Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1907-02-02
Flutters Over Hostile Bands
In First District Coun-
ties.
LET GOOD WORK GO ON.
Complete Understanding Ar
rived at in Time to Avert
Bloodshed.

LIE NOuIlSI-OOuIlldl VI 1hul oudy
contained the following dispatch
from Paducah
Members of the Dark Tobacco
Growers Association and independ-
ent tobacco growers have effected a
compromise, and all is peace and
harmony in Lyon and Caldwell
counties. Every resident in these
counties may now go to bed with no
fear of molestation from night
riders.
Final adjustment was effected yes
terday at Kuttawa. The Dark To-
bacco Growers delegates agreed to
see that no more lawlessness is per-
petrated, that Independent dealers go
unmolested, and further, that the
writing of anonymous letters threat
ening destruction of property if the
receiver does not join the Dark To-
bacco Growers forces, shall cease.
Ind pendent and Association men
settled upon this same basis in Cald-
well county some two weeks ago,
but Lyon county seemed to be the
hotbed of the trouble, and after sew
eral futile attempts a conference
was held between representatives of
both factions.
We simply informed the Dark
Tobacco Growers that if any further
lawlessness developed, we would re-
sort to the same methods, and for
every Independent barn burned, we
would burn ten Association barns. -
A well-known Kuttawa tobacco man
stated this had the desired effect.
"They realized we could play the
game as we'll as they. and an
agreement was easily reached"
This sort of an understanding be-
tween the two sides was advised by
the Kentuckian two months ago and
if basis Of harmony has been
reached, the good citizens on both
sides are to be congratulated. While
there has been no formal agree
ment in this county, there has
been a general understanding that
unlawful methods would not be re-
sorted to. A general policy of
reprisal in barn-burning and bed
scraping, which is sure to come if
such lawlessness becomes prevalent,
would be ruinous to prosperity and
work untold harm to the Associa-
ton, which alone has to look to pub
lie approval for its moral support
and continued usefulness. If this
kind of an agreement can be reached
in a few other counties infested
with a lawless element, and both
sides will in good faith see that it is
carried out, the Association will be
greatly strengthened and its con-
tinued success will be assured.
1t is not certain that the Associa-
ton is responsible for the outrages
in some counties, but as the night
riders claim to be operating in the
interest of the Association, there are
but two things to be done. One is to
control the night riders and the 9th
er is to repudiate and denounce them
as without authority to commit
crimes in the name of a lawful body,
made up of God-fearing men and
good citizens.
Let us all hope that the "Kutta-
wa agreement" may bring peace
peace without bloodshed. With all
the over-heated talk on both sides,
not one drop Of blood has vet been
shed and God grant that this may be
said when the tobacco troubleis all
over. The Association is doing a
great work, it is proving itself a
blessing to the people. To use the
statistics of Hon. Joel B Fort in a
recent address, it has saved to the
tobacco growers $4, 100000 on two
crops alone, then why not let it go
ahead and complete its triumph
as band of brothers, persuading
rather than driving those slow to
see the advantages of a permanent.
and above all, peaceful organiza-
tion2