The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1908-08-28
A. 5. Of E. NOT
RESPONSIBLE
Burnley Society Issues State
ment Refuting Charges.
Various Organizations Have No
Connection Whatever in
Any Form.

Recently the Trust newspapers in
Guiding the Lexington Leader, have
published a page of plate, furnished by
some irresponsible person, in an effort
to discredit any and all organizations
of farmers, more especially the Tobacco
growers. These papers have persis-
tently confused all tobacco organiza-
tons with the Society OF Equity eth
er purposely or ignorantly, and have
sought to hold the American Society of
Equity therefore responsible for all the
troubles growing out OF the tobacco
war. both alleged and real. This not
withstanding the National President
last April prepared and had published
an address showing this to be false,
giving the members OF the Society of
Equity by counties in Kentucky.
the table of members showed that this
organization had no following in the
county or locality where it was charg-
ed night riding had been rampant
This address was sent to the Louisville
a" anu vi utl Will ItAufSI
that it be read at q meeting held at
McCauley's theater in Louisville. How
ever,it was conveniently forgotten and
had to be procured by Mr. Barnett
and published in the Louisville daily
papers at his special request. 1t is
passing strange that the wise we'll in
formed people still call on the Socie-
ty of Equity to stop lawlessness in
Kentucky. Every official of this So
ciety, from the highest to the lowest,
have repeatedly denounced lawlessness
and at every meeting of any state or
county union which has been held
since his trouble began in Kentucky
National President at the Jan. meet
ing of the National Board of Direc-
tors requested that body to offer re-
ward for the conviction of any MEM
her who should be found guilty of any
'lawlessness in Kentucky, growing out
of tobacco troubles. From that day
ever been indicted, arrested. or accu-
sed of having participated in any of
these crimes. We make this statement
without fear of successful contradiction
and we call upon those who are guilty
of this Islander, either direct or by in
nendo TO either produce names OF par
ties accused, or forever hold their
peace.
This society has no connection with
any of the tobacco organizations in
Kentucky, at present. 1t never had
any connection with any of them, ex-
cept the Green River District, in the
past and there has been no charge of
crime in that district If there are
those who still persist in claiming the
American Society OF Equity controls
the Burley association, or the Dark
tobacco association we would respect
fully call their attention to the fol-
lowing taken from the address issued
by the Burnley association in response
to the attack in the Trust papers,
above referred to.
Following this tame recital of an
inconsequental correspondence the
writer proceeds to give the history of
some difficulties between factions in
thea merican Society of Equity which
may or may not be true without in
affactipu h.. DnrIaxr
Society. The American Society of
Equity and the Burley Tobacco Socie-
ty are distinct organizations, operating
under separate charters constitu-
tons and bylaws without official or
business connection. The part of the
article, therefore which dealt with the
American Society of Equity is not
only trivial but entirely irrelevant in
any discussion of the Burley Tobacco
Society. II was not meant to enlight-
en-, but to throw dust and to confuse.
1t may be said also in passing that
the American Society. of Equity did
not organize the Dark Planters Pro-
tective Associations as was alleged by
the Tribune, nor has the American
Society of Equity ever gained afoot-
ing in the BLACK Patch" The Black
Patch was organized by F. G. Ewing,
]. B. Fort and Charles b. Fort. with
out any reference to the American So
ciety of Equity But this. too, has no
bearing upon theBurley It obacco So
ciety."