New-York tribune., 1907-11-12
qROUBLE TN KENTUCKY.
robaccO GrOscers Up in Arms
against EQnity SOcietg.

1g,s United States Tobacco Journal" publishes a
- story from a special correspondent in Louis
'o.. a uho has made careful investigation of tho
VIZ NAha5 conditions in the tobacco industr-, of
eAs.rck-. I4e says there is no assurance os ner-
~, A. business safety I'm the tobacco district ana
-. - vfoIence ard bloodshed imminent In fact
=. +sbacco sjuation in Kentucky, the correspond
=, SAYS IS The uppermost topic of public interest
N the state.
~bs trouble has arisen over the demands rnada
. Growers by The so-caled American Society NJ
-,i.v that they pool their tobacco with its mem
rs 10 put up prices Night riders have de-
t+royed the property of some of the growers vino
ested the demands Of the society and others
have been threatened. The United States To-
tacco Journal" describes tie situation at Ovens
toro as critical. Il says:
The army Of peace" go called has terrorized the
town by riding through. demanding. that the grow
Dao have placed armed guards around their barns
10 prevent tie carry ing out OF threats destroy
Eighteen miles from here, destroyed by fire on
last Wednesday night Besides the crop of tobacco
Iaents were destroyed at loss OF 5000 The burn
ing of the barn is attributed TO the army" Green
US requested TO pool his crop, and declined to do
60 ssgS he burned John Matthews has 6arn
o5tsining ninety thousand pounds of tobacco un-
sye sy by hight l. NJ Robinson the leader Of the
army. said the burning of the Green barn could
not be laid at the door of any Of his men. Allan
t5seG the growers to stand ont against the army Of
Invasion. Take the name of every member of the
gang calling you he says. IF they use in
suItfng language or make threats. have a warrant
issued for their arrest. Have witnesses TO hear
what is said by them DO not fail to report every
ease OF intimidation
tbat farmers buying firearms to protect their
property and lives. one farmer was seen TO 5rive
out of the city with rifle leaning against the
buggy seat Another quoted as saying: Il
dare not go into my fields without arnng myself
NTH rife and revolver J. G. M0Seiev, who was
esked 10 sell tobacco except through the asso-
cstion SAYS that the reply TO his refusal was that
he would have 70 take the consequences. I shall
am myself and try TO shoot the first who
comes 10 my place he said Another grower was
told that II Ae did not pool another army would
come and il his barn should burn he would be
responsible for il. lie replied that II his barn
happens that every Equity barn in this nelghbor-
hood goes up in smoke
The reports from Calhoun say that three fourths
OF the farmers upon whom the Equity agents have
called have refused 10 pool.
The Burley Tobacco Society and the National
Tobacco Growers Association have decided to re-
frain from growing a crop next year The
paign TO prevent manufacturers from buying direct
from the growers goes on. and there are many re-
ports Of Intimidation. The decision to grow a
crop year IS for the purpose of advancing the
prices on the 1901 crop. of which there is large
supply on hand. There now pooled three hun
dred million pounds Of tobacco against one hun
dred million pounds last year.