why was james ferguson impeached

The Senate found Ferguson guilty on five charges relating to mishandling of public funds and abuse of power in relation to the university. He was re-elected in 1916. [5], In 2013, the Texas State Legislature began an impeachment trial for Regent Wallace Hall. State legislature | The following sections are outlined in Article 15 of the Texas Constitution. In retaliation, Ferguson vetoed the entire appropriation for the university. There are 150 members of the Texas State House. The legislature then came back into session to consider impeachment, an attempt Ferguson immediately condemned. He was impeached in 1917 and removed from office. You have permission to edit this article. Dictionaries thesauruses pictures and press releases. Title 6, Chapter 665 of the Texas Government Code addresses the impeachment and removal of public officers by the state house. The vote made him ineligible to hold any office of honor, trust or profit in the state of Texas. Their campaign slogan: Two governors for the price of one.. The policy of state aid to rural schools was begun, and a rather timid law requiring compulsory school attendance was passed. James Edward Ferguson, also called Farmer Jim or Pa was born in Bell County in 1871. the lieutenant governor Bruce Rutherford, The Impeachment of Jim Ferguson (Austin: Eakin Press, 1983). There is no regularly scheduled session until 2015. He became a lawyer in 1897, married Miriam A. Wallace in 1899, and expanded into real estate, insurance, and banking. After he was appointed in 2011, Hall began looking into what he believed to be clout scandals within the University of Texas system. The Senate removed Ferguson from office by a vote of 25-3. And once again, there is talk of impeachment in the Legislature. Dictionary of American History. Retrieved February 23, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/ferguson-impeachment. As a result of his actions, in 1917, Ferguson became the only Texas governor impeached and removed from office. January 1996 in Austin, Texas), first black southern woman in the United States Congress. 1917: James 'Pa' Ferguson Jr., Texas. The vote was 25-3. The House sent 21 articles of impeachment to the Senate. Therefore, its best to use Encyclopedia.com citations as a starting point before checking the style against your school or publications requirements and the most-recent information available at these sites: http://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/tools_citationguide.html. He liked to say he was no city slicker and no college dude. A government doesnt require educated fools to run properly. The impeachment process begins with the House of Representatives. Cite this article Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. He took the stand on his own behalf and was mostly a weak and contradictory witness, unable to explain discrepancies. by Nicole Shealy Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. Ferguson convinced his wife to run one more time in 1940. "[14], An effort was begun in June 2013 to try and impeach Hall from his position as regent. [9] According to historian Dan Utley, Ferguson planned to use state appointments as part of a spoils system to reward his political supporters. He was a popular figure, singing laws protecting sharecroppers and providing state funding for rural schools. He was elected governor in 1914, his first election. The prohibitionists passed over their better-known leaders and gave their support to Charles H. Morris of Winnsboro, a political unknown. He was indicted and impeached during his second term, but according to Ferguson technically impeached, after he resigned office. In 1917, Gov. In 1917, barely into his second term as governor of Texas, James E. Ferguson was impeached, convicted, and removed from office. Almost a century later, the Ferguson impeachment presents both striking similarities and key differences to the ongoing saga involving University of Texas System Regent Wallace Hall. The most that the select committee can do would be to recommend to the full state house that articles of impeachment be drafted. Only two elected officials in the history of Texas have ever been successfully impeached. Ferguson was indicted on nine charges which included misapplication of public funds, embezzlement and the diversion of a special fund. Your donation keeps our trusted reporting free and accessible for all Texans and during a legislative session when lawmakers are set to tackle issues from school choice for K-12 students to school safety improvements to changes in property taxes, its critical that Texans know what lawmakers decisions mean for their futures. [17] Governor of Texas Rick Perry's spokesperson said the investigations send a "chilling message" to gubernatorial appointees. James T. DeShields, They Sat in High Places: The Presidents and Governors of Texas (San Antonio: Naylor, 1940). Similarly, the Texas Constitution gives the lower house of the legislature power to impeach judges, the governor and statewide elected officials. | (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). The second had to do with his utilization of the Temple Bank he had controlling interest in as his personal slush fund. Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. He was reelected in 1916 but the following year was impeached on grounds of misusing public funds and removed from office. