The Worthington advance., 1878-12-12
THE DRIVE WELL.
Address to the People Of the State

The time has come when to submit longer
to the extortions Of the company controlling
the "drive-welp' patent without using all legi-
innate means Of resistance. ceases to be yir
tue" Our people are peaceable and law-abid-
ing citizens, and have no wish to ignore any
lawful and just demands upon them; nor
would the real collection of a reasonable row.
ality upon the Green patent have caused hard
ly g ripple on the surface of our every day life.
but for the evident disposition of those con-
trolling this patient to take every possible ad-
vantage of the public sense of security in the
ownership of property that all had once paid
for, to impose upon us fees and costs that are
at once needless and grievous to- be borne
In the general expectation that agents would
call upon them, in due time, or at least make
formal demand before entering snit hun
dreds of honest people with scanty means have
been sued, and aggravating costs and charges
superadded to q royalty which, in itself, is
more than sufficient to make the agents i'm.
mcnsely rich at the general expense. They
have refused to receive simply their original
claims, with all legal costs added, but have
demanded and are now demanding such an
amount from each well owner as shocks and
outrages all sense Of right and justice, SO that
their methods have well become obnoxious
to the charge of downright extortion and
robbery.
Under these circumstances, and with the
added force that recent evidence of driven
wells existing for many years before Green
claims to even have had a conception of his
idea" can give to our cause, we appeal to
that sense of justice aud that hatred Of wrong
which are said to be innate in all mankind, for
aid by money and influence so far as each per-
son is able, to contest the pretended claims Of
the oDpressors and to carry a case to the su-
preme court Of our country for final decision.
firmly believing that high and impartial
tribunal will afford US protection, and reverse
tie local decisions under cover Of which our
communities are now being shorn and de-
spoiled in the interests of greedy sharpers.
We hope that local societies will be formed
everywhere, funds collected and forwarded at
once (or within two weeks) to the secretary
OF our State association at st. Paul, for deposit
with Horace Thompson, president First Ma
tional bank, who will act as custodian of this
money. BY the rules of the association the
executive committee will have control of the
funds collected, and if not used for the pur-
pose specified it will be returned to the dom
ors. Send remittanccs by draft or postofiee
orders.
The executive committee is at present com
posed Of one member OF each town or county
society now organized, and they will meet for
business upon call of the president and secre-
tary when necessary. Each additional society
viii be entitled to one member: Further de-
tails on application to Major Thos. p. Wilson,
president Of the association, at st. Paul, to L.
T. Fluke, secretary, Pennington, or to either
one of the executive committee. The secre.
tary, Mr.. Fluke, will be in st. Paul during the
next four or five weeks attending to this bust
ness, and should be addressed there.
Per order Of the Association.
J: ". EMERY, Pennington,
z. B. CLARK, Benson,
&C. BURT, Maakato,
Committee on Address.
Dee. l. 1873.