The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1908-03-26
MOUNTAIN CONGRESS
Boys Have Fine Meeting and Learn
About Politics-Session Most Sue
cessfui Yet, and Helps Train Good
Lawmakers.


Lawmakers.
One of the most high minded leg
islative BODIES on record, one which
framed every kind of reform, closed In
Berea Tuesday night, when the Noun
tain Congress of 1908 came to an
end. Many good bills were passed,
and the session will long live in his
tory as one that defied predatory
wealth, the whiskey interests and
every other obstacle to progress and
legislated only for the good of the
state.
The most important law Of the ses-
sion was that prohibiting the sale Of
liquor. 1t was passed after a County
Unit Bill had been defeated by the
combined temperance and whiskey
vote. The County Unit Bill was sup
ported by Marshal Vaughn in an
eloquent address, but was attacked
by Gilbert Combs and others as not
going far enough. The whiskey men
as usual said little but voted hard,
and the bill was lost. The Prohibi-
ton Bill which came late in the ses-
sion. was at first defeated, but pass
ed on reconsideration.
Another bill which caused trouble
was that on the state aid for good
roads. This was passed and was
vetoed by Gov. Penix on the ground
that it was unconstitutional. The
Speaker so far forgot himself as to
refused to put a motion to pass the
bill over the veto, claiming that the
Supreme Court would have to pass
on the constitutionality, but not ex-
planning how the court would get a
chance at the DILL unless it was en-
acted. Republican Leader Carl Kirk,
after much trouble succeeded in get
ting an appeal from the Speakers rri-
ing put before the House, and the
Speaker was overruled. The bill was
then passed unanimously.
Other bills passed were one grant,
ing state aid for the public libraries.
one providing for an agricultural col
lege, supported by Francis Clark. one
establishing a state Bureau of Fores-
try, one to protect fish, one abolish
ing the present school trustees.
which passed by big majority after
n. II. Ambrose had made a strong
attack on the present system and
told of some of his experiences with
it, a bill to prevent combinations
of capital to regulate prices, an anti
child labor bill, supported by Elmer
Frederic and Leander Stewart, a
bill to provide free text books Cor
the public schools and an anti-cigar-
cite bill.
Bills which were defeated were: on,
requiring the cremation Of all bodies.
which was supported by Leander
Stewart in an eloquent but gruesome
address, a woman suffrage measure,
killed by a brilliant effort of j. w.
Dooley, but one which brought the
statement from his opponents that
after ii no woman in her senses woul
, marry him. and bill for an appropri
alton for the Berea Normal School.
The session, was all things consid-
cred, quiet one. for it was ruled
with an iron hand by the Speaker,
whose blindness to members demand
ing the floor was remarkable. 1t
was opened, after the usual formalltit
by the reading of the Governors mes
sage by the Governor himself. The
message was too Ions to suit the
Speaker, so h induced the Governor
to cut 1t short. Some excitement wal
caused at one point by the sudden
dropping into the Democratic ranks
of rooster. securely tiei up, but wit
his voice at liberty.
Organization was completed at the
morning session, and was as follows: