The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 61, July 1957 - April, 1958 Page: 52

Southwestern Historical Quarterly

strategy, which was uniformly successful, is another story and has
been dealt with elsewhere. This paper is concerned primarily
with his relationship with these three men as candidates, gov-
ernors-elect, and governors. Toward Sayers and Lanham he showed
such deference as befitted their greater age; with Culberson, who
was about his own age, he was linked by the strongest personal
ties, as well as by years of association in public affairs. "In my
day I have had many friends," wrote Culberson to House, "but
you have been more than any to me and I cherish you ac-
cordingly."3
House's skill and strength in politics added to his effectiveness
as a counselor and friend of governors, just as it enabled him to
lead in campaigns. He had a few intimate friends, both strong
and capable, and devoted to him in a way that is inspiring to
relate; and he was relatively well acquainted with a number of
men who generally followed his leadership in matters political.
He could, therefore, marshal formidable strength behind any
individual or cause he chose to support. His intimate friends in
politics were Frank Andrews,4 railroad attorney of Houston and
former assistant attorney general of Texas; Thomas Watt Gregory,5
Austin lawyer; Albert Sidney Burleson, member of Congress;
James B. Wells,7 Brownsville lawyer whose prestige in South Texas
politics was not often questioned; and youthful Joe Lee Jameson,
whose highest post was state revenue agent." These men consti-
vate"), in the Texas State Archives.
House had helped Sayers in his campaign for Congress.-Sayers to House, July
23, 1898 (Microfilm Collection, E. M. House Papers, Archives, University of Texas
Library). On various occasions Lanham acknowledged with gratitude the help
that House was giving him.-Lanham to House, October 16, 1901o, March 3, 19o2,
and February 8, 19o2, ibid. T. M. Campbell, Lanham's strongest opponent, with-
drew from the race for governor in 19go2, complaining that the "machine" was
against him, an obvious reference to House and his friends.-Lanham to House,
January 27, 1902, ibid.
sCulberson to House, February 1, 1905, ibid.
4The Handbook of Texas (2 vols.; Austin, 1952), I, 47.
lbid., 734.
6Ibid., 248.
lIbid., II, 877. For an account of Wells's remarkable power and influence in
South Texas, see O. Douglas Weeks, "The Texas-Mexican and the Politics of
South Texas," American Political Science Review, XXXIV (August, 1930), 6o6ff.
sJameson died in 1904. For his last post, see C. W. Raines, Year Book for Texas
(2 vols.; Austin, 19o02), I, 393. Jameson was, politically, little less than House's