Evening star., 1924-11-05
TWO WOMEN CHOSEN TO GOVERN
STATES OF TEXAS and WYOMING
Mrs. Miriaa 4. Ferguson Wants Only One Term to
Vindica,e Husband-Mrs Nellie TayIoe Ross
Would Prove Feminine Ability.

| declares she intends to keep house"
for the State as she did for William
RoSS-practicing the homely virtues
of rigid economy, neatness, orderli-
ness and perfect efficiency.
1t was in Cheyenne, Wyo., when she
and her young husband, a struggling
young lawyer. were establishing
town, that Nellie Ross" csta blishcd
her reputation as the finest house
keeper in Cheyenne" And she has
been proud of that ever since.
Down in Texas, Mrs. Ferguson. tho
governor-elect. has como to he known
as Ma" but this. according to some
is n political misnomer.
PhySlcally,' says one who knows
her, she is attra ctive. Her face is;
bright and pretty, though saddencd by
long years of fighting to vindtcate the
Ferguson name. Her manner. at once
charming and gracious, is at the same
time stately, and one feels impeIlcd
to address her-not in the campaign
vernacular as Ma but as Madame. -
Mrs. Ferguson is we'll equipped,
mentally and physically, for sue
a plantation in Bell County, Tex,
splendidiy educated by prosperous
parents, taught first by governess,
and later graduated at Baylor Col
tfeGe for Girls, at Bolton, Tex.
Husband Enters Politics.
Her husband. the former governor.
like Mrs. Ross husband. was also a
lawyer. He began to prosper with
the aid of his wife's resources and
soon attained Il millionaire rating 1t
was at this juneture that he launched d
into politics, against her advice.
Successful from the start. Ferguson
triumphed over worthy opponents in
the race for governor. In time he
became enhroled with the Legisla-
ture over educational appropriations.
He insisted in reducing allotments
for the higher institutions of learn
ing, which drew the fire of former
university students.
In return Ferguson opened an at
tack on the institutions and that was
the beginning of his downfall Ulti-
mately he was removed from office
because of his personal financial
transactions with brewers
Mrs. Ferguson urged her husband to
take his case before the people But
time after time he was repudiated by
them when he offered himself for
high office. Eventually the State
Democratic executive committee re-
fused to put his name on the ballot
any longer-the stain of Impeachment
had deprived him Of citizenship, they
told him. Whereupon, the name of
Mrs. Ferguson was substituted, and
by 100000 votes she was nominated
over the Ku klux klan candidate.
In her campaign Mrs. Ferguson
often appeared at rallies when the
women supporting her wore sun
bonnets and shouted their battle cry.
Me for Ma" Several times she made
II n L.
however. she called forward her hus-
band. after speaking a few words,
explaining that Jim will talk for
me-"
Mrs. Ferguson is not a politician,
but she says she Is anti-ku klux.
Her husband is the original foe of
the Klan in Texas. He carried the
anti Ian banner in the fight against
Earl B. Mayfleld two years ago. The
Fergusons realize that their vindica-
tion is not all that attracted victory
to their side-the anti-klanners fol-
lowed Ma by tens of thousands.
One Term All She Wants.
IL told jim l was going to announce
that 1 liked his platform" says Mrs.
Ferguson. zone of the planks is
condemnation of the Klan. The plat
form tells how taxes can be reduced
and how the Government can be re-
stored to the hands of the people.
1 want to be governor for two years
and then / will not run again.
"Of course, ! will take Jfm's advice
some. but / intend to run the Office
just like | run the home. You know,
it takes a newly elected governor two
years to learn his position. / will
not have that handicap - Jim has
been governor before and he will
aid me.
Both of us know what Texas needs
and we intend to see that our be-
loved State gets it,"
The Fergusons have two daugh-
ters, one married and a resident of
Austin and the other unmarried and
bookkeeper at her fathers newspaper
Office.