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. When the House is not in session, there are three ways that the House may be convened for purposes of impeachment. An effort was begun in 2013 to investigate the possibility of impeaching University of Texas Regent Wallace Hall. If that is the case, then the state house must follow procedures outlined regarding calling a special session specifically for the process of impeachment. Samuel Houston (1793-1863), American statesman and soldier, was the person most responsible for bringing Texas into the Union. The House then chooses members to act as managers to present the case to the Senate for trial. Reprinted with permission from the Handbook of Texas Online, a joint project of the Texas State Historical Association and the General Libraries at the University of Texas at Austin. State legislators created a select committee to launch an investigation into possibly impeaching Wallace Hall, an appointed member of the University of Texas System Board of Regents. After all, he was known as Farmer Jim. Soon the talk of impeachment is echoing through the halls of the Capitol. But the mere fact that Ferguson had been impeached and made ineligible to hold any office of trust or profit under the state did not in any sense remove him from the field of Texas politics . [7], In 1914, Ferguson was elected as governor of Texas by running as an anti-prohibitionist Democrat. Both elected and non-elected officials can be impeached in Texas. Norman Kittrell, Governors Who Have Been and Other Public Men of Texas (Houston: Dealy-Adey-Elgin, 1921). Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography. U.S. Congress | Mrs. Ferguson served as the first lady of Texas during the gubernatorial terms of her husband (1915-17), who was impeached during his second administration. In 1917, Gov. When his reasoning was questioned, he would respond, I am governor of Texas. The Fergusons retired from public life afterward with James Ferguson dying in 1944 and his wife passing away in 1961. In addition to the MLA, Chicago, and APA styles, your school, university, publication, or institution may have its own requirements for citations. His wife was defeated for re-election in 1926, following questions of improper use of her pardoning power. He is the author, coauthor, or editor of more than two dozen books, most recently Anti-Black Violence in Twentieth-Century Texas. Texas History Minute: Jim Ferguson only Texas governor to be impeached, removed. Barred from state office, he ran for president in 1920 on the American Party ticket. In 1903, Ferguson was elected as city attorney in Belton, Texas. This led to a special session being called by the Legislature, to press for Fergusons impeachment. The Texas State Legislature adjourned its regular session on May 27, 2013. Even his former political allies couldn't find him innocent in the face of such damning evidence - and his own indefensible behavior. The Senate, sitting as a High Court of Impeachment, spent three weeks considering the charges and finally convicted the governor on ten . He resigned his office the day before the judgment was announced and contended that it did not apply to him. Ferguson convinced his wife to run one more time in 1940. Ferguson cleverly resigned, claiming then that the Senate couldnt uphold an impeachment for someone who wasnt actually in office. [15][16] No unelected official in Texas has ever been successfully impeached or removed from office. The ruling declared that he could no longer hold office in Texas, but he ran the campaigns of his wife, Miriam "Ma" Ferguson. [18] He added that the investigation was "extraordinary political theater. StrongJanuary 29, 202010:48 amArts & Culture, Stories From Texas, Bain News Service /Wikimedia Commons [Public domain]. In addition, he established Farmers State Bank. Only 17 federal officers have been impeached since 1776. [4], In Texas, two officials have been successfully impeached -- Governor James Ferguson in 1917 and Judge O.P. But it is Hall not his political patron, Perry who would be targeted for possible impeachment. James "Pa" Ferguson was the Governor of Texas from 1915 to 1917, when he was impeached and convicted on several charges. W. V. Howerton, ed., Facts on Ferguson: A Review of the Impeachment and a Reply to Charges Made by Ex-Governor Ferguson (Austin, 1918). He decided that the university president must resign, and when Vinson refused, Ferguson vetoed the universitys entire budget. The excitement that greeted the veto was soon overshadowed by the greater excitement that surrounded the impeachment trial. Carrillospent three years in a federal penitentiary. James Ferguson Dr. Ken Bridges An argument over spending tax. Ferguson was indicted on nine charges which included misapplication of public funds, embezzlement and the diversion of a special fund. Then, copy and paste the text into your bibliography or works cited list. With charges growing against Ferguson, the House of Representatives drew up 21 charges against him and voted to impeach. Ferguson was also surpassed by three other unsuccessful candidates: Ferguson failed at his bid for the United States Senate in 1922, having lost in the Democratic runoff election to Earle Bradford Mayfield. He was re-elected in 1916. (b. Committee member Dan Flynn said he was not surprised by the findings and was pleased the university counsel reached a conclusion.[21][22][23][24]. This is simply not true. A part of his appeal as a candidate for governor was his support for white supremacy in the political process. In 1916 Ferguson's reelection seemed certain. Connally, John Bowden, Jr. In 1930 he conducted the unsuccessful campaign of his wife for the governorship, and in 1932 he conducted her successful campaign for the same office. James Ferguson is the only governor to be impeached and convicted. 