Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-29
Special Dispatch to The Star.

OpCSidl OlspdlCl " Inc olhI.
AUSTIN. Tex, June 28.-Three is
| sues, two of national import, confront
Texas voters today as candidates in q
free-for-all race for governor swing
around the turn and prepare for the
final stretch and the Democratic pri-
mary in the last week of July Smith
and anti-Smith rivals and wet and dry
foes are joined in combat in the two
major issues.
The third issue, ever present in Lone
Star politics, centers on that stormy
figure of Texas elections, James E.
Ferguson, impeached as governor in
1917, but ruler through his wife from
1924 to 1925. Ferguson again is con-
tender, with Mrs. Ferguson as the
family entry, as the courts have barred
him from being a candidate. A fourth
issue, Of minor character, hinges on the
Khan.
Eighteen candidates are registered on
the Republican and Democratic primary
tickets. Thirteen Democrats-there
were IA until two weeks ago-and five
members of the Grand Old Party seek
to occupy the governors mansion at
Austin. Lynch Davidson, formerly a
lieutenant governor and many times
candidate for governor. withdrew from
the Democratic field recently.
q. .. p. Vote in September.
The five Republicans, none of whom
is conceded much of chance for vic
tory, will settle their differences in Sep
TENDER, after the Democratic run-off
election in August. Then there will be
the first general election in some so
years of Texas history, where general
elections usually are mere formalities.
DR.. George c. Butte, who was beaten
by Mrs. Ferguson in 1924, is considered
the strongest of the five Republican
candidates.
To indicate the wide split in the
Democratic fold, friends of r. B. Creag-
er of Brownsville, Republican national
name as candidate for the Democratic
primary. The petition bore the re-
quired number of names for entry, but
the Democratic State committee, under
the impression it was being made fun
of, refused to admit Creager to the
party's election.
AS in Virginia and North Carolina.
the primary fight seethes mainly around
the question of Alfred E. Smith and
what the candidates did in 1928. The
Khan problem is a throwback to 1924
and 1925, when it appeared as If that
organization might gain control Of the
State
The wet and dry question also is
raised in the senatorial campaign. Nor
ris Sheppard senior Senator from Texas
and the father of the eighteenth amend
ment, is being opposed for reelection
by r. L. Henry of Houston, a former
Representative. Henry is running on
a platform urging repeal of the prohibit
ton act, in the belief Texas may seize
the opportunity to repudiate prohibit
ton as did New Jersey. Most observers
believe. however, that Texas is dry and
that Senator Sheppard will be returned
by large majority.
Third Term Declined.
Gov. Dan Moody, who toppled the
FerguSons in 1926, has decided he will
not seek third term. Moody is bas-
ing his failure to oppose the Fergusons
ly as unforgiving enemies of the Fer
gusons in the race. Had Moody seen
fit to enter the arena, there would have
been little doubt of the outcome -
another victory for Dan.
Moody, with Mrs. Ferguson in 1924,
crushed the Khan. In that memorable
encounter Texas elected the first wom-
an governor. DR.. Butte, the Repub-
lican, Klan-backed candidate, came
nearer to winning than any other
standard bearer Of his party. Then
there came the breach between Moody,
the attorney general, and Mrs. Fergu-
son, the governor. In 1928, Moody over
whelmingly routed Mrs. Ferguson and
Jim. Again in 1928 he repeated
State Senator Thomas B. Love stands
out today as the most likely threat at
the domination of the regular Demo-
Gratis. Love, their able leader, is the
candidate of the anti-Smith Democrats.
His strength is uncertain, but in 1928
the Republican-anti-S coalition
was powerful enough to unseat the reg
ulars by $4,000 votes and send Texas
90 electoral votes to Herbert Hoover.
Due to the great field of Democratic
candidateS-and Love is running on the
Democratic ticket after having fought
his way through the courts-it is en-
tirely possible that the division in the
regular strength will be widened suf-
flciently to permit the State senator to
lead the field, or at least be in the
August runoff. There is little likeli-
hood, in view of the number of con-
testants, Of any one candidate being
able to pile up majority and do away
with the necessity of a runoff.
Three-C ornered Fight.
The three-cornered fight, over Smith
and anti-Smith, Ferguson and anti
Ferguson, and the wet-dry question, is
more important than the Khan prob
lem. Only for the entrance of former
United States Senator Mayfield In the
race, the Khan question would have