Most of us from
Texas have read about the origination of the Texas Rangers and the rough years
they had with lack of state funding and low pay. But, it wasn’t until I was
researching for my latest time travel, Birdie’s Nest, that I learned about
the political problems the Rangers faced.
At the beginning
of the 20th century, lawyers became a major threat to the Rangers.
They challenged the legality of Ranger arrests by quoting the 1874 law that
allowed only supervisors to make arrests of which there were only four in the
state. Law on the Frontier faded and the Frontier Battalion ceased to exist
when a new law went to affect. The new Ranger Force dropped to four companies
of 20 men each.
In 1905, the
Rangers still had their Wild West era reputation, but they were gradually
evolving into detectives and solved cases with modern crime fighting techniques.
They still dealt with trouble along the border and after Spindle Top, kept
peace in oil Boom Towns.
In 1927 Miriam
“Ma” Ferguson, Democratic candidate, was elected the first woman Governor of
Texas. Her husband, James Ferguson, served as Governor from 1915 to 1917 but
during his second term he was impeached, convicted and removed from office to
never hold office in Texas again.
His wife decided
to run in his place promising to follow the advise of her husband. “A common
campaign slogan was, ‘Me for Ma, and I Ain’t Got a Durned Thing Against Pa.’”
During her first term, Ma averaged over 100 pardons a month. There were accusations
of bribes and kickbacks, but attempts to impeach failed.
“Ma’s” second
term was less controversial but rumors abounded that state highway contracts
went to those companies that advertised in the Fergusons’ newspaper. A House
committee found no wrongdoing. Ma was instrumental in establishing the
University of Houston as a four-year institution. Though both she and her
husband were teetotalers; she aligned herself with the “wets” in the war on
prohibition. She took a firm stand against the Ku Klux Klan and pushed for
sales tax and corporate income tax.
During her two
terms, she granted almost four thousand pardons, many were those convicted of
violating prohibition laws. Rumors circulated that pardons were available in
exchange for cash payments to the governor’s husband. In 1936 the Texas Board
of Paroles was invented to take over the power.
When “Ma” was
re-elected, in protest over political corruption, 40 Rangers quit the force;
the remaining Rangers were fired. Political appointments replaced them. In
1934, after an investigation of corruption, a panel recommended the formation
of the Texas Department of Public Safety to be headed by an Independent Public
Safety Commission. The newly elected Governor Allred revoked the commission of
all Rangers appointed by the Ferguson administration.
In 1935, the
Department of Public Safety begins operation. Tom Hickman is commissioned
Senior Ranger. He later serves as a member of the Public Safety Commission.
Former Rangers Frank Hammer and Manny Gault are commissioned to end the crime spree of outlaws Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker.
Pictured is the Posse of Six, the officers who ended the life of the two outlaws. Manny Gault is standing on the right and Frank Hamer is kneeling on the left. The duo, who had killed 14 law-enforcement officers, were shown no mercy when ambushed by the six officers.
In 1939, despite
the neutrality of the US, Captain Frank Hammer and 49 retired Rangers offered
their services to the King of England to protect their shores against Nazi
invasion. The King thanked them for their offer. The US State Department was
not amused.
During WWII, US
Army Intelligence Division Officers train with the Texas Rangers in Austin at
the DPS Headquarters.
References:
Texas Ranger History: Timeline - Order Out of Chaos (See The Official Ranger Hall of Fame and Museum in Waco, Texas Website.)
www.texasalmanac.com/topics/history/texas-rangers-horses-helicopters
Happy Reading and Writing, folks...oh and let's not forget researching our next project.
Linda
www.lindalaroque.com
