Edwin Porch Morrow (November 28, 1877 – June 15, 1935) was an American politician, who served as the 40th Governor of Kentucky from 1919 to 1923.

He championed the typical Republican causes of his day, namely equal rights for African-Americans and the use of force to quell violence.

After rendering non-combat service in the Spanish–American War, Morrow graduated from the University of Cincinnati Law School in 1902 and opened his practice in Lexington, Kentucky.

He made a name for himself almost immediately by securing the acquittal of a black man charged with murder based on an extorted confession and perjured testimony.

Stanley won the election by 471 votes, making the 1915 contest the closest gubernatorial race in the state's history.

His opponent, James D. Black, had ascended to the governorship earlier that year when Stanley resigned to take a seat in the U.S. Senate.

Morrow encouraged voters to "Right the Wrong of 1915" and ran on a progressive platform that included women's suffrage and quelling racial violence.

He charged the Democratic administration with corruption, citing specific examples, and won the general election in a landslide.

[4] Morrow charged previous Democratic administrations with corruption and called for the election of a Republican because "You cannot clean house with a dirty broom.

[4] Although it was the closest gubernatorial vote in the state's history, Morrow refused to challenge the results, which significantly increased his popularity.

[4] Historian Lowell H. Harrison argued that Black's refusal to remove the members of the board following this revelation probably sealed his defeat.

[4] During the session, Morrow was often able to convince C. W. Burton, a Democratic senator from Grant County, to support Republican proposals.

[4][23] He oversaw improvements to the education system, including better textbook selection and a tax on racetracks to support a minimum salary for teachers.

[4] Morrow urged enforcement of state laws against carrying concealed weapons and restricted activities of the Ku Klux Klan.

[25] On February 9, 1920, Morrow dispatched the Kentucky National Guard to Lexington to protect Will Lockett, a black World War I veteran on trial for murder.

In 1921, he removed the Woodford County jailer from office because he allowed a black inmate to be lynched and offered a reward of $25,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the perpetrators.

[34] In August 1922, a traveling salesman named Jack Eaton was arrested for allegedly assaulting several young girls.

[34] An investigation found that the Scott County sheriff had willfully delivered Eaton to the mob, and Morrow removed him from office.

[34] Though Eaton was a white man, blacks were elated with the removal because they hoped it would encourage other jailers to step up efforts to protect against lynchings and mob violence.

On July 27, 1920, he made a speech in Northampton, Massachusetts, officially notifying Calvin Coolidge of his nomination for that office.

Although he supported Frank O. Lowden for president, the nomination went to Warren G. Harding, and Morrow campaigned vigorously on behalf of his party's ticket.

[35] In his address to the 1922 legislature, Morrow asked for $50 million for improvements to the state highway system and the repeal of all laws denying equal rights to women.

[4] He also recommended a large bond issue to finance improvements to the state's universities, schools, prisons, and hospitals.

[36] By this time, however, the Republicans had surrendered their majority in the state House, and practically all of Morrow's proposals were voted down.

[4][37] Among the few accomplishments of the 1922 legislature were the passage of an anti-lynching law, the abolition of convict labor, and the establishment of normal schools at Murray and Morehead.

The 1922 legislature also established a commission to govern My Old Kentucky Home State Park and approved construction of the Jefferson Davis Monument.

[37] Although Morrow gained national praise for his handling of the Lockett trial, historian James C. Klotter opined that he "left behind a solid, and rather typical, record for a Kentucky governor.

[38] Following his term as governor, Morrow retired to Somerset, where he became active in the Watchmen of the Republic, an organization devoted to eradicating prejudice and promoting tolerance.