Flem D. Sampson

Flem Davis Sampson ( born January 25, 1875 Laurel County, Kentucky, † May 25 1967 in Pewee Valley, Kentucky ) was an American politician and governor of the state of Kentucky.

Early years

Flem Sampson graduated from Union College and Valparaiso University. He then began a legal career as an attorney of the city of Barboursville. Between 1905 and 1924 he was a judge in various districts of the country. From 1923 he was even Chief Justice ( Chief Justice ) of Kentucky.

Governor of Kentucky

Sampson was a member of the Republican Party, which nominated him in 1927 as a candidate for the gubernatorial elections. At the same time, the Democratic Party was split internally on issues such as the sale of alcoholic beverages and the pros and cons of horse racing. Your candidate was the former Governor JCW Beckham, who joined against the betting operations and for maintaining the ban on alcohol. Many Democrats could not follow him in and voted for Sampson, who campaigned for legal horse betting. Sampson then won the general election with 52.1 % of votes. Beckham came to a share of 47.9 %.

Sampson's tenure began on December 13, 1927 and ended on December 8, 1931. During this time, the so-called Progress Commission was launched, emerged from the then Ministry of Commerce ( Department of Commerce ) in the country. In addition, the Governor sat for the further expansion of the road network a. The second part of his tenure was overshadowed by the global economic crisis. Sampson sought to have the government spending under control. But in the wake of the crisis, there were sporadic riots. So he had in 1931 the National Guard in labor unrest in Harlan County use. In connection with his initiative for free textbooks to him, however, was accused of corruption, but what has never been proven.

Evening of life and death

After his retirement from the office of governor, he worked as a lawyer in Barboursville. At the age of 91 years he was a member of a commission to revise the Constitution of Kentucky. Sampson died shortly afterwards. He was married to Susie Steele, with whom he had three children.