Flem D. Sampson, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

    

Flem D. Sampson

42nd Governor of Kentucky

Date of Birth: 23-Jan-1875

Place of Birth: Laurel County, Kentucky, United States

Date of Death: 25-May-1967

Profession: judge, lawyer

Nationality: United States

Zodiac Sign: Aquarius


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About Flem D. Sampson

  • Flemon Davis "Flem" Sampson (January 23, 1875 – May 25, 1967) was the 42nd Governor of Kentucky, serving from 1927 to 1931.
  • He graduated from Valparaiso University in 1894, and opened a law practice in Barbourville, Kentucky.
  • He formed a political alliance with future Representatives Caleb Powers and John Robsion, both prominent Republicans in the eastern part of the state.
  • By 1916, he was serving on the Kentucky Court of Appeals (the state's highest court) and had previously served as a county judge and circuit court judge.
  • In 1923, he was elevated to chief justice of the Court of Appeals.
  • He served until 1927, when he became the Republican gubernatorial nominee. The Democrats nominated former governor and senator J.
  • C.
  • W.
  • Beckham to challenge Sampson.
  • The primary issue in the campaign was whether to outlaw parimutuel betting at the state's racetracks.
  • Beckham favored the ban, and Sampson opposed it.
  • A political machine, known as the Jockey Club, backed Sampson, and several key Democrats bolted the party after Beckham's nomination.
  • Sampson won the governorship by over 32,000 votes, but every other Republican on the ticket lost by small majorities.
  • The results suggested that some careful vote fraud had been co-ordinated to ensure Beckham's defeat, but none was ever proved. Sampson's term in office was a tumultuous one.
  • The 1928 legislature was dominated by Democrats and was not particularly responsive to Sampson's proposals.
  • After the session, Sampson was indicted for accepting gifts from textbook companies, but the charges were later dropped.
  • In 1929, Sampson removed Democratic political boss Ben Johnson from his post as highway commissioner.
  • When legislators reconvened in 1930, they retaliated by stripping Sampson of many of his appointment powers and reinstalling Johnson to his post.
  • Later in the session, Sampson proposed to allow Samuel Insull to dam the Cumberland Falls to generate hydroelectric power.
  • The General Assembly instead voted to accept an offer from T.
  • Coleman du Pont to purchase the falls and turn them into a state park.
  • The Assembly voted to restrict further Sampson's powers in 1930.
  • The end of Sampson's term was complicated by the economic realities of the Great Depression.
  • He called out the Kentucky National Guard to quell a violent mine strike in Harlan County, known as the Battle of Evarts.
  • Following his term, Sampson returned to Barbourville and was re-elected as a circuit court judge.
  • He died May 25, 1967 and was buried in Barbourville Cemetery.

Read more at Wikipedia

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