Omaha daily bee., 1889-05-13
SPEECHES FROM SOME ANTrs
An Aged Lady Commits Suicide
Items About the Crops-A Brave
Woman Fearfully Burned
Push and Enterprise.


was thought best to hold the meeting in
doors, but few minutes after the doors of
Wakeman's hall (the largest room in town.
were opened it was densely packed, and 1t
was found to be entirely inadequate TO &C.
commodate the people who were anxious TO
hear the governor; the crowd was requested
to repair to the street in trout OF the FIRE.
mont house, on the porch of which a plat
form was placed for the speaker. The meet
ing was called order by Hon. A. j. Burn
ham, and County Judge j. b. Farnsworth
was elected chairman. AT the suggestion of
the governor, volunteers were called on to
state the grievances and causes which led to
the organization of the Farmers Protective
association, or vigilance committee, in this
county. The first speaker was II. A. Clop-
ton, a prominent member of the committee,
who asserted that the organization was
called into existence by a conspiracy against
the life of MIR. l.. Taylor, a cattleman who
had lost stock and afterwards recovered
them. He claimed that plots had been laid
in the very hotel in front of which he was
speaking, against Mr.. Tdylor's life, and had
been overheard by outside parties, who at
once decided on organizing for the purpose of
protecting the lives and property of the
honest farmers and cattlemen.
After MIR. Clopton had finiscd his remarks,
calls were made for o. V. Kcnaston, who
has been acting as attorney for the alleged
rustlers or cattle thieves. Mr.. Kenaston
said he did not wish to deuy the statements
of Mr. Clopton, but took the ground that the
methods pursued by the vigilance commit
tee were not the proper ones to remedy the
evils or redress the wrongs complained Of
He insisted that the parties suspected of
committing the crimes should be turned over
to the law and regularly tried for their Of
fenses, and punished if found guilty. Mr..
l Kenaston was followed by Hon. A. j. Burn
H1,,,, l,,Af . t.tA
organization of the vigilance committee in
that county five years ago, and endeavored
to show that this organization was the only
way in which the farmers could protect their
property from the ravages of the gang of
thieves and rustlers that then, as now, in
tested this county. He adverted to the
trouble and ill-feeling between neighbors
that the organization of the protective asso-
citation had caused He referred to the
accounts of the troubles in this county,
published by THE OMAHA BEE and the
press generally. He produced TIE BEE,
of April %, and read therefrom the affidavit
of H. G. Stewart, before Justice Thomas, of
Springview, and then read another affidavit
made before himself by the same party, de-
claring that the first affidavit was made
under threats by the vigilantes and was un-
true He said he had been informed
been made by Stewart. declaring that
the second one was false and the first one
true. He called upon Squire Tiffany, then
present, before whom the last affidavit was
said to have been made to know if his in
formation was correct, and was answered in
the affirmative by that gentleman. His
speech was a fair and apparently honest
presentation of the 'anti'side of the ques.
tion.
j. N. Tiffany, justice of the peace for his
precinct made few remarks, detailing the
circumstances under which the last affidavit
was made by Stewart, and giving it
as his opinion that the first and last atfidavts
were true. 1t having been intimated by Mir.
Tiffany and some of the other speakers that
MIR. Stewart had been paid by Mrs. @. M.
Clay for making the affidavit before Justice
Ross, that lady was called to the platform,
and simply remarked: " am here to say
that never paid Horace Stewart any money
for making an affidavit for ne"
o. p. Billings, of the Norden Borealis,
then made a few remarks in vindication of
the course of the vigilantes, and giving a
brief account of the stealing and recovery of
the Quey mare at Norden.
AS it was now after IL o'clock, at the sug-
gestion of the governor the crowd adjourned
for dinner, with the understanding that they
were to assemble again in one hour to hear
the governors remarks and the remedies he
would suggest.
At about 80 D. M the meeting was again
ealled to order by Chairman tarnsworth,
who introduced the governor.
Governor Thayer began by referring to
his early experience in this state as a com
mander of United States troops, and his
service on the frontier in fighting hostile
Indians. He referred to the remarkable
growth and development Of that part of the
state. that had occurred since the time he
first knew it, and the surprising progress
and rapid strides the state had, made in a
few years, all of which had been brought
about by the untiring energy and enterprise
of the early settlers and hardy pioneers He
spoke Of the improved farms and prosperous
towns and cities which greeted his eyes
everywhere on his travels through this part
of the state. He said that horse and cattle
thieves and vigilance committees were no
new things in his experience. Horse and
cattle thieves were incident to every new
country, and always plled their nefarlous
vocation on the frontier. He had no
language to express his utter detestation of
committees but he despised horse and
cattle thieves, and was sorry that he
could not suggest some adequate means
for the prompt and eifectIai sup
He would, however, make a suggestion Of a
remedy. The matter rested with the people,
and if they would follow his advice, cattle
thieving would cease at once and forever.
He urged the people to let by-gones be by
cones, proclaim amnesty to those who had
been driven from the county, and allow them
to return ii they wished on promise Of good
behavior, with the assurance that so long as
they conducted themselves as good citizens
ana honest men they would not be disturbed.
He urged the people TO forget their griev-
ances and wrongs, and try to live hereafter
in peace and harmony, and II cattle were
stolen in the future the thieves must abide
by consequences and take their chances. He
stated that he had no soldiers to send here;
although if 1t were absolutely necessary to
protect the settlers, il might be managed,
and he would endeayor TO see that it was
done.
His address was frequently applauded by
the members of the committee present and
their sympathizers and seemed 10 give salts
faction to that. class which is mainly com.
posed of our best citizens. The chairman
asked all those who were in favor Of follow
ing the governors advice TO manifest 1t by
saying "aye," and the opposed mo-" and
there was not single dissenting voice. Two
prominent democratic members OF the com
mittee remarked that Governor TEayer was
their choice for governor should he see
proper to try for that otfice again. So ended
day which will long be remembered Dy the
citizens Of Keya Paha county
Enterppise at PbattsnOuth.