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38-883: The predecessor of the Texas Equal Suffrage Association was the Texas Equal Rights Association (TERA) which was organized in Dallas in May 1893 by Rebecca Henry Hayes of Galveston. TERA had auxiliaries in Beaumont, Belton, Dallas, Denison, Fort Worth, Granger, San Antonio, and Taylor. TERA was active until 1895. Suffragists in Texas formed the Texas Woman Suffrage Association (TWSA) in 1903 and renamed it

76-536: A candidate for governor was his support for white supremacy in the political process. In 1914, Ferguson was elected as governor of Texas by running as an anti- prohibitionist Democrat. When the Democratic Party dominated the Texas political landscape, winning the Democratic primary often sealed the election results. Ferguson was the only "wet" candidate in the Democratic primary and garnered all of

114-616: A full pardon to Eugene V. Debs . Ferguson sought the support of Warren Harding and the Republican Party to convince its voters to vote for the American Party ticket and unite the anti-Democratic vote in Texas. The 1920 presidential election was won by Republican Party candidate Warren Harding . The Democratic nominee James M. Cox won in Texas , where the White majority voted solidly Democratic. Nationally, Ferguson

152-742: A local league that suffragists in Austin organized in 1908 but which never affiliated with the NAWSA . A resurgence of interest in women's suffrage took place when Anna Howard Shaw , the president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association, toured Texas in 1912. In February 1912, suffragists in San Antonio formed an Equal Franchise Society with Mary Eleanor Brackenridge , a prominent clubwoman and civic leader, as president. The San Antonio organization

190-566: A trip to the north that women's suffrage "had not reached Texas". The organization was firmly " non-sectarian ", stating that "it has no war to wage on religion, church or kindred societies." The Texas Equal Rights Association (TERA) had its beginnings at a meeting which took place on April 8, 1993, and included Rebecca Henry Hayes and several members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). Those who had worked with WCTU had prior experience in working with local politics. The organization

228-688: The Brownwood Bulletin , to spread negative information about Ferguson. Another leading Ferguson critic on the UT campus was the historian Eugene C. Barker . Ferguson's attack against Mayes resulted in a drive by the legislature to impeach Ferguson. The chairman of the investigating committee, William H. Bledsoe of Lubbock , called for impeachment. Ferguson was indicted on nine charges in July 1917. The Texas House of Representatives prepared 21 charges against Ferguson, and, in his impeachment trial ,

266-716: The Federation of Women's Clubs , the Texas Farm Women, Texas Press Women and the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU). In 1915, the Texas Association of Women's Clubs , which was the umbrella organization of African American women's clubs in Texas, endorsed women's suffrage. The endorsement of women’s suffrage by the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs especially helped make the movement respectable to many middle-class women. In May 1916,

304-469: The Texas Senate convicted him on 10 of those charges, including misapplication of public funds and receiving $ 156,000 from an unnamed source. The Texas Senate , many of whom had served under Mayes and with whom Mayes maintained cordial relationships, removed Ferguson as governor and declared him ineligible to hold office under Texas jurisdiction. Together with Attorney General Ken Paxton , who on

342-593: The lieutenant governor . Ferguson also ran for President of the United States in the 1920 election as the candidate of the American Party . Ferguson was on the ballot only in Texas, where he received 47,968 votes (9.9 percent of the vote in Texas, 0.2 percent of the vote nationwide). Ferguson's platform included opposition to the League of Nations, opposition to a national prohibition of alcohol , and

380-584: The Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate in the 1922 election . Ferguson failed at his bid for the United States Senate in 1922, losing in the Democratic runoff election to Earle Bradford Mayfield . In 1924, Ferguson entered his wife Miriam , known as "Ma", in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. She won that and the general election , saying that she intended to rely on her husband for advice. In 1924, unable to run under his own name, Mr. Ferguson, known as "Pa", ran his wife's campaign for

418-694: The Texas Equal Suffrage Association (TESA) in 1916. Annette Finnigan and her sisters, Elizabeth and Katharine, organized the Equal Suffrage League of Houston in February 1903 after Carrie Chapman Catt gave a lecture in the city. Suffragists in Galveston soon established a similar organization. In December 1903, delegates from the two organizations met in Houston and organized the Texas Woman Suffrage Association with Annette Finnigan as

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456-414: The Texas constitution to grant women the vote. In 1915, Finnigan and others continued this effort by lobbying state legislators for a state constitutional amendment and came within two votes of achieving the vote for women that year. After that, TWSA leadership increasingly followed the lead of the NAWSA and focused on achieving the passage of the federal amendment. In April 1915, Minnie Fisher Cunningham

494-545: The anti-prohibitionist votes over a plurality of "dry" candidates. Prior to his inauguration, Ferguson conferred with officials at the University of Texas regarding appointments affecting learning and higher education. According to historian Dan Utley, Ferguson planned to use state appointments as part of a spoils system to reward his political supporters. He tapped Reverend Allan Ferguson Cunningham to serve as State Librarian, despite his lack of training or experience in

