Texas Almanac, 1958-1959 Page: 72
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72 TEXAS ALMANAC-1958-1959
reluctance to assume any responsibility
in the bitter controversy. It carried by
145,530 to 141,441, but the following Leg-
islature failed to submit the question to
the people.
Colquitt's administration was notable
for its economy in state financial affairs,
reform in the penal system prompt steps
to protect the border along the Rio
Grande which was menaced by revolu-
tion and lack of stable government in
Mexico, and by passage of legislation of
permanent effect, including the first
eight-hour labor law, the first law regu-
lating number of hours of women labor-
ers, a child labor law, workmen's com-
pensation act, home rule act for cities of
more than 5,000 and certain judicial .re-
forms.
The Fergusons and Fergusonism.
Prohibition was again the leading issue
in the campaign of 1914 when James E.
Ferguson defeated Thomas H. Ball, 237,-
062 to 191,558, in the Democratic primary.
But Ferguson's personality and policies,
which came to be known as "Ferguson-
ism," became the issue before the end of
his administration (Jan. 19, 1915, to Aug.
25, 1917) and remained a leading issue min
Texas' politics until Mrs. Ferguson's de-
feat in the primaries of 1940, and final
retirement from public life.
Aside from his opposition to prohibi-
tion, Ferguson carried in his platform de-
mands for greater protection of farm ten-
ants against landlords, a state warehouse
system and certain other farm measures.
This platform, which was largely enacted
into law during his first administration,
though partly nullified by the courts
later, was the basis of Ferguson's con-
tinuing popularity among the tenant
farmers, who constituted through almost
twenty years of political activity the nu-
cleus of his widely recognized "vest-
pocket vote."
Ferguson was nominated for his second
term over Charles H. Morris by a vote
of 240,561 to 174,611, and elected. Shortly
after the beginning of his second term,
however, stiff opposition arose to Fergu-
son policies and impeachment charges
were preferred against him in a special
session, called by Governor Ferguson him-
self, in August, 1917. There were twenty-
one charges alleging misconduct. Tried
before the Senate in September, the Gov-
ernor was found guilty'on ten charges
and removed from office.
When Ferguson was removed from of-
fice, Lieut. Gov. William P. Hobby took
the chair. Hobby's administration (Aug.
25, 1917, to Jan. 18, 1921) continued
through the remainder of that term and
the following term to which Hobby was
elected. Although legally barred from
holding office, Ferguson ran against
Hobby in the primary of 1918, but was
defeated 461,479 to 217,012.
Political agitation over -the Ferguson
issue, however, was soon overshadowed
by war activities. Almost from the be-
ginning of participation of the United
States in World War I, in April, 1917,
Texas played a leading role in trainingmen for military service as well as in
civil affairs.
Texans in World War I
A strong Democratic state Texas and
Texans came into the limelight during
the memorable Wilson administration.
Col. E. M. House became known as the
trusted adviser of the President. Two
other Texans, Albert 8S. Burleson and
Thomas W. Gregory, held the Cabinet
positions of Postmaster General and At-
torney General, respectively. Another
man, a former Texan and former presi-
dent of the University of Texas, David F.
Houston, went from Missouri to serve,
first as Secretary of Agriculture and later
as Secretary of the Treasury.
More than 200,000 Texans saw service
during World War I. The mild winters
and dry climate of Texas brought to its
borders some of the principal training
camps of the nation, including Camp
Travis at San Antonio, Camp Bowie at
Fort Worth, Camp McArthur at Waco,
and Camp Logan at Houston. Texas was
also a center of training, for army avia-
tion, with Kelly Field at San Antonio,
Love Field at Dallas, Ellington Field at
Houston, and several other smaller fields.
The Thirty-sixth and Ninetieth, Texas di-
visions, saw service at the front and there
were several Texas companies in ie
Forty-second. Fort Sam Houston at San
Antonio and Fort Bliss at El Paso were
centers of military activity.
Under Governor Hobby's administration
the compulsory school law was strength-
ened, free textbooks for public schools
were provided, aid for rural schools was
increased and the general scholastic ap-
portionment was raised from $7.50 to
$14.50. The apportionment had never been
above $7.50 prior to Hobby's administra-
tion and the allotment of $14.50 set a new
standard for measurement of state sup-
port of schools. An act of Legislature,
upheld by the Supreme Court, made
Woman Suffrage legal. Texas Women
voted for the first time in 1918, prior to
adoption of the Nineteenth '(Woman
Suffrage) Amendment to the United
States Constitution.
Middle West Texas suffered one of the
most severe drouths in its history in 1917
and 1918, and Governor Hobby was in-
strumental in obtaining loans for the
farmers of this region, so that they might
prepare crops for the following years.
The laws establishing the State Board
of Control, the so-called "open' port law,"
aimed at violence in the longshoremen's
strike in port cities and the law establish-
ing a quarantine against pink bollworm
infested areas and providing funds to
pay farmers who were damaged, were
among the measures passed during the
Hobby administration.
A prohibition amendment to the State
Constitution was submitted by the Thirty-
sixth Legislature and adopted at an elec-
tion May24, 1919, in which the vote was
158,982 for and 130,907 against. In the
meantime, however, the national prohibi-
tion amendment had been submitted, and
it had been ratified by the Legislature of
this state, Feb. 28, 1918.
Gov. Pat M. Neff (Jan. 18, 1921, to Jan.
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Texas Almanac, 1958-1959, book, 1957; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth117139/m1/74/: accessed April 20, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.