Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-26
Outlawry and It's Menace.

For the moment the country is too much
occupied with the presidential question
! to give sufficient thought to the growth Of
lawlessness But the Campaign APP
proaches its close, and after that matter
is out of the way the other matter Will
stand out in its full and alarming proper
tons There is condition of anarchy
| in several states. and the spirit is spread
| ing The tobacco belt is under reign
of terror, and the cotton belt will soon
be. unless the authorities put forth their
power in behalf of the law Immediately,
| The recent Tennessee tragedy almost
staggers belief. In an old state, peopled
by men of American birth and descent,
two citizens of excellent social and bust
ness standing were taken from hotel
at night by a company Of masked des-
peradoes. and one of them was done to
death with rope and with bullets. The
other. whose death also had been de-
creed. escaped in the dan kness.
This in itself was hideous. but not more
so than have been the manifestations
since Gov. Patterson. with a prompt
ness and courage altogether praise
worthy, left his campaign for reelection
and repaired to the scene to direct in
person the search for the criminals
Militia by his orders have already ar
rived and when he appeared there was
a great stir.
But instead of being welcomed by the
inhabitants he was publicly insulted
They resented his activity, and even
threatened his life. This is taken from
| an account of his visit:
1T was while he was leaving camp for
Walnut Log that threats were made
| openly against Gov. Patterson. AS he
passed a store the governor was met by
jeers and verbal assaults, several of the
crowd assembled on the porch shouting
that he would not live to again run for
office. while others made similar remarks
| and in a tone loud enough to be heard
| by members of the governors escort and
others in the neighborhood.
This smacks of Paris in the days of
| the Terror. Said these ruffians in effect
to the highest official in the common
wealth. The law be ID. In these
parts we are a law unto ourselves. We
| mark whom we please for death, and
are our own executioners. You go about
your business. or We'll give you a dose
| of the medicine
Gov. Patterson considers that his bust
ness is unfolding the law wherever it is
| defied And, of course, he is right about
| that
Just across the line is another official of
| he same notion and caliber Gov. Will
son of Kentucky inherited, SO to say, a
| condition of anarchy in the tobacco sec
| tons of that state For more than a year
| before he took Office night riders had been
| busy with the torch and the lash and
| the gun. They had terroriZed whole coun-
| ties, and operated as if assured Of safety.
| Gov Wilson moved at once, sending SOL
| diers into the disturbed territory, and
| calling on the county officials TO do their
duty That was the limit of his official
power In the past few months he has
visited localities which are under the
harrow, and addressed the people on the
subject Everywhere he has been well re-
ceiyed Men are getting their bearings.
| They are tired of anarchstic rule, and
| applaud the governors call TO action.
| Officials of this stamp are the hope OF
the country, and the matter they have in
| hand far transcends in importance all
| other questions before the people The
tariff, the trusts and the railroads need
/ revision and supervision, and are certain
| to receive attention, but Outlawry, organ
| lied and bold and defiant, operating with
military tactics and as If directed by men
| OF education and capacity, strikes at the
roots of government and ciVlllZatlon