Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1901-01-18
Watch Meeting Held The Last
Night Of The Year.
President Cooper proclaims Him
self Dictator And VIII Not
Allow an Election.

6NN.. :. .og IL night of d e.
ES ~~- -, &$ cember 3lst.,
M ssssl proved 20 b e
one of tn e
most exciting in the history of the
club. Nearly every single member
was in his seat, or some body else
seat, and most of the married men
who succeeded in obtaining permits
from their wives, were also on hand.
1t was the regular time for elect
ling officers, and no soonerhad
President Bill Cooper raped for
order than Col. Bill Bamberger Sc
cured the floor, or rather enough of
tito accommodate his feet, aud moved
that the club proceed to elect Off
GERS.
| President Cooper rose to his feet
and to the occasion ana instead of
putting to motion, spoke as follows:
Under ordinary circumstances
should put the motion just made,
but / do not believe it is to the
best interests of the Club to hold ell
lections so often. During the ten
ears of its existence, it has accum-
ulated a job lot of ex-Presidents
ranging from my venerable friend
| Col. Claggett down to the fresh young
windjamnier whohas just assaulted
the silence of this solemn occasion
with a motion prompted by his own
inordinate and ridiculous ambition
to run again for President. This
club now has a President who
meets all the requirements of his
position. In my opinion any at
tempt to make a change would be
disastrous. | don't believe there
is any necessity for an election at
this time and as we have other bust
ness on hand l will declare Col
Bamberger's motion out of order
and let the election go over until
another year If any member at
tempts to appeal from this decision,
will fine him SIS and sentence him
to spend week in the solitudes of
GAINESVILLE.
This bold utterance created a
profound sensation, the fearful
threat with which the Dictator con-
Guided his proclamation paralyzed
the vocal organs of every
member who essayed to enter pro-
test. Some of the members who have
plenty of money and love to spend
it like Col. Ed Gather, Col Burch
p Bassett and Col Mike Kelly, were
willing TO throw away $25 apiece,
but the fear of having to go to the
country fora week kept them from
uttering, speaking or articulating
a word of objection. Col Bamberger
was visibly and terribly affected.
Once he started to rise, but one look
from the bewhiskered tyrant in the
chair was enough to 'squelch" him
into submission After a few brief
moments of painful silence, the
President resumed his seat and
pointing to the clock. called attention
to the fact that the end of the cen
tury was at hand and that within
five minutes the club was to witness
the birth of the Twentieth Century.
This served to divert attention
from the suspension of the constitu-
tional provision pertaining to cleo
ton, and Col. claggett was United
to make speech and give his rec
objection OF the similar event that
occurred when he was boy. Col
Claggett came forward with the
activity and graceful bearing of a
man of 90 or 70 years old, but be-
fore he could begin what would
undoubtedly have been very fine
speech, a fearful din Of multiplied
noises broke loose. The ponderons
bell in the Court house tower tolled |
thqminutessof aeetipgs Time. The
VIVA cat whistle Of the FIRE depart
meht shrieked requiem to the
dylpG Year The sweet-toned bells
ofnany churches chimed a welcome