by Pat Neff included membership on the Pat Morris Neff Texas Railroad Commission and the Na­ tional Railway Mediation Board, first Pat Morris Neff, who died at the age _ layman president of the Southern Baptist of 80 at his home in Waco Sunday, was Convention, head of the Texas Water­ a Central Texas farm youth who be­ sheds Association, past grand master of came the governor of the sta:te and pres­ Texas Masons and past grand chancellor ident of a large university. For more of the Knights of Pythias. than a generation he was an · influential A .staunch prohibitionist, Pat Neff figure in political and religious fields. a bstained from the use of liquor, tobacco, Pat Neff, as·he was universally known, coffee and tea. A devoted patron of edu­ exemplified the opportunity that lies in cation, he served long as trustee and free America for the young man of am­ later as president of Baylor University, bition, ability and energy. He was thor ­ where he maintained an office until his oughly . Texan, and spent practically all death. his life in t; e blackland region ~f the Pat Neff left his imprint on his state state. He made many contributions to the and the lives of many under his influ­ progress of Texas, not the least of which ence. Texas is a better state by reason was the inspiring example of a man who of native sons of his type and their con­ practiced what he preached. structive service. In public and private life, Pat Neff had clear-cut convictions and the cour­ nge to espouse them without fear of con­ sequence. As governor, he called out the Defense Collaboration /i National Guard to deal with labor and oil field troubles, when a less resolute A tangible result of Prime Minister man might have temporized or evaded. Churchill's visit to the United States, Fearlessness of the type exercised by apart from better mutual understanding iUCh men as President Grover Cleveland between two allies and co-ordination in was a Neff trait that well could lie emu­ foreign policy, has been the agreement lated in public life of today. to swap critical defense materials which An example of his -tenaciousness and both need in rearmament. his adherence to conviction was his stub­ born fight in the 1924 Democratic na­ The British will be allowed to buy tional convention against both Alfred E. one million long tons of .American steel, Smith and William G. McAdoo, the chief and the United States will be sold 20,000 rivals for the presidential nomination. long tons of tin and 55 million pounds Af.ter a long deadlock, John W. Davis of aluminum by the British. Tin and was given the party's nominatfon on the aluminum are sorely needed by the 103rd ballot. United States for defense production, and While stern in his beliefs, the 28th the American steel will be used in man­ governor . of Texas was a friendly man ufacture of British tanks, munitions and with a legion of close admirers and with so on. ian abiding devotion to his state. During Thereby, rearmament will be. expe­ his two terms as governor, Texas Tech­ dited in both couritries, and the distribu­ nological College at Lubbock, the state tion of critical materials will be deter­ college at Kingsville, the Texas system of mined by essential need rather than the state parks and the Texas Historical mere ability ·to pay. Tin supplied by Board were created. Britain to the United States will be de­ Pat Neff attracted nationwide atten­ rived from Malaya, which is exposed to tion in the · 1920 campaign for governor Communist. aggression and is being de­ in which he defeated former Senator f~nded by British forces. Joseph Weldon Bailey. Mr. Neff was said The United States is not interested in to have visited practically every com­ perpetuating British rule of Malaya but munity in Texas in carrying his case to certainly in keeping open a 'source of the voters. Previously he had been a supply of tin. The same practical consid­ member of the Legislature, speaker of eration extends to many regions in the the House, and prosecuting attorney in Far East where critical materials are ob-' McLennan County. He was a fearless tained. Should these regions fall under protagonist of law enforcement. Russian domination as they were under Other positions of prominence held ~ Japanese control in World War II. onr .