Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1878-12-06
The Driven Well ExtOrtiOn.

As the real facts relating to the ex
tortionate demand of the agent of An
drews & Bro, for royalty on driven
wells, come out, it begins to appear
that such demand is not only not found
ed in exact justice, but, also, that it has
very little, if any, color of law. Proofs
are multiplying on every side that the
driven well, for using which a royalty is
now demanded, was in actual use sew
eral years previous to the date OF
Green's patent. Now, if these proofs
are indisputable, and can be brought to
bear upon any future case involving the
validity of the patent, the decision will
doubtless be against the blood-sucking
crowd. 1t is probable that, if the testi-
mony as to the prior conception and
practical use of the drive we'll, which
has been developed since the trials in
the New York and Minnesota courts,
had been produced therein, the decisions
would have been different. AS it is,
Gov. Davis, the counsel for the de-
PENDANTS in the Minnesota suits,
is confident that the decision
rendered therein by the Circuit
Court would be reversed by the
U. S. Supreme Court, if carried up.
Col. Lake, during his recent visit to
Des Moines, in the interest of the de-
PENDANTS to the suits in this county,
consulted with eminent attorneys, who
are also Of the opinion that the proofs
of use prior to Green's patent, would be
fatal to it's validity, and, therefore, that
suits could not be maintained under it,
From this fact, it seems to us that the
best policy for those upon whom de-
mand for royalty is made, is to refuse to
pay it, and band together as extensive
an organization as can be secured, for
the purpose of equalizing and distribu-
ting the expense necessary to carry the
matter to the Court of last resort. If
a general cooperation of all who own
drive wells can be secured, this expense
would not exceed one dollar for each
individual. We notice that State or
ganization of this sort has been started
in Minnesota, and little effort might
effect powerful combination in Iowa
to resist this INSCRIPTIONS and impu-
dent demand.
As our readers well know, the Bull
LETIN is not in the habit Of going off
at half-cock in matters of this kind, or
of spreading it's sails to catch every
breeze of popular feeling, without ex-
animation of fact. What is wanted in
matters of this sort is not to stir up
popular excitement-t that will always be
more than enough without stimulation
but rather to so shape and direct the
feeling against oppression, as will make
it most effective for good. We have
been waiting for facts that would clear
" disclose the character of the demand
made upon our people by the drive well
agents, and give the basis for intelligent
suggestion as to how to eyade them.
These facts are now beginning to come
out, and, from what they disclose Of
the indiscriminating and INSCRIPTIONS
methods employed by Mr.. Parsons, and
his lack of courtesy and fairness, the
assnmption is warranted that he is en-
gagged in an immense game of bluff.
Enough is also now known to indicate
that the imposition may be defeated in
the courts, and, in our judgment, the
best course to pursue is for the people
interested TO fatty refuse to be bled,
and to stand by each other.