Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1918-07-23
JAKE W0LTERS
CALLS BLUFF
OF FERGUSON
ORGANIZER OF TEXAS CAVALRY RE-
PLIES TO FERGUSON CRITICISM
OF HOBBY FOR APPOINTMENT
or A GERMAN AS BRIGADE
COMMANDER
COMPARES WAR RECORDS
Especial TO The Herald.l

IlouSluH, ltAdS, july -O.-J. II. NOlIeFS
today gave out the following statement
Il have consistently avoided any par
ticpaton in the pending political cam
paign. During last winter | made a state
ment through the public press that | would
not take any active part in politics during
the war and that | would vote for every
man in public office from the constable
in my precinct: to Morris Sheppard, in
clud.ng Governor Hobby.
This morning my attention was called
TO Il speech made by former Governor
Ferguson at Sherman in which he severe
~ criticized Governor Hobby for appoint
ing Jake WolterS, IA full hooded German
a. br gadier general of the Texas army,
and also for being introduced. to South
Texas audiences by senator +. &. Weniert
another full blooded German Mr.. Fer
guson Is then quoted a. saying, oh! itSI
a great crowd To be taking about loyalty,
amt it!'
1T j. a little remarkable that Mr.. Fer
guson did not make this criticism in South
Texas when he was speaking in counties
where American Germans reside. While he
was making hi speeches in south Texas
he was very careful not even say anything,
that could offend Germans. much less
American Germans. Ii j. also remark
ably strange that in his criticisms he Sc
men and only two aside from Judge Ru
delphi Kleberg Of Germanic extraction.
who mt the beginning of the war devoted
their time and effort to directing the at
tention Of peon'e in south Texas TO their
duties involved in the war. There are plen-
IN men in south Texas of Germanic blood
who are supporting Mr.. Ferguson. who
even 10 this good day have not in private
or in public declared their sympathy with
the United States government in this war.
Il think am well enough known TO the
people of Texas. including even those in
north Texas. and my position with refer
ence to this war is well enough known not
to require any reference e. my attitude.
But | realize that some people may be de
ceived. and owe II to myself and to Gov
ernor Hobby who appointed me brigadler
general to give the matter attention.
"Mv fathers father and mother came to
Texas from Germany in 1894. HIS father
served with General Sam Houston during
the war of independence for Texas. My
fathers Oldest brother fought n q pri-
vatc through the Mexican war Of 40 and
'46 under General Taylor My father en-
listed N the age Of IL in Greene'S brigade
and with that crganizat on served during
The entire evil war. In 1898 Jim Fergu-
son :Ni | were of the same age. ! had
wife and two little children. lie was an
unmarried man. We were both sound
phv,ieaily. left ny little family and
served thror.r the Saaitish war Jim Fer
gnscn STAYED home to make money.
"Ecvcrtre again to my ancestry. my
mothers father and mother left Ger
many N lS4S. my grandfather having
becn one of the revolutioniStS who foil
owed Carl Shertz. Ny father and mother
were both born in Austin County. Texas,
and 20 was !.
.When the war broke ont in Europe in
1911. | understood what ii meant. ! was
in sympathy with Belgium. France, Eng
land and Russia, because fully under
stocd that il was the beginning Of the day
for which the PruSsian war lords had
looked for the past 40 years. believed
then that the day would come when we
would have 10 Get into the war. thought
I'VE should enter If with England when little
Beloium was involved. When the president
az the United States in 1915 sought 10
awaken the country 10 the necessity of
nreparedneSS. | id what ] could to help
him When the United States entered the
1