Evening star., 1924-08-24
$4,000 LEAD SHOWS
GOVERN0RSH|P WON
BY MRS. FERGUSON
Texas Election Bureau Fore
casts Nomination Over
Robertson, KIan Entry.
627,4t5 VOTES COUNTED;
100000 BELIEVED CAST
Woman Denounced Ku Klux; Ran
to Vindicate Husband, Ousted
Executive.
BY the Associated Press
nATT AC A,,~rk q

By the Associated Press.
DALLAS, August "a (Sunday).-Mrs
Miriam A. Ferguson, the first woman
candidate for governor of Texas, ap-
parently was assured of the Demo
cratic nomination, the Texas Election
Bureau announced at midnight.
The tabulation at 1880 am. included
incompleted returns from 223-counties
and complete from 4s of 252 in the
tate. Total tabulated vote was 627,-
415. Mrs. Ferguson had 353,136 and
Felix Robertson, the. Khan candidate
e74,27s. Election Bureau statisticians
estimated the total vote would be
from $4,000 to 100000. Many of the
precincts unheard from were said to
be in rural districts where Mrs. Fer
guson was expected to show a lead.
Mrs. Ferguson is the wife OF former
Gov. James E. Ferguson, who was
impeached.
The Republicans nominated r. p.
Lee OF Houston for governor in the
State convention August IS. Lee
however, wired Ferguson that he
hoped Mrs. Ferguson would be the
Democratic nominee. and II she was
he would regard his nomination as
an empty nonor.
This aroused Texas Republicans
and Lee wired that he would de-
cline the nomination. Miss Elizabeth
Baker. the Republican nominee for
State superintendent of public in
struction, also withdrew saying she
favored Mrs. Ferguson. The Repub-
licans expect to name candidates for
these Offices next week.
Reports were that the voting was
heavy and might reach a total Of
100000. The lines on the klan and
anti-Kan issues were drawn sharply.
Returns for other State offices,
w. c. Edwards was leading for nomi-
nation for lieutenant governor. Dan
Moody for attorney general, S. H
Terrell for controller, Clarence Gill
more for railroad commissioner for
Six years and Lon Smith for COM
missioner for four years. and C. M.
Cureton for chief justice Of the State
supreme court. Edwards opponent
declared Edwards had the support of
the Ku klux klan, but Edwards de-
MED he was a klansman. Moody
prosecuted several fiogging cases a
year or so ago and was considered
Anti-klan.
Khan Was Made Issue.
Robertson admitted the khan sup
port. and while Ferguson. who con.
Quoted the campaign for his wife, ar.
raigned the khan in virtually every
speech he made. Robertson denied the
klan was a vital issue, declaring II
was a smoke screen laid down to hide
what he said was, the real Issue OF
prohibition. a-.......
Voting started early yesterday with a
rush, especially in the larger north
Texas cities, and continued steadily all
lav Roth Sidec p,adA ayerv efforf ~
master their maximum vote in a su-
preme effort to control Texas politics
and decide the khan and anti-klau
strength.
That a woman was the anti-klan
candidate and possibly the Demo
cratic nominee for governor of Texas
was due to the impeachment Of Gov
Ferguson about seven years ago in
his second term. He was accused OF
30 handling state funds that he de-
rived personal gains and with trying
to have members of the faculty OF
the state university discharged.
vindication Is Sought.
When impeached the state senate
passed judgment he should never
again hold public office in the state
In each campaign since he has sought
vfndication. Unable to get his name
on the ballot as a candidate FOL
governor, Mrs. Ferguson became the
candidate, but her husband, the for
mer governor, conducted her cam
paign and made her speeches Ir
return he bore the brunt of the at.
tack OF Mrs. Ferguson's opponents.
In telling why she was candidate
Mrs. Ferguson said it was in an e1or
to gain an answer to her prayers
that the name Of her husband, hel
own name and that of their childrer
and grandchildren be vindicated o
the stigma of the impeachment judg'
ment. She said she did not seek re-
venge, and would not be a candidate
again IL vindicated.
In the elimination primary ther'
were nine candidates for governor
Mrs Ferguson and Robertson being
the survivors. Immediately after.
ward, most Of the candidates defeated
ed in that primary threw their sup
port to Mrs. Ferguson and several o
them were anti-klan. Some of tn
Senator'S who voted for Gov. Fergu
sons impeachment were active In tn
campaign closed today. and not onl!
announced they supported Mrs Fer
Euson, but spoke in her behalf
Among those active for her was NJ.
Crane, former attorney general, VIII
prosecuted the impeachment charge
against her husband.
Democratic nomination in Texa.
usually has been equivalent to elec
ton. Democrats tonight declared I
would be the same this year. How
ever, the Republicans do not conced
that to be the case this year and ex
pect to complete plans at Houston
next week, when they will name
candidate. to oppose the Democratic
nominee.
MRS. FERGUSON CONFIDENT
TEMPLE, Tex, August 23.-Mrs
Miriam A. Ferguson, woman Demo
cratic candidate for governor, thanket
those who supported her in a state
ment issued at o'clock tonight ans
expressed confidence that she will hav,
a majority over her opponent, Felix ]
Robertson. She said:
Upon the face of returns from 15'
counties. incomplete, 1T appears tina
my majority, in round numbers. Il
$4,000, and 216,o00 votes reported. A
this ratio my majority will be $4,000
and am sure 1t will &c, far above tina
when all rural districts are heard from
! am deeply grateful to the people o.
, the State for this expression of conf
J dence, and hope, by the help of God
to make myself worthy of the trust.
aVUhAn ronrn cnySI Al - rAtnrnu po II