The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-08-21
THE SHOTGUN LEAGUE.
Pa1ouse Farmers Organized TO Resist
Seizure of Property for Debt.

Oakesdale. Aug. 20.-There is now no
doubt that an organization for the pur-
pose OF resisting. by force If necessary,
what the members consider the unjust &C
ton of the courts. exists in the Palouse
country. Whether or not this is the Sill
Yer Federation. the shotgun brigade" of
the Populist party. is unknown. but that
there Is such an organiza ton can no long
er be doubted This was first disclosed
when Judge Piper. OF Moscow. Idaho. ap-
pointed receivers for crops on mortgaged
farms mass meeting. a which | 500
farmers were present. was held IN Mos
cow. and Judge Piner was sent for. He
refused 10 attend. but sent word that he
had rescinded his former orders and would
appoint no more receivers for crops. Prior
10 this Judge Piper had received anony-
nous letters containing the skull and
crossbones and threatening him with in
slant death. Guards were placed around
his house and arrangements made 10 ring
the fire bell ana call ont the militia should
an attack be made. \ member OF the or
ganiZaton told the Post-Intelligencer cor
respondent that Judge P.per's life would
not have been worth cents had not the
order been resCiuded. He also stated that
the receivers would not have been allowed
10 take possession Of the crops. and suhse-
Quent events have proved the correctness
OF his statement
short time ago a mortgage was fore
man county. The MORTGAGE sent four
men 10 guard the crop until II could he
harvested. After dark these men were
waited upon by 100 men. all heavily armed
with Winchester rifles and shotgans. and
told 70 leave the field a. once They Ief+
two Of them reaching town shortly after
midnight the other two just at daylight
The Invaders seemed so determined that
no further effort has been made by the
rnortEageo to take the crop and the own
er viii harvest Il.
The acts Of last Friday night. as ALREADY
published in the Post-Tntelneencer. show
how thoroughly and how extensively this
society u organized. Three guards went
into Rowe Bros field about O'Clock "a
guard 50 sacks az cats upon which an ex-
ecutlon had been levied. At 10 o'cfork
twenty-five men rode into the field. drive
/ the guards away. hauled away and Sc
ereted he oats and returned 10 their
homes without leaving trace as 70 their
identity This was not a spontaneous 4ln-
rising n aid TIA defendants in keeninp
their crops from their creditors II was
the work Of thorough organization. for
unless there vas an organization thar
! number or men could never have been
gathered together IN 80 short a time TO
resist the orders Of the court This u
only the beginning az harvest, and few al
tempts a forcing collection have been
made i s. feared that when creditors h.
gln 70 pour IN upon the farmers and they
/ flnd the bulk If their crops going 70 nav
old dents, serious trouble may follow.
ard Ire firearms which heretofore ha,e
only been usei - intim;data guards nav
b used with deadly effect against officers
/ 81 TIE law 4 man who claims % BE- n
member toll a Post-Intelllgenee- CORE
sponaent that II necessary So. or even a
larger number. Of men could be called to-
/ sether ~ tveHty-four hours. and that
. iaey would come together for business.
Champions - Eastern Washington, Fri