Evening star., 1932-12-04
FERCUSONS BREAK RECORD.
TO GOVERN TEXAS AGAIN
Gain Control for Fourth Time on Pledge
of Economy, Conservation and
Convict PardOns.

USTIN.-With a regularity that
~ has become irkscme to their ir-
"A reconcilable opponents, the
4 i house Of Ferguson Is about to
come into power in Texas for
the fourth time. Mrs. Miriam A. Fer
guscn will be inaugurated as Governor
for a second term on January II. James
Ferguson has served one full term and
part of a second term as chief execu-
tive of the State. They have upset all
precedentS in the matter of holding
this high Office In doing so they have
overcome what many persons believed
to be unsurmountable obstacles.
If the Overwhelming majorities that
were given Mrs. Ferguson in the recent
primaries and general elscticn are to
be taken as a criterion, the Fergusons
have stronger hold on the rank and
file of voters than ever before during
their long and turbulent political
careers. 1t is q case OF two Governors
fer the price Of one" according to Jim,
Again he will occupy a desk by her
will administer the public affairs Of
Texas.
Pledged to Economy.
They are pledged to bring about the
abolition of a number of State bureaus
and commissions, reduction CT taxes,
pardoning OF all penitentiary convicts
deserving clancncv, a continuation OF
the policy of conserving t,o oil and
gas resources Ct the Sac, encourage
ment OF the investment OF outside cap
ital in industries, solving of the unem-
ployment problem to the greatest pos
sible degree and the placing OF the
State of cash basis.
In the formal announcement Of her
candidacy for election to second term
In 1926, Ma" Ferguson pointed out that
when she began her first term Of office
there was a deficit of $2,000,000 in the
State general revenue fund. including
about 100000 to pay the debts Of the
penitentiary system. This deficit was
not only wiped out within 10 days after
she became Governor but there was
Sl,664,372 to the credit of the general
revenue fund, and year later this
fund had increased to S7,l47 ,905. Both
she and her husband kept the State on
a cash basis during their adminiStra-
tions. which is regarded as a notable ac-
complishment on the part of Governors
Of Texas.
Made Huge Cuts.
The Legislature preceding Ma" Fer
Euson's administration appropriated for
all purposes S46,855, ,772.85, and the one
which acted on her recommendations
appropriated fer all purposes $36.095,-
80395, or a reduction of $40, 1853, 968 go.
She vetoed more than $4,000 900 of
appropriations.
The Ferguson policy of pardoning
great numbers of penitentiary convicts
evoked wide criticism This was espe-
cially true during Ma" Ferguson's ad-
ministration Jim was repeatedly
charged with being the legal represent
ative of many convicts in having their
claims for pardon presented to Ma"
No proof Of this charge was ever made
in any court. She gave more than 5000
prisoners their freedom by full pardons,
conditional pardons. paroles and fur
loughs.
Each pardon granted by me was is
sued upon its own individual merits"
Mrs. Ferguson declared
A large proportion of the pardons
were granted to men who had been
convicted of violating the State proai-
bition law. P'
Public complaint was made against
the State Highway Commission while
Mrs. Ferguson was Governor. Two
members of the commission resigned.
Irregularities in awarding contracts for
highway construction formed the basis
OF grand jury investigation and suits
for recovery by the State of excess
charges for construction work.
1t was in the work of the Highway
Commission that PA" showed a per-
sonal interest equal perhaps, to his