532-557: The executive committee's vote to support Anthony's visit. When Hayes attended the NAWSA convention in November 1894, Fry, Danforth and Knowles declared the president's seat to be vacant. Hayes decried the motion, stating it was against the rules of TERA, and aired her grievances in The Galveston Daily New s . In 1895, Hayes resigned from TERA after she lost the bid for presidency of the group. The new president

570-540: The field. The incumbent State Librarian was Ernest Winkler , who was a professional historian with years of experience as a librarian. The chair of the State Library and Historical Commission, Eugene C. Barker , heard talk about these plans and intervened in support of Winkler. He convened the commission, and the body approved that Barker write a letter to the Governor-elect. The letter claimed that Winkler

608-475: The first president . During Finnigan’s presidency, the sisters attempted to organize women’s suffrage leagues in other cities but found little support . The organization also worked unsuccessfully to have a woman appointed to the Houston school board. When the Finnigan sisters moved from Texas in 1905, the association became inactive. Between 1905 and 1912, there was little suffrage activity in Texas except for

646-768: The first state in the South to ratify the federal suffrage amendment. Both Texas senators and ten of eighteen U.S. representatives from Texas voted for the federal amendment. On October 10, 1919, TESA reorganized as the Texas League of Women Voters with Jessie Daniel Ames as the first president. The Austin Women Suffrage Association (AWSA) was founded on December 4, 1908 and served as an auxiliary of TESA. Jane Y. McCallum served as president of AWSA starting in 1915. Texas Equal Rights Association The Texas Equal Rights Association ( TERA )

684-585: The governorship against Judge Felix Robertson, the candidate endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan . The Fergusons beat Robertson and went to the Governor's Mansion for a third time. Two years later they lost a reelection bid amid new scandals concerning excessive pardons and political patronage abuses. Miriam Ferguson served two nonconsecutive two-year terms as governor: January 20, 1925 – January 17, 1927 and January 17, 1933 – January 15, 1935. "Ma" Ferguson became

722-580: The national agenda as defined by NAWSA, 2) lobby for a state suffrage amendment, and 3) assist local groups in promoting the cause of women’s suffrage. Texas suffragists, like those in other southern states, were conflicted between fighting for an amendment to the state constitution or advocating for the Susan B. Anthony amendment to the U.S. constitution. When Brackenridge became president of the TWSA in 1913, she began to correspond with Texas legislators about amending

760-591: The news. One incident that sparked division between the members of TERA was the idea to bring Susan B. Anthony to Texas in 1894 to speak about women's rights. Those in TERA who were opposed to Anthony's potential visit called her an "outsider" and were against Anthony's views on abolition. Hayes also contended that bringing Anthony and Anna Howard Shaw to speak in Texas would be too costly for TERA. The group began to split over this question. Members Elizabeth Fry and Grace Danforth asked Hayes to resign after she blocked

798-450: The organization changed its name to the Texas Equal Suffrage Association (TESA). In 1917, the headquarters of TESA was moved from Houston to Austin. When Texas Governor James E. Ferguson , an opponent of women's suffrage, was indicted on various charges including embezzlement in 1917, TESA supported his impeachment. When the United States entered World War I in 1917, TESA used the momentum of patriotism to point out how women contributed to

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836-526: The other hand was acquitted by the Texas Senate in September 2023, Ferguson is one of only two statewide officeholders in Texas history to have been impeached, and the only statewide officeholder to be convicted and removed from office. Despite this, Ferguson ran for governor in the 1918 Democratic primary , but was defeated by his successor and incumbent, William P. Hobby of Houston , previously

874-553: The polls through the ballot. In 1918, TESA led the effort to get women the vote in state primary elections. In seventeen days, TESA and other suffrage organizations registered approximately 386,000 Texas women to vote. After Texas women were granted the primary vote in March 1918, TESA turned its attention to lobbying its federal representatives to support the Susan B. Anthony amendment to the federal constitution. In June 1919, Texas became

912-492: The university because of its refusal to dismiss certain faculty members whom Ferguson found objectionable, including William Harding Mayes , former Texas lieutenant governor and founder and dean of the University of Texas School of Journalism. He had been an opponent of Ferguson for the Democratic party's nomination for governor in 1914. The accusations against Mayes were that he used his ownership of newspapers, including

950-401: The war effort. During the war, TESA urged members to contribute to the war effort including creating victory gardens, purchasing thrift stamps and selling war bonds. As the president of TESA, Cunningham was quick to point out that immigrants, especially German Americans , were allowed to vote, but Texas men at war were disenfranchised and their mothers and wives were not able to represent them at

988-677: Was Elizabeth Goode Houston . Also in 1895, the treasurer of TERA reported that the group only had a total of $ 13.50 in revenue. TERA continued to thrive until around 1896, and helped pave the way for later efforts towards women's suffrage in Texas, such as the Texas Woman Suffrage Association . However, the organization was beginning to dissolve. Nevertheless, Houston still attended the NAWSA convention in January 1896. The secretary of TERA, Watson, eventually ran for office in Beaumont, also in 1896. In early 1897, TERA

