The leader., 1905-09-16

men and the people Of franklin
county was due primarily and is
lstill due to the real white caps
land all good citizens are vitalIy
interested 10 having the organi-
zation permanently broken up.
Mr.. McGehee's evident desire
to create the impression that De-
Itectiye Hoyt is chiefly responsible
for all the trouble, is in keeping
with an apparently concerted eff
fort to arouse prejudice to the ad-
vantage Of the real white cappers,
simply because Hoyt happens to
be a Northern man "a Yankee"
Hoyt undoubtedly did the work
assigned to him faithfully and
we'll, but Hoyt is mot the whole
push" by several car lengths. In
the first place, Hoyt was sent to
Franklin county and remained
there in the prosecution of his
duty at the instance of Governor
Vardaman, the worthy son of a
gallant Confederate soldier. The
grand jury which returned the in
dictments complained of by Mr..
McGehee were acting under the
law and instructions of the court.
Hoyt was summoned before the
grand jury, but he could only
lgive the names and statements of
Franklin county citizens to be ex-
amlned By the jury, most of whom
we're white men who had been
members of the Farmers League.
The FrankIinspeople were in
dicted for entering into an unlaw-
full conspiracy against government
homesteaders. If the Farmers
League and white cap organization
we're one and the same thing, as
appears to have been proved to
the satisfaction of the grand jury,
all who took the oath and partici-
pated in the secret meetings, we're
technically guilty of violating the
law, whether they went on the
raids and participated actively in
the lawlessness or not. This is
why the jury, acting under its in
structions and its oath indicted
such large number, including
those who we're only passive
members. =
Our reference to Confederate
soldiers was SO plain and easily
understood and Mr.. McGehee's
Iobject in attempting a second
time to lug them in as an issue''
in this matter is SO transparent as
to need no further comment.
In conclusion, we want to say
that in spite of all that has been
said or may be said by Mr.. Nc
Gehee, the fact looms up like
mountain above the horizon, that
the chief disturbing and most
dangerous element to the peace
and prosperity Of Franklin county
| is the real, white cap element, who
are Tesorting to all sorts of shifts
and subterfuges to keep from be-
ling brought to trial and facing
the proof against them. As we
write this, we have on our desk
letters from two citizens of that
county, one a former member of
the farmers League and a State
witness, complaining of the i'll
treatment at the hands of other
members of the League, because
be went to Jackson and told what
he knew and sticks to it. The
simple truth is, that for the court
to order an indiscriminate, whole.
sale mol pros. of the Franklin in
dictments, under all the facts and
circumstances, would be little
less than a crime itself against
that county, most of the govern
ment witnesses and the true and
faithful citizens over there who
have stood up under
the greatest disadvantages and dis
couragements and contended for
a better condition of things. Mr..
McGehee may crawl up on top Of
the State Capitol, if he likes, and
proclaim US an outside meddIer,
but that will not silence our pro-
test nor alter the facts. lincoln
is interested and the whole State
is interested in the final outcome
of these cases, and we have a right
TO speak.
Mr.. McGrhee's idea Of compro-
mise, as expressed in bis closing
sentence, reminds us o. the story
1of the white man and Indian who
lagreed to go hunting and divide
1.-THE game. When the days hunt
was over, the white man had kill
"a ! f,,rivou b,.v1ard 0na tha r.,