Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1914-04-22
METHODS OF THE OPPOSITION.

l regret mat al lhc very INCEPTION ol
the campaign IN officer aud an cx-officer
of the Farmers Union. IN violation al
what | believe to bc the object Of both
the associations which thcy represent,
undertook "a dictate Ia the farmers ui
Texas what their attitude should br ia fol
lowing their political conviction.
| was ia sympathy with the objects III
the old grange organization and the Far
mrrS Alliance. and am in sympathy with
the objects of the Farmers Union. but
two of these organizations injured their
usefulness and the Farmers Union will
cripple its mission il IL permits it,
agents 70 attempt 70 shape the political
course - It's members in regard a. party
l'r, or affiliations.
| have always been on friendly terms
with Mr.. Ferguson. and h. employed my
firm To- represent him in a case of some
importance ia our section. | will not al
low this campaign 10 degenerate into one
~ personalities. 81 far n | am concerned
but viii maintain il upul a plane worthy
the great office for which | am a randi.
late. the ideals for which | stand. aud
The character Of the support behind me.
{ Shall not hold Mr. Ferguson responsible
cor some of the low methods which are he.
ing escorted 10 TN some of his supporters,
ami which he cannot control III he would.
I shall. however. during the campaign,
assert the right "a discuss any measure
which he proposes. a. well a. any effort
upon his part To- create false issues i'm
ihiS contest.
III his opening speech III Blum. Mr.
Ferguson tied M the old anti oreaniza.
ion and the liquor interests behind
u, going further than Governor Culquitt.
who did sign the a:aO closing law and 9th
cr regulatory measures. declaring that
he. Ferguson would veto any liquor lcgis.
lation put 60 him lN the legislature and
strike il where the chicken gol the AK"
With this declaration. and his record of
ALWAYS fighting local aptiun in hi cudn.
a.. on prohibition in the State. ~ felt
sure that by Shaving in the race he could
head off a lineup ~ the luqor forces he
hind any candidate other than himself.
II Ia this power influence in Texas poll
ties he could add the tenant farmers la
this state and convince them that thrl
could hr made happy aud prosperous hy
settling down tn what he termed the "gnnd
I'D rule" for fifty wears ~ working 9th
or mer'> farms on shares and line M
enough tenant pros. h. hoped. With such
IA unnatural combination. t. win the race
ncploring the agitation Of the prohibition
question in hiS opening ,Irrrh M Blum
appealing a. farmers a. a class
made haste Ia the ciiic> Of San Antonio
and Houston whore The great brewery in
terc>i> uf Texas have their lair. and in
his specchr, there predicted that il prohi
hitiun carried. disaster would come 10
hose cities. He told them al san Antonio
HAT the stock Of the ,iuntcr hotel void
hc worth fifty cents On the dollar
tourists and health seekers would ceaS.
10 come IN Houston he proclaimed that
w. hig buildings had been erected by men
who had come from dr, territory 10 where
liquor was sold and they had better moi
Tom Ball Governor III they did q
wish Ia lessen all property values. This
vas the Kind If talk the br"veries and
he old anti organizations desired. and
while The Constructive Democrats were
engaged ia efforts TO unite upon some one