1026-564: Was Lucy Knowles. Margaret L. Watson served as the secretary. Other early officers included Mrs. W.S. Herndon, Dr. M. Ellen Keller, Alice McAnulty, Belle Zurchill, Mrs. S.E. Acheson, Mrs. A.E. Smythe, Mrs. L.A. Craig and Dr. Smith. TERA based their own constitution and bylaws on those of the Kentucky Equal Rights Association . TERA formed auxiliary organizations in several other Texas cities, including Dallas, San Antonio and Beaumont . A Fort Worth auxiliary

1064-482: Was also surpassed by three other unsuccessful candidates: Though Ferguson was unsuccessful in the presidential election, the American Party did elect four members to the Texas House of Representatives ; Walter J. Kveton of Sealy , Otto F. Menking of Fayetteville , Henry Julius Neinast of Burton , and John Henry Wessels of La Grange . On January 28, 1922, Ferguson dissolved the American Party in order to run for

1102-476: Was elected as city attorney in Belton, Texas . In addition, he established Farmers State Bank. In 1906, he sold Farmers bank and established Temple State Bank. He also became active in the Democratic Party and managed several local political campaigns. He believed that "a Negro has no business whatever taking a part in the political affairs of the Democratic party, the white man's party." A part of his appeal as

1140-605: Was elected president of the TWSA at the state convention in Galveston. Cunningham was reelected each year until TESA evolved into the Texas League of Women Voters in October 1919. When Cunningham became president, there were 21 local chapters of the TWSA and about 2,500 members. By 1917, there were 98 local chapters. Cunningham led the TWSA in adopting the precinct -by-precinct organizing strategy developed by New York City suffragists. Under her tenure, TWSA received support from

1178-588: Was eventually expelled for disobedience. At 16, he left home and drifted through the states of the American West , working successively in a vineyard , a mine, a barbed wire factory, and at a grain ranch. After he returned to Texas, he studied law in Bell County and was admitted to the bar. On December 31, 1899, he married Miriam A. Wallace at her family home. They had two daughters: Ouida Wallace Ferguson, and Dorrace Watt Ferguson. In 1903, Ferguson

Texas Equal Suffrage Association - Misplaced Pages Continue

1216-611: Was formally organized on May 10, 1893, at the Windsor hotel in Dallas . There were about fifty charter members, including many men who supported women's suffrage. TERA was affiliated with the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). The first president of TERA, Hayes, was also the state delegate for NAWSA conventions. The vice president was Sarah L. Trumbull and the treasurer

1254-525: Was formed in 1894. Eventually nine local chapters were created, most of these in cities where officers of TERA lived. The first annual convention of TERA took place in Fort Worth from June 6 to 8 in 1894. Recruiting new members to the group was difficult, however, because of the perception that "suffrage was radical and unwomanly". Nevertheless, the efforts of TERA helped spark a state-wide interest in women's suffrage and increased coverage of suffrage in

1292-638: Was still sending representatives to meetings. The lack of funding and the conflicts eventually took their toll on the organization and it ceased operation. James E. Ferguson 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. He was indicted and impeached during his second term, forced to resign and barred from holding further Texas office. Unable to run under his own name, Ferguson ran his wife's campaign for governor; Miriam A. Ferguson , known as "Ma" Ferguson,

1330-515: Was the best person for the job. Meanwhile, Winkler fought for his job by enlisting the help of his colleagues. Other high-profile librarians voiced their support of Winkler, as did the son of an ex-governor, and a chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas . After being re-elected in 1916 , Ferguson vetoed the appropriations for the University of Texas . The veto was retaliation against

1368-498: Was the first woman's suffrage association to be formed state-wide in Texas . The organization was founded in 1893 and was an affiliate of the National American Woman Suffrage Association . The TERA was meant to "advance the industrial, educational, and equal rights of women, and to secure suffrage to them by appropriate State and national legislation." It was also an answer to Texas Governor James Stephen Hogg , who had stated publicly in

1406-538: Was twice elected as governor, serving two non-consecutive terms, from 1925 to 1927 and 1933 to 1935. 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. Ferguson was born to the Reverend James E. Ferguson, and Fannie Ferguson near Salado in south Bell County , Texas. At age 12 he entered Salado College (a preparatory school) but

1444-681: Was very active with frequent meetings, public lectures and the distribution of literature. Annette Finnigan, who had returned to Houston in 1909, also began to form local suffrage groups in 1912. Brackenridge was responsible for reorganizing TWSA in 1913. In April of that year, 100 Texans met in San Antonio to reactivate TWSA with seven local chapters sending delegates. The delegates elected Brackenridge as president. Annette Finnigan succeeded Brackenridge as president in 1914, followed by Minnie Fisher Cunningham from Galveston in 1915. The Texas Woman Suffrage Association had three objectives: 1) support

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