The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-22
Southwestern Missouri May Be
Scene Of Bloody Fight
MORRILL, FOR THE CATTlEMEN
Member Of a Prominent Maine Family.
Powell, Former EtItsr Of a County Paper
Is His Opponent

Joplin Mo-. April 22,-1n warfare
that seems inevitable between the ma
tives OF southwestern Missouri and cat
tlcmen from northern Kansas, there Is
seen as the cattlcmens champion a MEM
ber OF one Of the most prominent fam
lilies In the United States. He Is Lew
r Morrill,. postmaster at Notch, Stone
county, 40.
lie is closely related 10 senator Morrill,
and Governor morrill, of Maine. They
probably know nothing of his wherea-
bouts for. since ne buried himself In the
Missouri backwoods on a piece of gov
ernment land, he has held little communi-
cation with the outside world
He lives in a peaceful.quiet way with
VIE. two sons and a pretty demure
daughter. VINO Is the leader al the social
gatherings In that section OF the coun-
try.
III defiance 90 get away from a noisy
world OF strife tate seems 10 have de-
creed that Postmaster Morrilfs latter
days be spent amidst scenes OF turmoil
and he should be plunged into an argu-
ment that may end In bloodshed' Ills
opponent is his neighbor Truman ,.
Powell
Cattlemen began moving across the
Arkansas border into Missouri in 1885,
when they found the range there most
desirable. From that time trouble dates.
John n. Cantwell was the first Arkansas
cattleman 10 enter Stone county as res
ident Powell called the attention of the
public 90 Cantweil's arrival through
county paper OF which he was once edi-
tor.
He claimed that Arkansawyers were
undesirable people. But the cattlemen
continued 10 cross the border until they
now occupy 1887 acres OF stone county
land They did not protest against Pow
els criticism until there appeared i'm the
paper Powell formerly owned this article
from his pen;
FOREToLD TROUBLE.
Hundreds of Arkansas cattle are
brought in to eat up our grass and en-
rich a few men in Arkansas called the
Cattle Barons who furnish them 10 pre-
tended owners. who keep them here. IL
IL an abuse that will, In time, cause trou-
BILE and bloodshed.
..In this same connection, this spring the
forest fires have been more destructive
and more prcsistently and maliciously set
OUT than ever before. Thousands and
thousands OF rails have been burned and
several houses and barns have been de-
stroyed.
'..rhe house and barn and all the out
houses on the homestead OF A. A. Thom-
as. near Marble Cave were destroyed on
sunday the LIST. Great care had been tax
en- by the nelghbors TO protect that prop
erty az Il was unoccupied at the time,
hut on the morning mentioned fire was
started on the ridge 60 the west OF the
place and the wind was blowing a gale.
''Iu spite of the efforts OF Postmaster
Morrill, and his son. Oscar. and waldo
Powell and some of the sons Of Mail Con-
tractor Mayes. It burned everything.
CHARGES OF INCENDIARIsM.
cit seems to me that IL there Is no law
an Missouri to protect her awful citizens
from such abuses and punish such ma
licious trespass and incendiarism then no
man should be sent TO the legislature
who will not 20 pledged To obtain the en-
actment of law to correct this abuse,
The Thomas house was the most costly
in stone county While the fire which
destroyed Il and which Morrill, and others
saw was entirely accidental, had TO do
with Powells criticism. the real cause Is
undoubtedly found I'm the cattlemen hav-
ing defeated the plans for new school
house
A loan OF $500 for a new school house
was proposed The old school, mere
shed. stands I'm the woods not far from
Notch posfoffice. The vote was seven foi
the loan, nine (cattlemen) against. Al
that time teachers were hired from any
where and everywhere. Now Powell Is II
charge as teacher.
The feeling between Powell and his fol
lowers and the Cattlemen and their cham
pion H. growing bitterer daily For al
Postmaster Morrill, says tine cattlemci
are honest, peaceable and quiet and seen
10 mind their own business and let every
body else alone the time is not tar OF
when Powells prediction of trouble ant
hroodshed "a destined 10 bn realized