The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-04-25
TEXANS SOON TO
NOMINATE GOVERNOR
FERGUSON TO BE HOBBY'S
LEADING OPPONENT, is
FREELY ASSERTED.

Austin. Texas, April 25.-Nlta
the date for the primary election ~
Texas set ior July d, interest in the
race for the Democratic nomination
for governor has increased within
the last few weeks because of the
withdrawal Of two candidates as the
direct result OF prohibition laws en-
acted by the recent special session
of the legislature. Earle B. May
field, railroad commissioner, and At
torney General B. f. Looney have
announced their withdrawal since
the principal planks in their plat
forms-statewid prohibition-al-
ready have been enacted into law.
Gov. w. p. Hobby, James /. Fer
guson Of Temple, former governor,
and Henry Clark, member OF the
house of representatives from Erath
County, are seeking gubernatorial
honors. Political leaders say the
fight IS between the present COVER
nor and the former governor Gov
ernor Hobby became governor last
fall after Governor Ferguson was
impcached. Mr.. Ferguson is max
ing his campaign for the ayowed
purpose OF "yindication by the peo-
pie"
Hobby Claims Achievements.
Governor Hobby's campaign
which is getting under way will
point to achievements OF his admin
istration and the work accomplished
by the special session of the legisla-
turc which carried out the COVER
nor's program including enactment
OF the ten-mile zone bill around
camps of military instruction, vice
bills for the protection of soldiers in
Texas environments and also a meas
ure Of woman suffrage. Although
the governor did not suggest enact
ment of the statutory prohibition
bill, he signed it and his friends
point to it as one OF the commenda-
tory acts of his administration.
Since nomination in Texas Demo
cratic primaries amounts to election,
the chief interests in the political
contests to be finally settled next
November centers in the vote to be
polled July q.
The special session of the legisla-
ture enacted a majority primary bill
which makes it necessary for the
winning candidates at the primaries
to receive majority OF the votes
cast. If no candidate receives a ma
,jority a second primary will be held,
the fourth Saturday in August. The
one receiving the most votes in this
"run-oft' primary would be declared
the winner.
All political parties having candi-
dates must hold their primaries OH
the same day. The law permits coun-
ties which so elect to hold nominat-
ing conventions for county and pre-
'cinct Offices, instead of making the
nominations at the primary.
Woman Vote Unknown Quantity"
Since the women of Texas will be
permitted to vote in the July pri-
maries, what many politicians say is
an unknown quantity will be in
jected into the probable results. The
law requires the women to register
at least Is days before the primaries
are held. The total vote they will
poll is a matter of conjecture.
The majority primary bill pro-
vides that any person nominated at
primary must qualify to hold office
before the state executive commit
tee of any party can certify him as
the nominee to be voted on at the
general election. Many assert that
in the event former Governor Fer
guson should be nominated at the
primary his qualifications to hold OF
sce as & result OF his having been