Ch 6 Tx Politics - Ep 3 Impeached in Tx = Two Govs Ferguson

Our Westlake

Impeaching a sitting official is a popular topic these days - Let's look back in Austin 100 years ago.
Emmett Shelton (1905-2000) was a close friend of the two Governors Ferguson. He tells a number of stories about Gov. Jim and his wife "Ma" Ferguson.
Jim Ferguson was a farmer from Temple. He was first elected governor in 1914 as an anti-prohibitionist. He was popular and was re-elected in 1916. However, Govenor Jim believed the public education should be a funding priority. He got crossed the liberal UT advocates when, in 1917, he vetoed the entire UT appropriation. Locals got an Austin Grand Jury to indict Gov. Jim. Emmett's father was the Austin District Atty and he declined to pursue the charges. He made a friend of Gov. Jim but UT liberals defeated Emmett's Father Gov. Jim was still in charge and not a friend of the Austin Liberals. He refused to sign a bill the legislature had passed giving the City of Austin the Sand Beach Reserve (previously state land on north bank of Colorado River, south of the Congress Ave Bridge). John E. was paid to visit Gov. Jim about the matter. He told John E. "I was waiting for them to send one of my friends to ask." He signed the bill.
The Legislature voted to impeach Gov. Jim, so Jim's wife, Marion or "Ma", ran for Governor. The Two Governors Fergusons won two additional terms as Governor of Texas, roughly 100 years ago in Austin.
Emmett recounts the story of one of Emmett's first Pardon case. Gov. Jim pardoned John T. Riley and his brother, Rush, helped - both were Original Westlakers.
And in the end, as Emmett reflects later in life he says -- Gov. Jim gave Emmett the best advice he ever got!
#governorferguson
#maferguson
#texashistory
#impeachment
#austinhistory
Music: Democracy is Coming to the USA by Leonard Cohen

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Stories told by Emmett Shelton / compiled and submitted by Cynthia Shelton.