howeenterprise.com
Monday, May 16, 2016
Page #10
Texas History Minute: recently formed Railroad Commission in their efforts to regulate railroad practices. Just as Culberson’s second term as governor was ending in 1899, the new state legislature voted to make him the new U. S. Senator from Texas. He became an influential member of the Senate. He Dr. Ken Bridges ultimately served as chairman of Charles Culberson was part of an four different committees in his influential Texas political family. twenty-four year Senate career. He would lead a notable career in his Additionally, for two years own right, serving two terms as starting in 1907, he headed the governor and three terms in the U. S. Senate Democratic caucus. Senate. For six years, Culberson served Charles Allen Culberson was born in as chairman of the powerful June 1855 in eastern Alabama. Senate Judiciary Committee, Shortly after he was born, his which oversaw the Senate’s ambitious father, David B. considerations of presidential Culberson, moved the family to nominations for federal judges. Texas and set up a law firm in His committee approved four Upshur County and was a state nominees to the Supreme Court legislator by 1858 and later a United for consideration by the full States Congressman from 1875 to Senate, including Attorney 1897. General James McReynolds in 1914 and Louis Brandeis, the Culberson graduated from the first Jew to serve on the Supreme prestigious Virginia Military Court, in the divisive 1916 Institute in 1874 and earned a law election year. degree from the University of Virginia in 1877. He served as an That year, Culberson himself attorney in Jefferson in East Texas faced re-election to the Senate for several years before moving to and had to face the voters Dallas in 1887. directly instead of the election held in the state legislature, In 1890, Culberson made his first thanks to 1913 ratification of the run for political office, announcing Seventeenth Amendment he had his candidacy for attorney general. supported. Culberson won His father’s influence as a easily, as he had in most congressman helped Culberson gain elections so far. the political traction he needed. As a result, Culberson won the election Democrats lost control of the handily. Senate in the 1920 election, Culberson still was able to chair Like his predecessor, Jim Hogg, who a committee, given his seniority had since risen to become governor, and respect among his fellow Culberson attacked the corruption in Senators. He chaired the the railroad industry and the priceCommittee on Private Land fixing practices many railroads used Claims, a small committee to hurt farmers shipping their crops devoted to settling land disputes to market. His popularity by 1894 on property bought from the propelled him to the governorship as federal government. well. Culberson was disgusted by the tactics, corruption, and violence As governor, Culberson enacted a of the Ku Klux Klan, which was number of reforms, just as Hogg had rising quickly throughout the done in the previous four years. He nation in the years following signed laws aimed at combatting World War I. He spoke out monopolies in the state, made against the KKK on several modest changes in the judicial occasions, but Culberson’s system, and gave new powers to the political influence was gradually
receding. Culberson’s alcoholism continued to take its toll on him. His health declined, and he neglected many duties to his constituents in Texas, which became even more important as the Senate was now elected by the general public rather than state legislators. In 1922, he faced re-election but was unable to campaign. The KKK threw everything it had into Railroad Commissioner Earle B. Mayfield,
who managed to oust the four-term Senator. After Culberson’s term ended in January 1923, he stayed in Washington, DC, in general seclusion during his retirement. He died in 1925. Dr. Bridges is a Texas native, writer, and history professor. He can be reached at drkenbridges@gmail.com.
