James E. "Pa" Ferguson Campaign Material

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When the University of Texas refused to remove the faculty members he found objectionable, in June 1917 Governor Ferguson vetoed the entire appropriation for the university. Ferguson's action galvanized his critics. They opened an investigation of many charges that had been levied against him and his administration since his election, and on July 21, 1917, a Travis County grand jury indicted Ferguson on nine charges of misapplication of public funds, embezzlement, and diversion of funds.

The House speaker called a special session in which 21 articles of impeachment were prepared. Ferguson was found guilty by the Senate of 10 counts, including misapplication of public funds, failure to properly respect and enforce the banking laws of the state, and receiving $156,500 in currency from a source that he refused to reveal. Ferguson resigned the day before the judgement was announced and claimed that the verdict no longer applied to him. However, a court later upheld the verdict and ruled Ferguson ineligible to hold any public office in the state of Texas.

Nonetheless, Ferguson kept his name before the public, running unsuccessfully for governor in 1918, president in 1920, and the Senate in 1922. In 1924 he finally got his second act with another audacious move: to manage the campaign of his wife, Miriam "Ma" Ferguson, to become the first woman governor in Texas history.

This 1918 flyer was put out by supporters of William P. Hobby, who replaced Ferguson in the governorship.

Page 1 | Page 2 | "The Politics of Personality"

Page 1 | Page 2 | "The Politics of Personality"

Campaign Material, James Ferguson, Archives and Information Services Division, Texas State Library and Archives Commission.