Evening star., 1925-01-04
BY MIRIAM FERGUSON.
GoyeYnor-EIect OF Texas.

7 7 was 20 vindicate my husbands
name that ] entered the CAM
paign for Governor of Texas.
l. Wives and mothers, satisfied at
home, may have wondered why ]
left a woman's natural household
world to tackle a mans job-the
biggest job in the largest State OF
the greatest country. II was not
because wanted fame or power.
Man suffrage had failed US; woman
suffrage was forced to assert itself as
the only means OF redeeming the
name Of Ferguson.
Seven years ago my husband was
untustly removed from office. The
stigma of his impeachment hung
over US. We We're determined to
vindicate our position in Texas And
the last campaign had forever closed
the doors Of justice TO Jim Ferguson
when political engineering restrained
him from placing his name on the
Democratic primary ticket.
] am a mother, Even Inore-a
grandmother. My bright-eyed little
grandson, whom I love better than
my own life. Will some day be a man.
I wanted TO give him the right to say,
II the finger OF scorn was ever point ted
at him for his grandfather's mis-
fortune, that in rebuke to that i'm
elected to ONCE by the great people
OF Texas. The good name OF my
children and my children's children
was at stake.
There is no incentive as strong
or As determined as mother love. The
eagle and her mate fight fearlessiy
for their young. Nature is the same
in mother-hearts The world over; II
knows no defeat and it dares every
thing.
Until the Supreme Court Of Texas
ruled my husbands name from the
ballot before the last primary, ! had
been happy and satisfied at home.
Though believer in woman suf-
frage. had voted only as a duty to
my state. Had not this supreme
crisis come, after Jim's unjust re-
movai from office-when all doors had
been closed to him, and no way re-
manned but for me TO take up the
burden and carry on-I would he at
home today as Miriam Ferguson, the
housewife. and there would be no
inauguration ahead for Ma" a
woman governor.
But there Is an intangible power
that seems to lead US on--whither,
we seldom know--and whether il is
fate or circumstances or destiny. IL
places us In strange positions and
thrusts upon us unlooked-for respon-
sfbllities. II rudely shakes US from
the daily routine that has become
our lives; 1t sends US down new roads
and urges US to new things. And
Suddenly a housewife found herself
face 20 face with a trick of this thing
we call destiny; II was question of
casting aside the peaceful, happy
situation OF a wife and mother, to
become a political candidate In q
battle that meant the vindicat!on OF
tho name OF this housewife. and of
her family.
There Is nothing unusual in a
woman's loyalty to her own. This
quality is natural, inborn; 1t is the
woman, What populated the West,
what built cities In the wilderness?
Was II not the courage of men--and
the faith and loyalty OF women7 Poll
itics Is the womans frontier today,
And the granting of woman suffrage
has not changed Woman's mission or
nature. II has only increased her
opportunities to better perform her
mission.
(; :. u ::
r AM not what could be termed a
new woman" Perhaps am more
than a trifie old-fashioned. have
always thought more OF woman's
duties than of her rights" be-
lieve that her first and most sacred
place Is at home, and that her duty
Is t6 be a good wife and a consolen-
tious mother, to perp1tuate the race,
TO do her share in the ordinary tasks
OF life, and to prepare children for
atmosphere OF wholesomeness at