The bee., 1906-05-31
THURSDAY. MAY 81. 1906.
LET US Join or Quit"
CONTEMPORARY

The Planters Protective Associa-
ton was said to be organized for a
purpose with which the public SYM
pathized. 1t was alleged that the
Tobacco Trust was acting with a
high hand, controlling prices to
suit itself. buying and selling with
out competition. Farmers, we were
told, were compelled to sell their
crops for whatever the trust chose
to give, which was often less than
the cost of production. On the
other hand, the final consumer of
tobacco products was compelled to
pay any price that the trust chose 30
exact. Such condition is de-
scribed as intolerable, and vigorous
steps have been taken to put an end
TO it.
Some time ago farmers who failed
or refused TO join the Association
began to be characterized as "hill
billies' and the idea was dltfused
that they were misdemeanants of
very bad type. Warnings were sent
out against the sale of any tobacco
to anybody but the Association.
Factories belonging to the trust were
destroyed by fire or dynamite. The
responsible people of the Associa-
ton promptly dIsclaimed any SYM
patty with these lawless acts. They
did not admit that they were done
by members of the Association, 1t
being assumed that it was not
known by whom they were perpe-
trated. Il h en- ClarksvIlle ware
housemen were asked to refuse to
handle any but Association tobacco,
and refused to assent, with the re-
suit that the salesroOms were re-
moved to Guthrie.
Now, the news is widely diffused
that in Christian county, Kentucky,
and the adjoining county of Mont
gomery in Tennessee, plant beds
have been destroyed. The implica-
ton seems to be that these beds be-
long to those who are not members
of the Association, and some of
them are explicitly so reported.
Other cases are mentioned in which
farmers have been given the choice
of joining the Association or having
their plant beds destroyed, which
means they can grow no tobacco
this year. Stories are also circulated
of NIGHT riders and stern warnings
not to sell to anybody but the
Association. All these acts are ex-
pressly disclaimed by the officers of
the Association, and in some cases
suggestions are made that they pro-
coed from its enemies, who desire to
bring it into popular dlsrepute.
These questions of fact will have
to be settled by the usual me thods
of seeking evidence which will
throw light upon them. In advance
of an Investigation we should not be
too ready to say who is responsible. |
But the principles which apply to
such cases are plain enough, and |
they should never be lost from |
sight. This is government of law
and net of the mob. If Illegal COM
binations undertake to Cypress any |
class of citizens they are to be COM |
bated by legal methods. they are |
not in time of profound peace to |
be fought with fire and dynamite, or
by the destruction of property in |
other ways. Nor is one combina-
ton TO be destroyed by forming |
another, equally or more illegal, and |
by resort to methods which the |
law stigmatizes as crimes.
Our laboring masses have formed |
combinations for the purpose OF
projecting their own interests. |
Their right to unite for that purpose
is conceded, and they usually secure
a large degree of public sympathy.
But when they take the position |
that nobody who does not belong to
their ORGANIZATIONS shall have a |
right to labor Mt all, they forfeit a |
good deal in public opinion. Their
Or9anlzatiOns are voluntary, ana |
the right to remain out of them is as
complete as the right to join. Many
organizations of capital have come
under public condemnation for the
same reason. They seek TO punish
all who are not of them by depriv
ing them of the means of sub