Evening star., 1924-08-28
BY MARSHALL MONROE.

Pioneer stock is back Of Miriam
Ferguson. familiarly and affection
ately known as Ma" just nominated
for governor of Texas. And the
pioneer spirit is in herself. for she
has blazed trail that not many
years ago would have seemed i'm
possible; she will go down in history
as the first woman to be seriously
considered for one of the highest
positions in the gift Of the American
people, that of chief executive of a
mighty State.
II any one opposed to women in
politics were to tell Ma Ferguson,
In that overworked slogan of former
days. that "woman's place is in the
home" she would agree whole
heartedly. But she would probably
add that woman's home is her castle.
and not her prison; and she could.
If she cared to. show the home she
has made for her husband and
daughters, which is a home in the
fullest sense. as more eloquent than
argument that broader interest is
not death to domesticity.
Has Little Grandson.
For Ma Ferguson is essentially
domesticated. She is. primarily a
mother and a wife: grandmother
too. for the little son of her daughter
d
very large place in her heart. She
Is not a politician. Indeed, her in
terest in politics arises largely from
those other interests With children
of her own, she wants the we'll
being of other children. The perfect
ing of State schools is one of the
aims dearest to her.
Ma Ferguson's home" is about
| l,S00 acres of land. as we'll as a
building to dwell in. The building
! to dwell in is in Temple: the farm
| land is in the adjoining country.
| There are eleven tenants who culti-
vate it. Ma Ferguson knows and
| dearly loves every inch of it. She is
| something Of an authority on every
aspect of it. She can discuss the con-
| dition of the cotton crops with the
farmers roundabout as intelligently
| as any of them. She is very proud
! of the exceptional flock of chick ems
| on the farm; and she loves nothing
| better than to visit the place on the
| hill" where they flourish, fifteen hun
| dred strong. She likes to take a pan
| of feed. and watch them skurry from
| bush and underground at her call.
She recognizes and delights in their
good points with the skill Of an
| expert.
Personally Tours Ranch.
| The Ferguson homestead is located
| on Little River. in one of the most
| picturesque sections of Bell County.
| 1t is made up of rolling country.
| with here and there a level field. 1t
| is black land. in the heart of the
| cotton country of the State.
Every acre of it; every knoll and
! every creek that runs through it, all
| Of it is familiar to Mrs. Ferguson.
! AS she makes her frequent journeys
round she stops at the various tenan
| farmers houses to talk with the
women of the place, discuss their
problems with them, and what is
most striking in 1T all, she seems to
know their major interests with a
thoroughness that is surprising.
There is none of the politician about
her greetings. There is a simple sin
| cerity about her that unwaverinsly
| hits the mark.
| And the whole family is like that.
| There is none of the aloofnesS that
might perhaps be expected. The two
daughters have been greatly interest
ed in their mothers campaign, but it
has not affected their sense of pro-
portion. Miss Dorrance Ferguson,