Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-04-11
For Governor
THOMAS III. BALL.


IL has been n pleasure ~ III Herald
10 read and consider a paper prepared
and published by Mr.. Ferguson of Tenn
pie, giving his reasons for believing he
Is better fitted for the office of Governor
Of Texas than Colonel Rail-. Having read
and duly weighed the reasons The Her
aid remains unconyinccd. Not because
of fanatisism or partisan bias. but be-
cause the reasons are not of the Kind
that carry conviction Ia minds disposed
To reason I'm most public questions.
There il no prejudice here against Mr..
Ferguson. lie appears Ia he something
Ut a favorite among many of the best
leaders Of the anti faction. There must
be good reasons for that fayoritism-
reasons complimentary Ia him.
One reason he gives for his position l.
that he Is opposed Ia committing the
Democratic party so the principle If
prohibition. That il Ia say. his reason
for being IN anti Democrat is that he is
not a pro Democrat. Yet that il assum-
ing the whole contention. Ii is arguing
in a circle-what the logicians call beg
ging the question" He can hardly deny
TO the Democratic party the right Ia com
init itself Ia prohibition il a majority of
the party 81 decide. Otherwise there
could be no true Democracy in the party.
Whether IL shall adopt that or the oppo-
site policy in the issue between him and
other Democrats. He virtually says. II
believe the policy Of prohibition should
not be adopted by the Democrats. I've
cause I should dislike Ia see the Demo
Gratis adopt that policy" Not conincine
10 the man who may say. II believe the
party should adopt prohibition. because
/ should like Ia see the party adopt that
policy Neither argument il c%onvinc-
ing.
Another reason why Mr.. Ferguson will
make a better Governor than Colonel
Ball is that Mr.. Ferguson has spent the
last fifteen years AZ a private citizen in
the humber walks Of life. following the
same business vocations in which the
great mass Of our citizenship have been
and are yet engaged Therefore he will
be able 10 give the State the business al
ministration she - much needs. There
fore presumably h. will make n better
Governor han Coloy,el Ball.
This is the sort ~ reasoning that fools
"a great many good men. and enables
many good men Ia fool others. The
syllogistic form of argument is Obsolete.
mOre's the pity. and the use Of il seems
pedantic and affected. Yet Ia state Mr..
Ferguson's position in syllogistic form
IL To demonstrate the absurdity Of il.
Whoever for fifteen years has
been a private citizen. employed in
the same business a. the mass Of
citizens will be- able Ia give the State
the good business administration, as
Governor, which the State so much
needs"
Mr.. Ferguson has been employed
during the last fifteen years in the
amt business and vocations as the
mars If u citizens. Therefore Mr..
Ferguson will he able Ia give the
state the business administration.
as Governor. which the State so
: much needs.
Therefore Mr.. Ferguson will make
"a better Governor than Colonel Ball.
This Is said with perfect respect for
Mr.. Ferguson. but surely il does not fol.
low that the average man engaged in the
same business with a majority Of the
people will make a good Governor.
Nor docs il follow that a man with
professional training in the laws If the
country-or with special training along
certain business lines will make a poor
official in the office If Governor. LII To
minRle much in public affairs. il to be
efficient in the management Of compli.
Gated lines of business. which manage
mcnt involves u very wide knowledge of
the State and all Of its legal machinery,
including a knowledge If the courts and
lawyers. each of whom il a specialist in
some important line of business. is a dis.
qualification for an important Office. We
should quit talking about vocational
training in our schools and colleges.
When MIR. Ferguson states that be- has
specialized in nothing. knows no one
thing better than another. We fail Ia per
ceive In that statement Il reason why he
shall be better able than another Ia give
the state the business administration il
20 much needs.