James E. Ferguson

James Edward " Pa " Ferguson ( born August 31, 1871 in Salado, Texas, † September 21, 1944 in Austin, Texas ) was an American politician and 1915-1917 Governor of the State of Texas.

Early years

James Ferguson attended Salado College, but was expelled for indiscipline of the institution. After he earned his living as a temporary worker in various locations in the western United States. He worked in the vineyards of California, the timber industry in the state of Washington and in the quartz mines of Colorado and Nevada. He then returned to Texas, where he worked as a foreman in bridge construction. In Texas, he then studied law. In 1897 he was admitted to the bar. He then worked as an attorney in Belton. At that time he went into other businesses such as a the insurance industry, the real estate market and the banking business. In 1907 he moved to the village of Temple, where he founded along with several partners, the Temple State Bank.

Governor of Texas

James Ferguson was a member of the Democratic Party. Prior to his election as governor he was politically rather in the second term. He has led the campaigns of some governors and senators and was known as an opponent of Prohibition. After some internal party discussions between supporters and opponents of Prohibition Ferguson was nominated for his party's candidates for the gubernatorial election of 1914. After the election victory, he could take up his post on 19 January 1915. In his first term, which ran until January 1917, he campaigned for school reform. At that time, among other things, compulsory education was officially introduced and developed three new institutions for teacher training.

In the gubernatorial election of 1916, Ferguson was re-elected as expected. But already during the election campaign were rumors of irregularities. Among other things, his misappropriation of state funds was accused. In addition there was a dispute with the University of Texas. The administration of this university had refused to dismiss some of the faculty members on request Ferguson. This then locked all the University supplied covered funds. Meanwhile, the fraud and embezzlement allegations were substantiated and a method of impeachment against Governor Ferguson was initiated. As was obvious that he would impeached, he joined a day before the expected verdict on 25 August 1917 from his post back. His Lieutenant Governor William P. Hobby, succeeded him.

Regardless of the state of Texas had to pay for the First World War, his contribution to the war effort of the federal government under President Woodrow Wilson. This meant rationing of food and fuel, recruit new soldiers for the armed forces as well as the conversion of production to armaments.

Further CV

James Ferguson was not from his failed governorship. In the following years, he applied unsuccessfully to each one returning to his former office, in addition to a seat in the U.S. Senate (1922 ) and 1920 even as the candidate of the short-lived American Party to the American presidency. He came with his running mate William Jervis Hough over 47 968 ​​votes, representing a share of 0.2 percent, not addition. Then he supported the successful election campaigns of his wife Miriam, who in 1924 and 1932 respectively elected governor of Texas. James Ferguson died in 1944. He and Miriam Ferguson had two children together.

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