Remembering the politics of yesterday

A humorist who lived in the last century, once said that if people knew how sausage and politics were made, they would have nothing to do with either one of them. Well, all that is needed by those people who still butcher hogs (if such people still exist) is for a couple of real cold snaps to come along and then there will be a sudden decrease in the hog population. But in the middle of politics, if you’ve been listening to T.V. or reading the newspapers in recent weeks, you know that politics go right on, come rain or sunshine, sleet or snow, or whatever. This might suggest to you that politics is a more durable activity, as opposed to butchering hogs. So, with primary elections and presidential caucuses bearing down on us, we’re going to leave the butchering to you farmers, and we are going to concentrate on politics.

Our first memories of politics in Texas goes back to around 1925, a time when two colorful figures, James E. "Pa" Ferguson and Miriam A. "Ma" Ferguson (husband and wife) were the dominant figures for three decades, with he serving as governor from 1915-1917, and she serving as Governor from 1925-1927; and from 1933-1935. You never discussed politics in those days without the name of Ferguson coming up. They were such forceful people that few people could name the occupants of other offices on the state level, such as Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Railroad Commissioners, Commissioner of the Land Office and so on.

Back in these earlier days, politics differed considerably from the way we know it today. Agriculture was the most important thing that affected the economy back in the 1920’s. Members of the Democratic Party controlled practically every office on the State, District, County, and local level. Prohibition was one of the most controversial issues and the Ku Klux Klan was one of the most debated organizations. Race segregation still was an unsolved problem among the people, and wounds from the Civil War still were vexing the State and nation. Women were just beginning to exercise their right to vote, and it was a novelty for any of them to occupy a public office.

The mechanics of the election was somewhat different also about 75 years ago. The primary election was held in July, runoffs were held in August if needed, and the general election came in November. Paper ballots were used exclusively, and they were hand-counted. Almost all offices on the local, county, district, and State levels were filled each two years, instead of four, as now is the case.

We are going to close by naming some of the Karnes County officeholders back in the 1920’s and early 1930’s, and see if these names stir up memories among you old timers: County Judge-Tom Smiley; County Clerk-Grover Keepers; County Attorney-J.O. Faith; County Treasurer-H.W. Isensee; County School Supt.-M. Louise Jones; Tax Assessor-L.H. Renser; Tax Collector-Marvin Butler; Sheriff-Jim Brown; District Judge-W.O. Murray; District Clerk-Maude Pyle Grey and District Attorney-C.S. Slaton.

Now we have made an error or two along the way, but remember that we are talking about the 1920’s and some colorful people who served the public at that time. As you go to the courthouse, you still may see the ghosts of some of them roaming the corridors with hearty laughs and "hellos" for just about every person they met.