The Mt. Sterling advocate. (Mt. Sterling, Ky.) 1890-current, 1907-12-11
CIRCUIT JUDGE
AdmOniSheS Tobacco Growers to
Observe the Law.
PENALTIES FOR vIOLATlO S.

At the opening of Circuit Court
in Clark county last week Judge
Benton made reference to lawless
acts in some sections of the t.
bacco district. He said:
Clark county is the very heart
of the territory that is engaged in
this struggle to secure better prices
for tobacco. and want to urge
the citizens of this county, in ev-
erything they do. to maintain the
comty's reputation for the observ-
ance of law and order. and to dis
cOuntenance, at all times, any con-
duct that would tend to bring
about state of disorder or law
lessness.
Il know that the citizens of this
county who are taking part in this
contest are the very best people of
the county, people who have al
ways abided by the law and taken
a firm stand for it's enforcement.
The best thought and best SEN
timent of this county is in sympa-
thy with the men who are engaged
in this struggle, and the sentiment
in favor of growing no tobacco in
the year 1908 is so nearly unani-
nous in this county that | do not
believe any farmer here will be
willing to oppose that sentiment,
but the question as to whether or
not any man shall oppose it is one
to be decided by him without co
ercion on the part of others.
ALL FREE AND EQUAL
In the first section of the Con
stitution Of the State we find this
expression: All men are, 10y ma
ture. free and equal, and have
certa inherent and inalienable
rights, and one of the first rights
mentioned is The right of acquir-
ing and protecting property.
This provision of the bill Of
rights follows immediately after
the preamble to the Constitution
which expresses gratitude to Al ,
mighty God for the civil, political
and religious liberties the people
enjoy, and is one of the inaliena-
BILE rights which the people of
Kentucky, through their delegates
in the Constitutional convention,
considered necessary in order to
secure continuance Of those bleS-
sings.
OFFICERS SWORN TO DUTY.
Then when we turn to Section
22S of the Constitution we find
that every officer of the State of
Kentucky is required to take this
oath: / do solemnly swear that |
will support the Constitution of
the United States and the Consti-
tuition of this Commonwealth, and
be faithful and true to the Com
monwealth of Kentucky as long as
| continue a citizen thereof.
Il have sworn to do that and so
has every officer of Clark county.
we find that the people of
Kentucky, through their represen-
tatives in the General Assembly at
Frankfort have enacted the fol-
lowing laws: Subsection ] of Sec
ton l241 A of the Kentucky Stat
utes provides that if any two or
more persons shall confederate or
band themselves together for the
purpose of intimidating, alarming,
disturbing, or injuring any person
or persons, they, or either of them,
to offer rewards for the ferreting
out and upon conviction shall be
conhed in the penitentiary not less
than one nor more than five years.
PENALTIES PROVIDED.
Subsection III of the same sec
ton provides that if any two or
more persons shall confederate or
band together and go forth, for
the purpose of molesting, injuring
or destroying any property, real
or personal, of another person,
persons or corporations, whether