Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-01-15
dan IS NOT
U.S.POLITICAL
SCENE
Visit of Governor To
Jackson Day Fete
Sans Signifi e,
Writer Declares
BY c. ID. Wade

Especial to The Herald.D
AUSTIN. Tex, Jan. 14.-If you
were an average country boy. born
and raised down in Williamson coun-
W and you were invited to a dinner
IN washington. where you would meet
. lot OF big-wigs you'd heard Of and
read about all the IS wears Of YOUR
20 90?
a lot Of politicians and few writers
nave been trying to make political
capital out of Dan Moody's attend
snce on the Jackson Day dinner. But
here's the underestimate story OF the
RIP. Dan just had a ~hankerinr to
90: And that's all there is to ID.
Dan Is very much OF q youngster,
Is politicians 20. This was his first
opportunity to attend a Jackson Day
dinner. When the last one was held
Four years ago, he was an obscure
clstrlct attorney. barely out OF his
t"enties, and couldn't have gotten an
invitation had he wanted one.
Moody Curious
The young governor has q per-
xectiy natural curiosity to see and
near such men as Glen Shaver, or
Need Of Missouri, Pomerene OF Ohio.
kitchie of Maryland, Walsh OF Moa-
n Noollen of Indiana. Robinson
o. Arkansas, Brennan of Illinois and
Mack Of New York. Most any Of the
rest of US, given the same opportun-
atty, would have jumped at it. Many
or these men we're prominent en- the
front page when Dan vas wearing
Lnnn 80 - l.
what they look like.
Dan probably had IN miad those
old gags about distance lending en-
chantment and familiarity breeding
contempt. He's been enchanted with
these figures Of nationwide import
znce for a good many years, and
probably he wanted to see IL q lit.i.
Familiarity wouldn't breed IN hin, a
lot of contempt for some OF them.
It's very likely that il will. Dan
doesn't drink. nor does he play
poker. IL he is permitted TO see all
the side issues Of a additionally con-
Quoted Jackson Day dinner he may
achieve all that familiarity IS sup
posed TO beget.
Another reason Dan vent was u
help Houston get the convention and
be there to make a welcoming s7cech
after Houston'S selection.
Not Politically Important
But Of political Importance Moody K
Washington trip has nothing. When
Texas picked Dan Moody for its gov
ernor II picked a levcl-headed young
ster who knows his limits. He know
that the democratic party is not 20
ing to select a virtually unknown
man from a srre-democratic state as
its candidate for vice PRECEDENT. The
boys seeking fayors at his hands may
think they had Dan kidded into pic.
turing himself presiding oyer the
United States senate. but they
haven't. They coRld save a lot al
breath by simply asking for the par
don or the appointment, or what il is
they want and eliminate the vice
president blah.
Moody has a pretty big job right
here in front of him. and most likely
be will devote himself to that job
II is getting himself reelected gov
ernor of Texas. Probably he will sue
coed. but he has no cinch. Dams
friends put an awfully heavy burden
on him two years ago and he viii
begin to feel its weight this spring
and summer.
Let's a~nalyze Moody carefully and
impartially. He is "A Young man OF
unimpeachable honesty and Of faI
more than average ability. But nc
Is not. and has never been the
super-man. the demi-god, some of his
friends tried to picture him two years
ago. Nor. he 4 said to his owl
credit. has he ever posed in that role
He has tried his level best to give
yexss a good administration.
Plans Thwsrted
Now. what of that administration
His enemies may claim he has made
some grevious mistakes. his friends
may claim for him many accomplish
ments. To q neutral observer II
would seem neither claim Is JUST
fled. Certainly there is no outstand-
ing error chargeable to Moody. nor
an outstanding achievement TO his
credit.
II is true that he advocated tax
highway. judicial, educational and
penitentiary reforms that would have
been highly beneficial. but IN some
instances the legislature and in 9th
ers the people thwarted his plans
along these lines. So it would seem
after a year in office. that Moody's
administration has been virtually 2
negative one. And to many people
this Is a satisfactory result, but not
TO Moody. himself.
With such a record behind him
Moody could not we'll afford to &c
chasing after a senatorial toga. con
S%eauently that possibility may he
eliminated. He would be in n rather
weak position If. after only two years
as attorney general and two as gov
rrnor. he sought Eearle Mayfield's
Cob. That aside from the fact that
ban probably has M ambition along
that line. He would rather finish
four years as governor Of Texas and
then retire tn a lucrative law prac-