Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-27
MOODY IS ASSURED
OF GOvERNORSH|P
Gov. "Ma" Ferguson to Call
Session of Legislature
and Then Resign.

nv the Associated IftSS.
AUSTIN, Tex, July 27.---Dan
Moody, young Attorney general, has
forced the Fergusons Of Texas into
the first phase Of political eclipse
after several years in which they dom
mated the Lone star states Demo
cratic politics. Moody's vote I'm sat
uriay's primary. coupled with an an
nouncement yesterday by Gov. Miriam
A. Ferguson that she will resign from
office probably by November ], VIZ
tually assures his ascendancy to the
Governors chair next January.
With primary returns nearing com
pletion, Moody lacked a few votes OF
having a majority in the five-cornefed
Democratic gubernatorial nomination
race, but led Gov. Ferguson by more
than 10000 votes.
Lynch Davidson, third ranking can
didate who. like Moody, based his cam
paign on anti Fergusonism,' received
enough votes to cause Mrs. Ferguson
to decide she, did not care to continue
her campaign for reelection.
Run-off Not Necessary.
Gov. Ferguson's resignation will
conform to an agreement she had with
Moody that she would retire from the
race If he should lead her by one vote
and that he should withdraw IL she
led by $4,000 votes.
Her decision to resign also virtually
removed further interest in the cleo
ton returns. as a run-off primary will
not be necessary. Texas law provides
that unless candidate receives 81 per
cent OF the votes cast a second pri-
mary must he held.
simultaneously with the announce
ment of her resignation. Gov. Fergu-
son called special session Of the
Legislature for September 13, to con-
slider valuation of the nearly $780,
900 900 Texas road bonds held invalid
by the United States Supreme Court.
She also said she wished to give the
legislature an opportunity to investi-
gate any department of the state
Government it might wish.
Bonds Center Of Fight.
The road bonds were made the
center of attacks on the Ferguson adj
ministration by Moody and Davidson
who had demanded n special session
of the Legislature TO validate them.
Gov. Ferguson refused, saying 1t was
only political move.
Gov Ferguson's political career be-
gan in the Spring Of 1924. when the
State Supreme Court ruled that her
husband. James r.. Farmer Jim
Ferguson. was ineligible for the gov
ernorship because of his impeachment
in 1917 Ferguson then placed his
wife's name on the ballot and a win
dication" campaign followed i'm which
she was elected by a large majority.
The impeachment followed alleged
Irregularities in office including a
charge that he placed State funds in
his own bank.
Moody, who is 80 years old. is one
of the youngest men TO take the
Texas Democratic leadership. He was
born at Taylor, Williamson County,
in June, 1893. When he was Is his
father died and he became an cleo
trician's helper Money saved from his
wages enabled him TO attend Texas
University and in 1914 he began the
practice of law in Taylor.
Wife Aided Campaign.
Elected as Williamson County at
torney in 1920, he next was named
district attorney for Williamson and
Travis counties, where his fame in
prosecuting Texas f1ogging cases
swept him to the attorney general
ship two years ago. He soon had
arguments with the Fergusons, and
this Spring he announced his candt-
dacy for governor. He was married
in April to Miss Mildred Paxton,
daughter Of an Abiline, Tex, banker,
his wife taking an active part In his
present campaign.
The vote, with 245 of the 252 coun-
ties reporting, with IS complete, gave
Moody 366,954, Ferguson 252, 425 and
Davidson 110,113. Approximately
5000 votes were divided among the
other three candidates.
Moody's Republican opponent In
the November election will be Col.
H. Fl. Haines of Houston. All of the
incumbent II Democratic representa-
tives to Congress were reHominated,
az was Harry NJ. WurZbach, only Re-
publican Representative. A Demo
cratic run-off primary will be neces-
sary in the attorney generals and
State treasurer races.
simultaneously with her resigna-
ton announcement, which also carried
with 1t withdrawal from any possible
primary run-off with Moody, Gov.
ferguson called a special session of
the Legislature to meet September IL
to validate Texas district road bonds,
and to Investigate any department of
the State government that the Legis-
lature may see fit TO investigate"
Promised Special Session.
Mrs. Ferguson promised during the
campaign that she would call a special
session soon after the election.
The man who will succeed Mrs
Ferguson upon her resignation Is
Lieut.. Gov. Barry Miller. an attorney
of Dallas, and a Ferguson supporter
Miller was an opponent of Ferguson
during the impeachment trial Of 1917.
when James e. Ferguson was stripped
of his governorship by a vote OF the
state Senate and placed under tan
never to hold public office again In
Texas. But when Miller began his
campaign for lieutenant governor two
wears ago he found that he and the
Fereusons were fighting the Ku klux
Khan, and their political fortunes nat
urally joined.