Did you Know? Even though our current Governor portrays it otherwise, the governor for the State of Texas has very little power within the halls of government. The real power resides in the office of Lt. Governor. The reasons go back to reconstruction and the reconstruction governors who held office after the war. The most notable was Edmund Jackson Davis. Davis, a radical Republican during Reconstruction, was controversial to say the least for the times. Davis held a commitment to the civil rights of black people. As such, Davis was naturally despised by racists. Davis was defeated by the Democrat Richard Coke in his bid for reelection. Davis contested the results and refused to leave office. As a result, Governor-elect Coke was forced to enter the Capitol by a ladder propped up against a second floor window. Davis called on President Grant for help but Grant refused to send troops to Texas. Davis left the capital in January 1874. On his way out, he locked the door to the governor's office and took the key with him. Coke entered his office with the help of an axe. In 1875 Texans held a constitutional convention to replace the Constitution of 1869. In 1876 Texans adopted the state's present constitution which was designed to prevent any possibility of having the changes forced on them by reconstruction, such as the power wielded by reconstruction governors, ever happen again. The Governor's duties, expanded during the Davis term were limited and dispersed among a number of independently elected offices who did not have to share the same political affliation as the governor. Republican's would not hold the Governor's office until almost a century later when Bill Clements was elected in 1978! Photo - Edmund Jackson Davis.
Did you Know? In 1620, María de Jesús de Agreda, a Franciscan nun, also known as the Lady in Blue (The nuns' habit was brown with an outer cloak of coarse blue) would often lapse into a trance state in which she believed she was transported to far away lands where she taught the Gospel to wild pagan-like people. In July 1629, a group of Jumano Indians from West Texas appeared at the Franciscan Co...nvent of Isleta. (Near present day Albuquerque) The Jumanos had a basic understanding of Christianity, and were seeking more religious teaching. When asked how they learned about the religion, they responded that, "The Woman in Blue had taught them." Photo - María de Jesús de Agreda, The Lady in Blue.
Did you know? Balmorhea, Texas got its name as a result of a disagreement by the town's four developers. The men, Mr. BALcome, Mr. MORrow, and the RHEA were on a train when the argument broke out. A quick thinking conductor suggested using the amalgam. The town is best known for sharing its name with the Balmorhea State Park, home to the San Solomon Springs even though the springs are located 4 miles south of Balmorhea in Toyahvale. The springs, a little known Texas treasure, flow between 22 and 29 million gallons of water each day. The park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1936 and 1941.
Mike Kearby's Texas Copyright 2011
