The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-10
Woman Leaves Home To Enter
 Politics

her apron. and step, into the coveted chair of the sdsesnor of Texas--the first woman goyeppor. in the United States. Nor is ,iti3eSery woman who would, after wiping her hands on her apron for the last time, sigh as she was sworn in for the exalted office.
 To Mifiam Wallace Ferguson, wife fthe twice governor of Texas who seven years ago was inpeached and forbidden again to hald office in the state, has come this unique. distinc- tion. She has won the democratic nomination for governor-which is the equivalent of election in Texas. And, with engaging frankness, she admits : that she expects to sigh when she takes the oath of office and assumes the tremendous responsibilities of the posi- ton.
 For Miriam Ferguson, mother of two cbildren and, atg47, the grandmother of healthy grandson, aged four, had no burning ambition for the political spotlight. Miriam Ferguson is home woman, one of the old-fashioned kind of home women who continue to do, their own homework even after the men they have married are able and willing to provide thenmwith servants. She is college graduatei but she utili-. zesfher education more aid her helf-i made husband than fo} her own ad-' vaneement., 3s@
 When the Fergusons &ere married 25I years ago they were pSof. The young bride was ambitious and made many; sacrifices that he .mieht study law. He studied law and she cared for the home, effecting economies here and putting by savings there. At the same time she brought into the world and feared two splendid, girls.
 The Fefgusons prospered. The law business brought in rich returns. Acres
 were added to the original farms but still Miriam Ferguson did her own : housework and looked after her own chickens. Now and again she'd have girl to help, but for the most part Ma" Ferguson was typical farmers wife on a prosperous farm.
 When Ferguson was elected governor Mrs. Ferguson moved iSto the execu- tive mansion with sigM, but she held her position as first lady of the state with quiet dignity thatSsoon won for her many friends. She lad a staff of servants because her huk bands position and her own social responsibilities de- manded it, but seldom was the day that she failed, to slip into the kitchen to make favorite dish for her husband.
 After Ferguson was, impeached his wife was changed woman. Nothing could convince her that he was not the victim of dirty politics. and she sacri- feed her fortune as well as his own in the effort to yindicate the family name.! Even'the farm went, and dsthe Fergusons today are vindicated but poor.
 But it was. principle with Miriam Ferguson, and against principle noth- ing can stand, in her estimation. Some thing of what she felt is indicated in the fact that, because her husband was barred from running for office, she con- scented to-run for governor to vindieate the Ferguson name. 0nk the speakers platform at political meetings she looked strangely out of place.
 But Miriam Ferguson does not. do things by halves. She had entered the campaign and she meant to win it, so she tackled the problem in a typically feminine manner. Wherever she went to- speak she took her husband and her grandson, Ernest Nalle, just turned four years. After a few words con corning herself and her grandson, she would introduce her husband, and he would make the political address. The few words she spoke, however, were great vote getters.
 Mothers she would cry to the feminine half of the electorate "Moth- CTS, love my chiIdref just as you lov, yours. There sit srdy little bright eyed grandson that I love dearer than life itself. Some of these days he will grow up and it may be he will want to run for office and serve his country. If he does run for office and some one should point at him the finger of scOrn and say your grandfather was im- peached by the senate of Texas, want that grandson to be able to say, Yes, and as a rebuke to that senate which denied my grandfather the right to go to the people, my grandmother was elected governor by the people of Texas the first woman governor in the world.'"
 That's the kind of argument that could get women's votes.
 And when sch enters the executive mansion to face the strife of politics and take up the burden of state du- ties, she'll do it with a sigh; not that she would shirk the graver responsi- bility, but because her heart is not in. such things, for Miriam Ferguson is an old-fashioned housewife and she is hippiest in the kitchen or in the side yard feeding her chickens.