Texas Almanac, 1964-1965 Page: 52
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52 TEXAS ALMANAC-1964-1965
lican and drew large support from bolting Demo-
crats. Mrs. Ferguson won, 422,558 to 294,970. Mrs.
Ferguson's first term was characterized by econom-
ical administration, but there were liberal pardons
for convicts as in her husband's earlier administra-
tion.
Gov. Dan Moody (Jan. 17, 1927-Jan. 20, 1931) suc-
ceeded Mrs. Ferguson. As Attorney General, he. had
stressed prompt law enforcement, especially against
infringements by the Ku Klux Klan. He barely failed
to get a clear majority over Mrs. Ferguson. Lynch
Davidson and several other candidates in the first
primary, but defeated Mrs. Ferguson 495,723 to .270,595
in the runoff. Moody gave especial attention to en-
forcing prohibition which had become a serious prob-
lem. He reversed the Ferguson policy of liberal par-
dons to convicts, favored education and fostered a
constructive highway program,
Depression
Gov. Ross S. Sterling (Jan. 20, 1931-Jan. 17, 1933)
had served as Moody's Highway Commission chair-
man. The State Highway Commission of Texas had
been established in 1917 and, intermittently, had done
effective work. However, it was under the chairman-
ship of Sterling in the administration of Moody that a
really effective and consistent highway program was
established. Sterling followed Moody's policy of non-
political appointments to the commission.
For his first term Sterling had defeated Mrs. Fer-
guson in first and second primaries. In 1932, Mrs.
Ferguson ran again and, after leading in the first pri-
mary, defeated Sterling in the second by 477,644 to
473,846.
It was in the midst of economic depression that
Mrs. Miriam A. Ferguson's second administration
(Jan. 17, 1933-Jan. 15, 1935) began. The state's finan-
cial affairs were improved despite the growing pres-
sure for expenditures due to the depression. How-
ever, a new precedent under the 1876 State Constitu-
tion was set by an amendment authorizing $20,000,000
of "bread bonds" to feed the hungry. This was the
first state bond issue under the present Constitution.
The first of two amendments repealing liquor prohibi-
tion was adopted during Mrs. Ferguson's administra-
tion, permitting sales of 3.2 per cent alcohol beer and
wines, Full repeal was provided by another amend-
ment during the next administration.
Mrs. Ferguson did not seek re-election, thus clos-
ing a 20-year chapter in Texas politics, during which
"Fergusonism" was an almost constant issue. Mrs.
Ferguson re-entered politics in 1940 but was fourth
among eight candidates. The two Governor Fergu-
sons, husband and wife, participated in 12 primary
and four general elections for the governorship and
one race by Gov. J. E. Ferguson for United States
Senate.
James V. AIhred (Jan. 15, 1935-Jan. 15, 1939), in
the election of 1934 led a field of six opponents in the
first primary and defeated Tom F. Hunter of Wichita
Falls in the second primary by 497,808 to 457,785. His
administration sought to restore economic prosperity,
and remedy evils believed responsible for the depres-
sion. During his first administration the old-age pen-
sion amendment to the Constitution was adopted. It
was followed by other social security efforts, including
amendment providing for a retirement fund for school
and college teachers and employes. Other important
amendments to the Constitution under the Allred ad-
ministration were those reorganizing the old Board
of Pardons into the Board of Pardons and Paroles,
instituting workmen's compensation for state em-
ployes and raising the salaries of Governor, Secre-
tary of State, Attorney General, Comptroller of Pub-
lic Accounts, Treasurer and Commissioner of the Gen-
eral Land Office. Raising the salary of the Governor
from $4,000 to $12,000 a year ended a long-time po-
liticaI issue.
Allred won in the 1936 primaries over Tom F.
Hunter, F. W. Fischer and two other candiates in
the first primary. Near the close of his second term
he was appointed judge of the South Texas Federal
District Court but served out the remainder of his
term.
Gov. W. Lee O'Daniel (Jan. 15, 1939-Aug. 4, 1941)
won the Democratic primary of 1938 in one of the
biggest upsets in Texas political history. On a plat-
form of the Decalogue and the Golden Rule, indus-
trialization of Texas and promising old-age pensions
and the end of political rule at the State Capitol, the
Fort Worth flour salesman with his "hillbilly band"
on radio won 573.166 votes out of a record 1,114,885
cast in the first primary. Among his twelve oppo-
nents were such well-known political figures as Atty.
