The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1943-07-01
Wood-Lodner Fight On

Last week we reprinted in this column an editorial
which appeared in a recent edition of The Prentlss Head
light entitled: Give Another Democrat a Chance" It's
subject matter briefly alluded to Mr.. Walker Woods first
campaign for Secretary of State in which he showered the
state with leaflets, cards, posters, ETC., entitled Give An
other Man a Chance" The man to whom Mr.. Wood re-
ferred, the incumbent in office at that time, was Hon. Joe
Power and he had the office of Secretary OF State then
about as long as Mr.. Wood has held it now.
Mr.. Wood evidently took offense in our reprlntlng
the editorial which appeared in the Prentiss paper. This
week he writes us:
Dear Miss Brannon:
Inotice in the Lexington Advertiser and the
Durant News, of which you appear to be the
publisher, an editorial copied from the Prentiss
Headlight of Prentiss, Mississippi.
enclose my reply to the editorial and will
expect you to publish it, as provided by the Cor
rupt Practices Act under Section 11-Sub-Sec-
ton LIB.
enclose a copy of The Corrupt Practices
Act. Expect as prominent space in your papers
as the editorial occupied as the law requires.
Very Truly yours,
WALKER WOOD.
We are only too glad to give Mr.. Wood the same
space we gave Mr.. Ladner to state his case. The clipping
he sends us is a copy of his reply to the publisher of the
Prentiss Headlight. Here it is:
Dear Mr.. Publisher:
In your issue of May 6 you published an edi-
torial in which you refer to a campaign l made
in 1923. At that time the late JOS. w. Power had
held the Secretary of States office approx
mately % years. / urged the voters to put him
out and put ne in, and by a vote of Fl 900 ma
jOrity against me the people, in no uncertain
terms, told me that they were able to select
their officers on their official records, and /
have not said anything about long term in office
since.
In your editorial the impression is con-
veyed that all the services rendered by my OBJ
ponent to the taxpayers were a 4-year term in
the legislature, 3 years and 3 months as Secre-
tary of the State Budget Commission and 2
year term as Clerk of the House of Representa-
tives. But the record shows he taught school 8
years, and his wife taught school 3 years and
8 months. Hence the taxpayers have been con-
%tributing to his prosperity and happiness for
FL years.
If the Democratic voters of the state have
made a mistake in keeping me in office, my OPP
ponent certainly can not justify a plea ITO Give
Another Democrat a Chance" He has been taken
care of very nicely.
When my present term expires | will have
served as Secretary of State II years 8 n months,
and a years in the legislature, total Il years and
8 months.
Wise men change their minds, fools never
do" Experience has taught me an official who
serves the people faithfully several years should
be commended, instead of condemned, and when
the people underwrite him with well done thou
good and faithful servant" it is a just tribute.
The office l hold belongs to the people, and
if they want to continue a faithful servant in
office to look after their interests, it is certainly
their right to do so. Your quarrel should be with
the voters-they select the officers.
Remember in 1923 when l labored under the
delusion that they should give another Demo-
crat a chance 1000 voters said to me What
fools we mortals be-"
Yours very truly,
WALKER %