affairs of the county in these critical
times and changing conditions. In the
easy-going times of some twenty-odd
years ago when cotton was practically
the sole crop and main dependence Of
the farmers of Holmes county, it was
probably permissible to let public mat
ters rock along in a free and unconcerned
manner. The demands and requirements
were comparatively few and the prob
lens confronting the members OF the
board of supervisors much less in number
and easier of solution than at present
Automobiles and trucks arc rapidly super
seding buggies and wagons and exact that
the public roads be in prime condition In
any and all kinds Of weather. To do
this requires the expenditure of stupen-
dous sums of money and in order to
provide the ways and means bond issues
are necessary. The changes in farm
methods have necessitated the creation OF
a number of new Offices, such as cattle
tick eradication agent, farm demonstra-
ton agent and home economics agent.
In order to keep the several departments
of the county government functioning
unhampered it is needful that ample
funds be supplied 1t will lrequire sound
Judgment and exceptional business
acumen to make the necessary provisions
for these purposes. There are limitations
upon the resources Of even the most opu-
lent counties in the world. Appropria-
tions cannot be made Unfortunately
without taking into consideration where
the funds are to come from and how they
are to be raised There are legal re-
strictions on the tax levy so as to pre-
vent confiscation, as well as provisions
limiting bonded indebtedness to within a
certain percentage Of the assessed valua-
ton of county or subdivision thereof
Members of the board Of supervisors
have these matters in charge. They
should be men who know the value of
dollar and have as much regard for
dollar belonging to the public as to
themselves. Mr.. Pettus readily comes
under this rubric or classification. He
has had to work hard early and late,
for the support of his family and him
self and for whatever property he has
acquired. He has learned the wholesome
lessons Of thrift and economy in the prac-
teal school, of "hard knocks" and ex-
perience. Economy is no synonym for
penuriousness or niggardliness. 1t means
the judicious expenditure of money for
needed purposes with an insistenee upon
Pettus is very progressive and heartily in
favor of anything that will give the
wheel of progress" added momentum
But at the same time he is unchangeably
opposed to extravaganza, or the expendi-
ture of single dollar of the taxpayers
money unless absolutely necessary. His
aim will be, if elected, to keep expendi-
lures at all times well within the orbit
of the resources and1 to maintain the
credit of the county intact and it's fnan-
cial integrity and reputation without
blemish Mr.. Pettus was born and reared
and has been a lifelong resident of
Holmes county and Beat /. His life is
an open book which all may read, without
finding tarnsh or stain. He has proven
an ideal and most useful citizen. He
has ever taken an active part and en-
thusastic interest in church and Sunday
school work and any cause designated
for the betterment of the county and its
superb citizenship. He has been true in
every relation of life, and has gladly as
sumed any duty or task placed upon him.