Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-08-12
WEALTH HAS NOT DESTROYED
STERLINC'S PLAINNESS

AUSTIN. Aug. l2.-Ross q. Ster-
ling has stood out as an abstract fig
ure, a sort Of idealized efficiency,
much as Herbert Hoover was known
only as an impersonal force Of dy-
manic energy and high achievement.
The Sterling ideal has not suffer-
ed as the Houston candidate for
governor has "humanized" in the
campaign.
With all his record OF building
and achieving. with all the wealth
he has accumulated. Mr.. Sterling
impresses one first Of all ms a true
exponent OF "the plain people
Neither wealth nor huge RESPONSE
bility have destroyed the plainness
or his ways. the simple directness OF
his thought of speech. his friendly
yearning for contact with his fellow
man, nor the viewpoint upon life he
holds gaine6 from his years OF hard
physical toll and his youth Of ex-
IRENE poverty.
Record Of Hard Work
His "impersonality" has been more
a matter OF engrossment in work, o.
a plainness of life that avoided the
spectacular. OF letting himself speak
only through achievements that are
finished, than through any apt
spirit Of superiority
His ~neighbors back at Dayton and
Sour Lake and Goose Greek prefer
TO think OF him still as the quiet
voiced feed merchant who could
take a bale Of hay under one arm
and a bag OF corn over the other
shoulder and hoist them upon the
farmers wagon with ease.
That unruffled ease and quiet
calm nth which he moves through
a job. big or little. snterprets much
OF his attitude toward things In gen
eral, and accounts for part Of his
lack OF being known for spectacular
exploits, for verbal controversies
There Is nothing Of the political
demagogue nor the visionary SPELL
binder about this candidate for gov
ernor.
visions Finished Job
Few things are more complex than
the building Of highways. the desig-
nation OF routes and the linking ur
OF a confused patchwork Of unfin-
ished road projects. Unless ID be
when this same job Is taken up in
utter confusion. its organization de-
moralized, its progress at a stand
still. The type Of Mr.. Sterling:
imagination or vision is such that
he could gather Up these disjointec
fragments and see a vast, correlated
project with the firm grasp upor
its final completeness OF a great en-
gineer looking upon a finished bridg.
His two outstanding traits seem K
form a sort OF paradox in the make.
up OF Mr.. Sterling-his 'imperson.
atty and his innate plain simple.
ity that keeps him at ease amonI
any group and makes the average
sort Of person at ease with him.
Political Jobbing Taboo
This political campaign Is servinI
as q solvent Of that paradox. prov,
ing the two aspects are similar facet
Of a rame straightforward nature
he seems abstract because ne hal
avoided the spectacular. shunneS
the practices of politicians and dem,
agogues for gaining notoriety.
Such practices would be impossible
with him as governor. That woul,
hold out a promise that his effCy
and time and thought would b
spent in doing things. In work rathe
than in words. in the substance
rather than the froth OF statecraft
His temperament would assurl
harmony with the legislative and tn
subdivisions Of government. Hi
ability and his custom Of Leadership
would give him capacity to point tn
way and TO guide the efforts o
others. His measures would win OF