The Washington times., 1925-01-21
MA FERGUSON
TO RUN STATE
LIKEFAM|LY
Strict Economy to Be Watch
word of Her Administra-
ton as Governor
BY KENNETH CLARK,
International News Service.

AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. v21.-Gover-
nor Miriam A. ma" Ferguson is
going to run the State of Texas
during the next two years as she
would manage q family.
Ana she has some pretty def
mite and concrete ideas as to how
family, as well as State, should
be properly governed.
Economy of the strictest sort is
to- be the outstanding guide and
watchword of her administration,
Governor Ferguson told Interna-
tional News Service, in her first in
terVleW since ascending to the
chief executiveship of Texas.
Governor Fergushn talks freely,
and with all the ease and conf
dence of any business man when
she is in the privacy Of her home
or office. She showed none of the
nervousness or stage fright that
made the reading of her inaugural
address scarcely audible to the
throng that witnessed her inau-
guration.
Is a Grandmother.
Mrs. Ferguson-it is hard to think
or her as governors the mother OF
two daughters, and a grandmother.
She has always been known as a
home lady, never seeking the social
life OF the country club, for in
stance, or never before venturing
into politics.
''I hold it to be the first duty of
all governors to guard as jealousy
as il it were their own, the money
entrusted to their care by the
people," she declared.
frINw
can achieve, feel, is the reduction
Of taxes, relieving the burden from
the people. This is my chief aim.
"Other things which must be
done, include reformation Of prisons
and putting them on a paying and
humane basis.
And equally as important as
all these, / want. to extend edu-
cational facilities to evrey nook and
corner of the State. Every govern
or should seek that goal.
1T is to be the little red school
house, back in the woods and the
| mountains to which we should de-
vote our greatest efforts.
To Protect Outside Capital.
"I believe in encouraging and
protecting the investment of out
side capital in Texas. This means
| the opening up of the resources
/ Of the State to all the people"
| She opposes the Federal child
| labor amendment, not upon moral
ground, but because. she feels the
| question of regulating the labor
Of children should be left. to the
| States.
| "Within the State / shall do
everything / can to prevent the
abuse and exploitation Of children
in industry she said.
Prohibition enforcement thus far,
in her opinion, has been rather a
failure.
1.-THE people themselves are to
blame for this. They are to blame
for the murder and lawlessness
generally all over the country,
she added. IF the people will set
the example and politicians will
practice what they preach, the
question Of enforcement Of the law
will be solved. Until that time
all the troops and police and dry
agents in the world cannot sue
cessfully enforce the law"
In this connection, Governor Fer
euson said she planned shortly to
summon a conference of all en-
forcing officers in the State TO
work out a program for checking
lawlessness.
The political field is wide open
for women, she said.
IT do not expect women to come
in at once and capture all the
higher Offices" she declared. but
now the barriers are down, with a
little more experience, a little more
training, q little more education,
women soon will rank with men IN
I Federal and State office holding"
just Like a Family.
Mrs. Ferguson has way Of re-
fleeing before she utters a SEN
tence.
"You know" she added, after a
pause. running a government, after
all, is like running a family; Just
a little common sense; a little team
work, lot of patience, a little give
and-take on all sides, and all will
come out we'll. We must help and
guide and nurse the weak and check
the strong"