The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1905-1910, 1910-09-23
MR.. JOHNSON AND
THOSE SENATE RULES


The Bowling Green News. in a very
labored and painful manner, has re.
Gently undertaken TO defend Mr.. Ben
johnson for the part he took in the
preparation Of the infamous rules of
the last State Senate, and his record
on the temperance question.
We do not believe that the News.
even in the ardor of Its support of
MI. Johnson, would knowingly mis-.
represent the iacts in the case; but
II IL apparent that its editor has been
made the dupe OF a very erroneous
account Of them, and this belated ef.
fort, about eight months after the oc.
cuirence. TO defend Mr. Johnson s
part in framing those rules is a
most palpably weak excuse for MIN
II - noticeable that so long a time
has been allowed to elapse before
denial OF explanation should be OF.
fered, and only can the delay be &C
counted for upon the theory that IL
has been desired that the recollection
in the minds Of the people about the
whole transaction should be given
time TO fade
Our Bowling Green contemporary
has either forgotten the facts or else
II has been grossly imposed upon.
The State Journal frequently and cor.
reotly at the time gave the facts, and
It's statements OF them were never
disputed No newspaper in the State
and no man. so far as II could hear.
denied the accuracy Of its statements.
At the opening OF the session Of
the General Assembly last January.
two OF the most active and busy men
In Frankfort. not having Official duties
hero, were Mr.. Ben johnson and MIR.
John whallen. Il was generally I'M
stood that they were here help
ing 10 organize" the two houses II
appeared that their efforts wero par
ticularly directed towards organizing
the senate. and tina, y. WAS organized
TO a queen taste. o.: rather to a
brewers taste. every one must admit.
The rules. wal'h were alIo.tly e
not ciandslii1e'y, rairoaded, through
were a monsrrons mockcry cf THriia-
mentary Justice. and placed abso-
mtely IN the hands OF two or three
members the control OF legislation
Speaker Cannon in his palmiest days
never had anything so bad and unfair
Senators Linn and Combs had
charge of preparing them and seemed
"a have some outside assistance II
the work. The rules they prepared
we're so raw. that they evidently
feared to put them to a vote of the
Senate: so they had taken the pre-
caution, as they thought. of putting
in the resolution, directing them tc
prepare the rules. provision which
read like this. said rule shall be
come operative when reported 10 the
Senate"
Mark the significance OF this clause
II says when reported" not when
adopted by the Senate" One Of thos,
Senators stated that the clause was
put in the resolution at the suggestion
OF Congressman Ben johnson. In
some way ii was left out of the resO
luton when II passed. but those Sen
ators thought II was still in.
Isn't 1t rather strange that no denial
wns ever made about the Congress
mans part Of it: Now, our friend, the
News, tries TO explain II away by say
ing:
THE News knows that the resolu'
ton referred TO was written by Eli II
Brown and that Mr.. Johnson happened
10 enter the room, where the resolution
was being prepared and offered sug
gestion which, II II had been adopted
would have resulted in the refusal OF
the Senate TO adopt it In fact, Mr.
Johnson's suggestion was TO prevent
deception and had 1t been adopted
there is no doubt but that II would
have served the purpose for which
II was intended"
Now that is the most curious Eek
PLANTATION" we have ever seen. Il Is
useles TO discuss II. II speaks for
tfaalf