Citizen
Feb. 4, 1904
Hearing on House Bill No. 25
President and Mrs. Frost went to
Frankfort to attend the first hearing
before the Educational Committee on
House Bill No. 25, which is aimed at
Berea College.
The bill is in charge of its author,
Carl Day, of Breathitt county, who
was in frequent consultation with his
friend, Judge Hargis, the two supping
together at the Capitol hotel.
Contrary to all precedent, the Com-
mittee refused a public hearing, and
admitted none of the opponents of the
bill at the first session. Three citi-
zens of Berea were there to furnish
the Committee a pretext for doing
what the baser elements of their
party are clamoring for them to do.
When the opponents of the bill were
finally permitted to appear, President
Frost read a Remonstrance from the
Faculty and teachers of Berea, and
the Hon. Curtis F. Burnam gave a
most convincing address, showing the
unreasonableness, the illegality, and
the folly of the proposed law.
Hon. Guy W. Mallon, a prominent
Democrat, of Cincinnati, and a trus-
tee of the College, also spoke with
great ability. In conclusion a lady
whose home is temporarily in Frank-
fort, asked permission to say a good
word regarding Berea's good work,
and told of the young men who had
come to Berea with revolvers and re-
turned with testaments.
When the representations made by
the friends of the bill at the private
hearing were published in the papers
it aroused great indignation in Madi-
son County. As a partial righting of
a great wrong papers were at once
started in Berea and Richmond refut-
ing the impressions then given.
These papers with the following
heading, are being signed by prac-
tically everybody, and numerous
letters are being written.
"Fearing that erroneous and unjust
impressions, to an extent unknown to
us, have been made upon the Legis-
lature by representations privately
made and partly published, we the
undersigned, long time residents of
Berea and vicinity, wish to testify that
we know the Faculty and trustees of
Berea College to be honorable and
upright people, eminently qualified
for their work and devoted to it with
the highest spirit of conscientiousness
and patriotism.
We testify that they have been de-
voted and watchful regarding the
manners and morals of all the young
people under their charge and emi-
nently successful, not only in guarding
against any improprieties or miscon-
duct, but also in instilling the princi-
ples of honor and religion.
We earnestly remonstrate against
any action which could hinder the
great and growing work of the
Institution."
