january 42nd governor kentucky serving graduated opened law practice kentucky formed political alliance future prominent republicans eastern state serving state highest court having previously served county judge circuit court judge elevated chief justice served republican gubernatorial nominee democrats nominated governor senator challenge primary issue campaign outlaw betting state favored ban opposed political machine known backed key democrats party nomination won governorship votes republican ticket lost small results suggested carefully coordinated vote occurred ensure defeat proven term office tumultuous legislature dominated democrats particularly responsive proposals session indicted accepting gifts textbook companies charges later dropped removed democratic political boss post highway commissioner legislators stripping appointment powers johnson post later session proposed allow dam generate hydroelectric power general_assembly instead voted accept offer purchase falls turn state park assembly voted restrict powers end term complicated economic realities great depression called quell violent strike known following term returned elected circuit court judge died buried early life born log cabin near london kentucky ninth children born educated county public schools family moved kentucky thirteen age sixteen teaching attended enrolled class president years earned university policy awarded prior graduation studied year law office returned kentucky admitted bar june established legal practice city attorney college roommate joined partner law firm powers later accused assassination governor powers convicted partisan jury political martyr republicans connection heavily republican eastern kentucky later served president youngest person hold position served president september married couple daughters political career political career began elected county judge kentucky position held years elected circuit court 34th elected post later year elected court resort kentucky represented kentucky seventh district elevated chief justice january elected court governor kentucky congressman organized formidable republican faction eastern kentucky candidate republican gubernatorial nomination opponent tax collector lucas secured support kentucky senators backed longtime supporter coalition leaders supported betting horse races won primary margin democratic_party badly divided betting issue prohibition tax coal anti gambling faction democratic_party help editor united governor senator party gubernatorial nominee following nomination pro gambling anti prohibition democrats support sitting democratic governor elected help passive campaign refused support campaign particularly contentious contrasted humble roots aristocratic ones declaring plain old elected governor kentucky come office sit moral purity claiming smoked drank bet election promised protect horse racing commonwealth response opponents dubbed won election majority votes republican candidate lost small margins lieutenant governor race democrat defeated running mate votes cast estimated spent half million dollars defeat large majority versus close defeat republican candidates suggested type fraud proven legislative session clear support shown political convenience true conviction minor accomplishments session creation forerunner adoption old kentucky home state song sanctioned plan free textbooks fund proposals ban betting teaching evolution state schools defeated kentucky historian called legislative session session following session grand jury indicted accepting gifts textbook companies indictment eventually dismissed major controversy administration selection state highway commissioner employed thousand people spent nearly state budget legislators votes bought promises new road construction districts department primary vehicle patronage political supporters predecessor governor fields chosen retired congressman democratic political boss head department agreed retain exchange support felt powerful position left hands democrat removed johnson office december democrats general_assembly outraged legislative session convened immediately passed bill stripped power appoint highway commissioner giving person commission composed governor lieutenant governor attorney general outnumbered group confident democrats lose gubernatorial election democratic legislators stipulated bill appointment power return governor end term law passed house vote senate vote vetoed bill veto johnson returned position enemies backed plan dam generate hydroelectric power ally traditional southern power groups utility companies textbook manufacturers cited jobs gained plan plan opposed state state newspapers alternate plan proposed louisville born millionaire delaware senator offered purchase falls turn state park general_assembly passed legislation giving state park commission right eminent domain falls voted accept offer vetoed assembly action veto agenda session lost fights calls funding free textbook program compulsory mentally ill restrictions chain stores ignored instead legislature continued gubernatorial powers including power appoint members textbook commission nearly governor powers stripped away given person commission lieutenant governor facto governor remainder term general_assembly pursued agenda passing mandatory driver license law revised election law sales tax retail stores allocated funding purchase cave national park vetoed bills session legislature onset great depression worked control government costs endorsed highway progression severe drought left kentucky counties applying federal aid unemployment eastern coal fields climbed percent region owners began firing workers joined union workers gathered kentucky local sheriff added deputies staff helping enforce miners discourage organization union leaders petitioned remove sheriff county judge office violent striking union miners local authorities began early mid april guards killed shootout known days later called national_guard guards union miners union leaders arrested strike ultimately failed later political career following term governor returned legal practice elected circuit court judge sought election defeated republican primary appointed citizens advisory highway committee awarded governor distinguished public service age ninety served died kentucky buried cemetery
Flem D. Sampson