The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-28
Wet Executive Whose Election
Was Fought For by Big Liz
uor Interests in Trouble
IMPEACHMENT TO
BE CONSIDERED SOON
Ferguson Blocked Dry Amend
ment and Fought All Tenn
perance Legislation - he
STOOD by His Friends

Austin, Tex. July 27.-Governor
flames f. Ferguson was today in
dicted by the grand jury OF this
county on nine counts, seven charg-
ing misapplication of public funds.
one of EN- bezzlement. and one of d.
version of public funds He gave
bond in the sum of S. 600 in one case
and $4,000 IN each Of the other cases.
An indictment was also returned in
-FOUR counts against Secretary Of state
Bartlett. charging misapplication Of
public funds; also against c. O Astin,,
Estate commissioner of insurance and
banking, on four counts for alleged
violation OF the state banking laws
The Indictment of Governor Ferguson
Is a elimination OF "a long series OF
charges that have been publicly made
| against him during the last several
] months
The house Of representatives has
been convened TO meet next Nednes~
! day to discuss bringing Impeachment
proceedings against him.
4 Farmers. Friend"
TIE indictment Of the wet COVER
Nor comes as tho elimination Of the
! hnferest political frhts in the hts
| tory Of the state Ferguson. who is
y banker an3 accumulated his capt
al iu r1akine small personal loans
~ te.zarts # cotton farms afteTward
es+srs .1~ the aeuch'er ~ largs
'r~ 8r Ger made his raofpaicn AS 4
e~are4 II the farmers declaring that
,te yNcre 81 thc soil we're not get
t~g % soi arc ssat from the ether In
farests or the stste He said he
.vauf4 enforce al the laws, but after
= q election announced ne would veto
s-s temperance legislation.
rast var rs crowd ny adroft
taat7r got control Of the officer
~ The sta-v Democratic convention
SEA ae~lared elected as national com
Y-ftt~e.-7ea r'a0 who il was after
w7ra shown hal minority ~ the
sslerateS Tho record. however, hav-
ing heen made by the accredited of
scers - the convention the national
e0fY7 fTYItteo deciiued ~ Interfere.
srafu Sfov@ Fine fteitnn Hand
49,, winter the question 81 submit
hing dry mend ment tn the state
cnnstttutin- WAS before the legisla- =
Iture. hut Ferguson and his allies sue
eAeded in preventing the passage OF
the resolution hv the house when
#onlv one vote was lacking ia tho
Unnecessary two-thirds While the house
was under call. in an effort to force
Ia anal vote. the man who introduced
fhe resolution disappeared" Every
sheriff In the state looked for him
for several DAYS before be was dis
lowered on fhe ranch Of one Of Fer
,.uson's friends.
Governor FERGUSON. from the hs-
rsArirg made il clear that he IN
teuded to use every prerogattve or his
|office to advance the political social
and financial interests Of his friends
This policy he consistently adhered
10 even To the extent Of interferin.
-,;,h tho MANAGEMENT Of the state
university. which is under the control
~ an independent hoard. Not get
ling sufficient degree Of submission
a his wishes. he vetoed all appro-
prtatious for the university
During the session of the lAgfsla :
Pure. an investigation Of his condnct
n Office was made. but the commit
eee held the charges not 1roven.
Amounts Involved,
The amounts involved in the alleged
nmbezzlements. diversion and nissan
nlications Of public funds in the
rrand fury indictments against Gov
ernor Ferguson total more than $40
400 No details have been made
public. =
Secretary OF State BARTLETT Is
charged under six indictments by the
rrand fury with the misapplication
~ public funds totalling nearly $780,
boo.
Governor Ferguson said late to-
night:
.Thfs Is the work OF nv political
enemies and ! hereby announce my
.elf ms a candidate for tho third term
s governor"
Governor Ferguson had Intended
q he a candidate for the United
atates senate.