Gen. William McCraw, Railroad Commissioner Er-
nest O. Thompson, former Assistant Postmaster Gen-
eral Karl A. Crowley and Tom F. Hunter, who hadbeen barely beaten in two previous races for Gov-
ernor.
Governor O'Daniel's first term is remembered
primarily for the long legislative controversy over
taxation to provide old-age pensions and other social
security funds. The general revenue fund accumulat-
ed further deficit during the first O'Daniel term.
Governor O'Daniel won again in 1940, but won a
special election, June 28, 1941, to fill a United States
Senate place vacated by the death of Sen. Morris
Sheppard.
Gov. Coke Stevenson (Aug. 4, 1941-Jan. 21, 1947),
Lieutenant Governor, succeeded O'Daniel, Governor
Stevenson was elected to a full term in 1P42 and
again in 1944, serving during World War II.
One of the principal achievements of Governor
Stevenson's administration was the elimination of the
deficit in the state's general fund. This was accom-
plished without the issuance of state bonds that had
been authorized by constitutional amendment.
Bonds were authorized in conjunction with an
amendment putting the state on a pay-as-you-go basis
by requiring the State Comptroller of Public Accounts
to disapprove appropriation bills when they exceeded
prospective state revenues to pay them.
Texas in World War II
No other state had a wider range of military
activity than Texas in World War II. An estimated
1,250,000 men in all branches of the service trained
in this state. More than 20 combat army divisions
trained in Texas. There were J5 posts and camps for
the U.S. Army and 21 prisoner-of-war camps. In ad-
dition, headquarters of the Eighth Service Command
(operating agency in the Southwest for Army Service
Forces) covering Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Lou-
isiana and New Mexico was in Dallas. Headquarters
for the Fourth Army of men in nine states was at
Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio. From 1932 to 1944,
the Third Army, training men from Arizona to Flori-
da, was headquartered at Fort Sam Houston. The
Third left San Antonio Feb. 15, 1944, and was suc-
ceeded by the Fourth.
National headquarters of the wartime Army Air
Force Training Command was in Fort Worth.
Navy installations were not as numerous. The
Naval Air Training Base at Corpus Christi was the
world's largest naval air-training activity.
Achievement, Casualties
An estimated 750,000 Texans served in World War
II. More than'30 Texans in the Army received the
Congressional Medal of Honor. Six Texans in the
Navy received the highest award, the Medal of Hon-
or. An additional 92 Texans had received the Navy
Cross for World War II heroism.
Fighting outfits with many Texans and usually
called "Texas outfits" were: 36th Division, 112th Cav-
alry Division, 2d Infantry Division, 103d Infantry Reg-
iment, 1st Cavalry Division and 90th Infantry Divi-
sion.
Either born in Texas or a resident of Texas for a
considerable time were 155 Army generals. These in-
clude Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, native of Denison,
Texas, who was Supreme Allied Commander in
Europe, then Chief of Staff, and later President. In-
cluded also is Gen. Walter Krueger, commanding gen-
eral of the Sixth Army, from San Antonio. Twelve
admirals in the Navy were from Texas, including
Adm. Chester W. Nimitz of Fredericksburg, com-
mander in chief of the Pacific Fleet. Director of the
Women's Army Corps was Col, Oveta Culp Hobby of
Houston, first woman ever to wear an Army uniform
as a member of the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps,
later to become the nation's first Secretary of the
Department of Health, Education and Welfare. More
than 8,000 Texans were in the WAC.
According to figures furnished by the War Depart-
ment, Texas soldiers suffered 15,764 fatalities out of
the estimated 542,000 serving in the World War II
Army. The 15,764 deaths comprised 4.72 per cent in
the Army's total number of dead and missing. Of the
15,764 dead, 8,403 were killed in action, 1,166 died of
wounds, 48 died of injuries, 4,935 were nonbattle
deaths, 1,134 were adjudged dead on the findings of a
board after missing for long periods.
Texas casualties in the United States Navy, in-
cluding Coast Guard and Marines, totaled 7,258, ac-
cording to an announcement in August, 1946. Of the
7,258, a total of 3,023 died in combat and 84 died in
prison camp; 3,884 were wounded and 267 were re-
leased prisoners.
Postwar Progress
Gov. Beauford H. Jester (Jan. 21, 1947-July 11,
1949) won a heated race centered on the manage-
ment of the University of Texas. Dr. Homer P.
Rainey, president of the university, had become in-
volved with the Board of Regents, charging them
with limiting academic freedom and mismanage-
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Texas Almanac, 1964-1965, book, 1963; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth113807/m1/54/: accessed April 2, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Texas State Historical Association.