Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1907-08-27

exist, was made by me not only in a
little interview at Evansville, but
more than once on the floor of the
Federal Congress, and this is the first
time that that statement has ever
been questioned or challenged.
AS to the truth of the statements
in these highly pictorial and sensa.
tlonal stories that are being scattered
broadcast over the country, especi-
ally the article contained in the
Saturday Evening Post, of August 8
have this to say: that in that article
there is not one solitary statement
that is not absolutely incorrect or
grossly exaggerated, and it was
about such articles especially that
was interviewed.
This Interview affords me no op.
portunity to go into detail in cor
recting the sta lements made in such
articles. If those who most severely
crlticlse me will kindly hold their
Judgmentin allegiance for a few days,
l shall offer proof of the falsity Of
all these charges. | believe | can
convince the most earnest apologist
of the trusts and the most bitter en-
envy Of farmers organizations and
OF the tobacco organization in par
ticuIar, that these statements are
either untrue or that the little truth
they contain is perverted and exag-
gerated.
AS to the charge so flippantly and
80 repeatedly made that the night
riders are my clients, that | am an
apolOgist for the lawless, and that
my speeches are Of an incendiary
character and dangerous, and that
in effect | cry Don't hang the mis-
creants from the most convenient
tree, don't burn their property,
don ravage their fields" and that
this lis the kind of advice which ex-
perience teaches is susceptible of a
double interpretation" l feel that
it is hardly necessary, in the face of
five long years in the public eye, to
answer not exactly a charge, but an
insinuation. An inference utterly
unfounded in fact and absolutely
unwarranted by any character of
Interpretation which can be put up
on any utterance of mine. 1t is not
necessary at this late day that l
should come to my constituents or to
the people of the press of this state
and declare that always | have stood
absolutely, unequivocally and unal-
terably for the speedy, impartial
and rigid enforcement Of the law
no matten whether it be violated by
friend or foe, trust or farmer.
So well was my position upon this
question known, and so often had it
been expressed, that prior to the So
called night riding, when there was
for the first time talk of apprehen-
sion of violence, or depreciation in
the dark tobacco district, that Felix
Ewing, chairman of the executive
committee, and the moving spirit of
the Dark Tobacco Association, tele-
phoned me to come up to his home
on the night Of Nov. 5, 1905. He was
then at Glenraven upon a bed of
sickness, to which unfortunately he
is still confined. He requested me to
go to Springfield in the very heart
of the ark Tobacco Growers dis
trict, am on the following day to
address an immense gathering of
planters Mt that place. He said to
me above al things, Il wish to pre-
vent any act Of lawlessness which
may be even remotely attributed to
this organization, and | have sent
for you because believe that yon
will most strongly reprehend any
act of that character. The associa-
ton will have a stenographer who
will take yonr speech and | shall, if
possible, put copy of it into the
hands of every member of this asso-
ciation."
In obedience to that call, among
other things, said:
Il am here ~ speak no word of
sympathy or |, We for the trust, but
| will say to the free-born farmers
of Robertson cIunty that there is
one thing you must respect, and
that is the Law. / want to say
to you that while Gods love
saved the world. il is his law that |