The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1904-01-07
An Exciting Time in the Legis-
lature Caucus.
sen.tor Campbell, of Psduoah, Makes
Great Impression ON the
Legislators.
HAS RESOLUTION ADOPTED

Frankfort, Ky. Jan. The Demo
cratic joint caucus for state Librarian
and prison commissioners proved to be
the most sensational feature OF the
legislative session, MP to this time.
Taking the position that the caucus
had been called for only ono specified
purpose, Chairman J. Campbell Can
trill ruled out of order resolution by
Senator J. Wheeler Campbell OF Padu-
cab, the purpose OF which resolution
WAS to make binding any JOINT csucus
call signed by a majority OF the Dem
ocratic members OF the two houses for
the purpose of taking action ON the
school book bill.
At the last session the school book
bill was defeated, principally because
the majority OF senators refused to
Join in for joint csucus and the OBJ
Jet Of the Campbell resolution was 20
make binding q call signed by ma
jority Of the 100 senators and repre-
sontstives, instead OF requiring IL
should be signed by . majority OF the
Democrats OF each house.
The champions of the school book
bill generally conceded the Wheeler
resolution was revolutionary in form,
but declared the means justified the
end, whiis others who are sincerely
fos school book Legislation declared
that they were not willing 70 stand
for such . course As was mapped out
by the resolution.
Chairman Cantrill refused TO enter
tain an appeal from his decision that
the resolution was out Of order and
the widest excitement reigned.
By . resolution in the chair deolsr-
ing the caucus adjourned and telling
the members to Take 10 and do ~
they pleased with IT," Speaker Brown
mounted a desk and the caucus was re
organized by the election Of Senator
Hickman as chairman and the Camp
bell resolution was adopted by = vote
of 81 10 (, a dozen senators and repre-
sentativss having left tho hall with
the abdioating chairman. More than
q score OF speeches were made and for
three hours the hall resembled an e1-
citing political convention.
During the last minutes OF the ses
sion Miss Pauline Hardin was unani-
mously nominated for state librarian
and @ V Green for prison comm is
sioner, his two opponents Messrs
Charles b. Sullivan. of woodford
county. and T H. Reed OF Boyle eoun-
~, withdrawing
Campbelrs resolution was al fol
lows: BE it>sesolved by Democratic
members OF the Keatuoky legislature,
in caucus assembled First, That the
chairman of the senate caucus be chair
man OF the joint caucus Of Democratic
members Of the two houses Second.
That member Of the house who shall
be hereafter selected shall be secretary
OF the joint caucus. Third That,
whenever during the session of the
present assembly of Kentucky, petit
ton in writing signed by q majority
Of members of the joint Democratic
caucus, addressed to the chairman
calling for a meeting of said joint eau
Gus at some place and time designated
in said petition, then joint caucus will
be called in accordance with petition
so signed
Senator Campbell explained in a
most vigorous and eloquent speech
which quickly stamped him as one Of
the ablest speakers that has been sent
o frankfort in many years, that the
real purpose OF his resolution was to
prevent repetition of action of Demo
cratic senators two years ago in pre-
venting caucus on the school books
bill by majority of them refusing to
sign a call for caucus He said that
under his resolution school book eau
Gus could be called by majority of
both house, sinstead of its being neces-
ssry to get majority of each house