The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-24
Texas Senate Has No Alterna-
tive as Impeachment Court.
Technically on Leniency Arises
in Ferguson Case.
EXECUTIVE GUILTY OF GRAFT
Ten of 21 Charges Sustained
Diverted State Funds.
Thus eliminates Spectacular
Rise, Labor to Governor.

Austin. Tex. Sept. PA new con-
troversy bad developed today over the
busting OF james f. Ferguson from
the Texas governorship.
The contest now in the senate sit
ting as "A high court of impeachment.
will be over the question of whether
the judgment shall contain a provis-
ion that Ferguson shall never again
hold public office. Some senators OBJ
ject to barring Ferguson from ever
again serving as a public official.
Others declare-while they would be
willing to grant him leniency-it
would be unconstitutional to GUST
Ferguson and not disbar him from
further office holding
The subcommittee will advise the
committee on civil jurisprudence to-
day that, under the Texas constitu
ton, the senate has no discretion be-
tween removal from office and dis
qualification from further holding of
office. This is expected to precipi-
tate a fight In the senate eliminating
final vote tomorrow at high noon, the
date fixed by the senate for pro-
nouncing the solemn judgment of the
high court Of Impeachment.
Paid $4,000 Personal Note.
Governor Fergusons trial in the
senate lasted three weeks. Late Sat-
urday by Vive Yoce vote the senate
sustained ten of the twenty-one
charges in the bill returned against
him BY the house committee of the
whole
The vote on the first article-that
he used $500 of state funds to settle
a personal c!,i:sati0n-was sufficient
to convict. A two-thirds vote was
necessary. The ballot was ayes. 81;
Guilty of Ten Charges.
Thu. cha rpeG which were ed
follow:
No. THAT he used $500 of Can
yon City normal insurance money in
the Temple State bank to pay
personal note.
No. THAT $4,000 of Canyon City
normal insurance money remained in
the Temple state bank more than a
year without drawing interest, but to
the profit Of the governor.
No 6-That he deposited so, 900 of
state money in the Temple bank and
profited therefrom
No. THAT he assisted in the de-
post Of $250.0OO of the state funds to
the credit of the Temple bank and
profited therefrom.
No. l1-That his refusal to tell who
loaned him 81 10000 in currency con-
stituted official misconduct.
No. l2-That he diverted from the
adJutant generals fund money paid in
Canyon City normal building in 1915.
No. 14-That he induced the eff
GERS of the Temple bank to lend him
money in excess of the legal limit al
tho he was sworn as governor to en-
force the law.
No. 16-That he sought to violate
the law by removing regents without
adequate cause.
No 19-That he sought to influence
Wilbur p. Allen, chairman of the
board of regents, by renting to him
a $4,000 bond.
Rose From Dock Iaborer
II was or a Sunday morning in
1914, while his wife was trying on a
new hat and gown preparatory to go
ing to church that James Edward
CJim) Ferguson OF Temple, decided to
seek the governorship of Texas He
was unknown outside Bell county and
he never had held political office, but
at the ensuing primary, running as a
Democrat, business man and an anti
prohibttionist, he won the nomination
from Col. Tom Ball by $4,000 votes.
Nomination was equivalent to election.
REELECTED Governor.
Last year he was reelected COVER
nor, declaring he would stick to his
prohibition policy. 1t was report
ed some time ago that he had his eyes
on place IN the United States senate.
Mr. Ferguson was born in Bell
county. August 81, 1871, the son of a
Methodist minister and confederate
soldier. He attended district school
until he was 6 when he left for the
west to make his fortune.
Started as RoustabOut
He toiled in the vineyards and grair
fields of California, labored as a
roustabout in a barb wire factory in
San Francisco, struggled as a lumber
5sck in Washington, became a team
eter and later worked as a helper ir