DUANE
Duane's take
Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say — and this one's got some range to it, so settle in. Charles Allen Culberson spent thirty-two years in Texas political life, and if you think that sounds like a long time, well, the marker's not finished yet. Born in Alabama, he came to Texas as a boy, moving with his parents and landing in Jefferson, where he'd live from 1861 all the way to 1887.
He got his education at Virginia Military Institute and the University of Virginia — no small credentials — and then he came right back to Jefferson in 1877 to start practicing law. And not just any law firm. His father's firm.
His father being D. B. Culberson, United States Congressman.
The man stepped into a room that already had high ceilings. He moved to Dallas in 1887, and then things started moving fast. He won election as attorney general in 1890, won again in 1892, and here's where the story gets some real weight to it — in that office, he recovered for the state of Texas more than two million acres of public domain that had been illegally claimed by railroads.
Two million acres. He also threw his support behind the reforms of Governor James S. Hogg, particularly the antitrust laws and the creation of the Railroad Commission.
The railroads were having a rough go of it with Charles Culberson around. Then came two terms as governor, 1895 to 1899, and the man built himself a reputation for vigorous law enforcement and a fiscal policy tight enough to actually reduce state expenses. They called him the veto governor — now, that sounds like an insult until you hear the rest of it, because he was able to show the Legislature and the people the justice of every one of those vetoes.
That's not stubbornness. That's something closer to conviction. He was elected to the United States Senate in 1898, became Senate Minority Leader in 1907, and in 1908 the National Democratic Party considered him for the presidency.
Let that one sit a moment — a boy who grew up in Jefferson, Texas, considered for the highest office in the country. His chief work in the Senate came on the Judiciary Committee, which he chaired from 1913 to 1919. He retired in 1922.
He died in Washington, and he is buried in Fort Worth. Thirty-two years. Attorney general, governor, United States Senator, Minority Leader, presidential prospect, and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The marker calls him one of Texas' most forceful leaders, and after all that, it's hard to find a reason to argue.
What the marker says
One of Texas' most forceful leaders; 32 years in office as attorney general, governor, U. S. Senator. Born in Alabama; in childhood moved with parents to Texas. Lived in Jefferson 1861-1887. Was educated Virginia Military Institute, University of Virginia. Began practice of law in Jefferson, 1877, in firm of his father, United States Congressman D. B. Culberson. He moved to Dallas 1887. Won elections as attorney general, 1890 and 1892. In this office recovered for Texas more than 2,000,000 acres of public domain illegally claimed by railroads. He also gave strong support to reforms of Gov. James S. Hogg, notably in antitrust laws, and creation of Railroad Commission. In two terms as governor (1895-1899), was famous for vigorous law enforcement and a strong fiscal policy which reduced state expenses. Although known as "veto governor," he was able to show Legislature and the people the justice of his vetoes. Elected to the United States Senate, 1898; became Senate Minority Leader, 1907, and was considered for the presidency, 1908, by National Democratic Party. Chief Senate service was on Judiciary Committee, of which he was chairman, 1913-1919. Retired in 1922. Died in Washington. Is buried in Fort Worth.