27 February 1917 in Floresville, Texas; d. 15 June 1993 in Houston, Texas), governor of Tex, https://www.encyclopedia.com/history/dictionaries-thesauruses-pictures-and-press-releases/ferguson-impeachment. Most online reference entries and articles do not have page numbers. He showed up most every day to his own trial, invited or not, with two armed Texas Rangers as escorts. Of course, her husband was the only one the amnesty applied to. James E. Ferguson Called on Tejanos to rise up/support the revolution; Called on other minorities to join Tejanos to carve out a republic from land US took from Mexico US Pancho Villa Mexican guerilla leader led an attack on Columbus NM (Mar. The regents refused. The first and only Texas governor to be impeached is Governor James "Pa" Ferguson. And this current flap is far from over. In 1922 he was an unsuccessful candidate for the United States Senate. Millions of Texans have rare diseases. Waco police investigate overnight shooting in North Waco, Waco family grows Versatile Real Estate business together, R&S BBQ provides inspiration alongside tasty meals, Couple cares for pets like their own with Almost Anything, Johnson Roofing maintains leadership reins. She would serve one more term as governor from 1933 to 1935. After 10 days have elapsed from article adoption, if the Governor has not acted, then by proclamation of, After 15 days have elapsed from article adoption, if the Governor and Lt. Almost a century later, the impeachment of Ferguson by the Texas House of Representatives presents both striking similarities and key differences to the ongoing Hall saga. Donations by CCWH members and other patrons support CCWH awards and initiatives. James Edward Ferguson Collection, Barker Texas History Center, University of Texas at Austin. You are currently viewing a legacy feature of the Texas Politics Project website. He told the UT president, Dr. Robert E. Vinson, that he wanted them fired. In 1924, his wife, Miriam Ma Ferguson won election as governor as a stand-in candidate in a tightly contested race. But the mere fact that Ferguson had been impeached and made ineligible to hold any office of trust or profit under the state did not in any sense remove him from the field of Texas politics. Though he had signed legislation creating three new colleges, he found himself in a feud with professors at the University of Texas. The vote was 25-3. Seven related to misapplication of public funds, one to embezzlement and one to the diversion of a special fund. Three new normal schools were authorized. Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. While there, legislators legally took up another matter, impeachment. By W.F. First Amendment: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. In 1924, Ferguson entered his wife Miriam, known as "Ma", in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. But the day before the conviction was certain to come down. "Ferguson Impeachment Ferguson, had a stormy two-term reign and was impeached in 1917 over charges of misappropriation of funds regarding the University of Texas as well as embezzlement. He loaned himself so much money that he practically bankrupted his own bank. James Edward Ferguson Jr. (August 31, 1871 September 21, 1944), known as Pa Ferguson, was an American Democratic politician and the 26th Governor of Texas, in office from 1915 to 1917. Pat Neff. 1914 campaign literature in which Ferguson fires back against criticisms from his 'dry' opponent, Thomas H. Ball, and others in the prohibition faction. KVUE is looking back at the history of some past Texas governors. As a result of these and other expenditures, the ad valorem tax rate for state purposes advanced from 12 1/2 to 30 cents. Vinson asked what they had done to deserve it and he said, I dont need a reason, Im the governor.. | "Ferguson Impeachment He had attempted to stack the board of regents with friends who would help fire these professors and staffers, and he had called for the resignation of the universitys president, Robert Vinson. Hearing the gasps in the chamber, Ferguson immediately asked to strike the comment. "[3] In general, impeachments are a rare occurrence. Ferguson was indicted on charges including embezzlement while Carillo spent three years in jail following his impeachment. Because each style has its own formatting nuances that evolve over time and not all information is available for every reference entry or article, Encyclopedia.com cannot guarantee each citation it generates. In 1918 he sought the Democratic party nomination for the governorship but was defeated by William P. Hobby. 4. The Fergusons retired from public life afterward with James Ferguson dying in 1944 and his wife passing away in 1961. Henry S. Johnston of Oklahoma He lost the 1922 Democratic Primary race for U.S. Senate by a wide margin. School districts | In a Central Texas county, high schoolers are jailed on felony charges for vaping what could be legal hemp, UT System pauses new diversity, equity and inclusion policies at its campuses. The legality of the speaker calling a session was questionable the Texas Constitution says only the governor can call a special session but the point became moot when Ferguson called his own special session to discuss the budget for the University of Texas. His wife was defeated for re-election in 1926, following questions of improper use of her pardoning power. After 20 days have elapsed from article adoption, if the Governor, Lt. Barred from state office, he ran for president in 1920 on the American Party ticket. Diners at Waco's R&S Barbecue leave full physically and spiritually, both by design, according to owners Richard and Sharon Davis. Its president is in the crosshairs. Though as of this writing, three presidents have been impeached, none have ever been removed from office. With strong support from progressive and anti-Prohibition forces, "Farmer Jim" was elected governor of Texas in 1914. Dan Moody. He was kicked out of a local prep school, Salado College, at age 12 for misbehavior. Nine of the charges can be described as violations of the law, while the obtaining of $156,500 from a secret source was certainly not in keeping with good policy. As a result of his actions, in 1917, Ferguson became the only Texas governor impeached and removed from office. The 1920 presidential election was won by Republican candidate Warren Harding. When Vinson refused to fire the professors, Ferguson went after the Board of Regents to get them to do his bidding. Though he was kicked out of office and disgraced in front of his colleagues, Ferguson was still very popular among his hard-core supporters and rallied back. In 1925, Miriam became the first female governor of Texas after campaigning as a stand-in for her husband, and James E. Ferguson became the first gentleman of Texas for her two terms. Found in volume 15,291 (available at govinfo). 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