Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-02-05
WHO IS This
WARDLAW IN
STATE RACE?
New Man Out for Gov
ernor Is Unknown
Quantity But May
Run Good Race
BY c. ID. WADE

Especial to The Herald)
AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 4.-What
weight will the Wardlaw-Fergnson
combination have in Texas politics
this year? That is the question be-
ing asked around over the state with
considerable frequency. This might
be a good time 10 anslyze h per-
sonalities and elements entering
into this political entente.
Louis Wardlaw, the Fort Worth
attorney who announced a couple of
weeks ago as a candidate for govern
or. is very much in the same stu
alton as Jim Ferguson was in Janu-
airy, 1914. He is a virtual unknown.
Evidently it is his hope and expec-
tation that he will run the same kind
of race and with the same result that
Ferguson did against Colonel Ball.
Unknown Quantity
Wardlaw comes into the political
arena like a bolt out Of a clear SKY.
He comes as an unknown quantity,
but as the champion OF the people
the common people-and the taxpay-
ers. He as a lawyer, farmer
and ~ranchman. He own fairly ex-
tensive ranch interests in Sutton
county and several farms in other
parts of the state.
Warclaw is the nearest prototype
to Abraham Lincoln that Texas poll
tics has ever produced. He has the
same lantern-jawed, rugged facial
characteristics and is even taller
than Lincoln was-probably six fee,
five or six inches. he Is from a lam
lily of rugged pioneering farmers, his
father, Newt Warolaw, having settled
in Runnels county on 2 small farm
near Ballinger nearly 40 years ago.
Wouldn't Be Hazed
This writer recalls vlvidly some OF
Louis Wardlaw's youthful! traits,
chief Of which was his logged deter
mination and fighting spirit. he took
his school work seriously and did MS
boyish chores around the farm with
less of the playful spirit than COM
monty seen in boys. When 10 or ~
years old he went TO A. 4 NJ. college,
bent on getting q training that would
fit him for scientific farming.
Some Of the upper classmen At the
college started in TO haze" this
serious-minded youngster from the
Sticks" but they failed TO count on
the force of his 200 pounds back Of a
~toil-hardened fist. Louis was not
able to stay in the college, but he
wasn't hazed. Incidentally, that
grand hazing fight changed his ca
reer from that OF farmer 10 lawyer.
Louis returned to Ballinger and be-
gan teaching a country school, spend
ing the evenings studying law. After
three or forr years OF this he was
admitted TO the practice Of law and
then he moved 10 Sonora to engage
in the legal profession He serveo
several terms as county judge Of
Sutton county, built up extensive
sheep and goat ranch interests and
finally, some 10 or II years ago,
moge1 to Fort Worth TO an enlarged
law practice.
Poor Time to Run
Wardlaw Is Z good business a
o sound thinker and a man Of ability.
II his political centure should be
successful, however, his biggest
handicap would be the same serious
ness that would not permit him 10
enter into the playful spirit of college
life. There has 10 be a lot Of give
and take in politics, . lot OF play, as il
were. And Louis has been too busy
all his life to play.
So much for personalities. Now
for the generalties and probabilities.
The conclusions must be, Of course,
based on the private opinion OF the
writer. in which some readers doubt
less viii disagree.
IL would seem TO this writer that
Mr.. Wardlaw has launched his candi-
dacy at the wrong time, if he hopes
to beat Dan Moody for reelection.
Neff, ColqUitt, Campbell, Lanham,
Sayers, ~Culberson, Hogg, Ross and
nearly all governors since recon
struction days served two full terms.
Jim Ferguson was elected for a sec.
ond term while VIII Hobby served
virtually two terms. The only ex-
ception TO that rule was Mrs. Fergu-
son who was elected not as a first
choice but TO defeat an organization
candidate.
Moody Can Win
Likewise, it could be said that
Moody was elected TO defeat a par
ticular candidate. but in Moody's adj
ministration there has been no scan
dial, no charges OF waste or graft.
Consequently il would seem a diff
cult matter for any candidate to beat
him IL he run for reelection, which
he is almost certain to do.
The candidacy of Wardlaw should
be welcomed by Moody, for il will
weaken the chances Of Senator r. A.
Stuart, also Of Fort Worth, and
Stuart might have been a fairly
strong contender AGAINST Moody.
Wardlaw. with the support which
Jim Ferguson viii give him. is not
TO be considered m inconsequential
candidate. Jim Ferguson doubtless
can throw 100000 votes his way, but
most OF these would have gone to
him arvw7y. were Ferguson 20 re-
main silent. But for every two votes
Jim Ferguson can deliver a candidate
his sr~~ort viii drive away at least
one. So il would seem that Govern
or Moody. in view Of the precedent
of more than 30 wears. shnuld have