The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-01-09
GOV. WILSON SENDS MESSAGE Read to Kentucky legis-
 lalure. NIGHT RIDER 0UTRAGES Executive Would Deal Vigorously
 With Them. senate, which Is Democratic, Resolves That Lieutenant Governor, He- publican, shan Not Name
 the Cemmittees.

! Frankfort, Ky. Jan. s.-The Senate adopted rules today providing that tne Senate itself shall appoint the stand ing committees instead of allowing the Lieutenant Governor to do so. Tnat official Is Republican and the Demo- crate are in the majority in the senate. Governor Wilson's message reaenea |the Legislature through Private sec retary Todd soon after noon ana its reading was at once begun.
 t,ons towering the reforms to which he pledged himself during the campaign. "a large portion or the documents is devoted to q stir- ring recital of the lawlessness wnich has developed in the tobacco war ae- cofnpanied by a vigorous dennnciation of the malefactcrs and two speciilc recommendations having for their op~ feet the breaking up of the trouble,
 The Governor opens his message by a reference to the general prosperity of the commonwealth and the observ- ance of public order with one excep- ton. TO that exception--the night riders outrages--the messages gives greater space ehan any other topic. After accounting the various outrages the Governor sums up as follows:
 Tn the meantime. not a benefit nas resulted to the oppressed farmers from those acts of violence and intimidation. Even those who were members of the association having their property tied up, and liberty, in places, threatened by these bands. is an idle theory ana farce. Factories and warehouses which the farmers warmly welcomed. have been burned and many others closed forever.
 Tobaceo Market Destroyed.
 "Our tobacco market is nearly destroyed Large customers are being taught that 1t Is safer and better 10 buy elsewhere; large crops remain un- sold; managers. who have been promised large prices for pooled crops above the market price. have seen the buyers driven from the field, and no one can tell when the end will come, but everyone can see that the result. up 10 this time, is that our markets, got only for tobacco. but for other pfoductH, ArH pafa1yzeds and n many cases ruined; that In large districts, the law has been wholly overthrown, and the poor people who have no one to take care of them. are deprived Of the protection of the peoples laws. and have lost their liberty and are help less; that the price of nearly every acre of good land in Kentucky has gone down; that thousands of people wish to move out of Kentucky to stay
 
 live, and the very flower of our work ing population, wishes to leave the State, as thousands have done beforeB that 1t has been necessary. In order to allay the fears of frightened people, even in large city like Hopkinsville. to keep a company of militia on duty, at great expense. and with great hard ship on the young men who are taken from their business and work; that lawless and unprincipled men have beAn constantly ready to break out in several counties, unrestrained by law or public sentiment. and that the people of Kentucky are brought sud- denly and squarely to face the ques- tion, whether the laws of more than two millions, 6r the violence of few hundreds shall prevail
 There can be no doubt of the final result. Our people desire the full pro- tection of the law, and love their lfber- ty, and feel that they had better lose not only part of the value of their tobacco. but even their farms. rather than lose their liberties.
 "The only question left is whether this shall be soon or long delayed: whether it shall be at once, to prevent further injury or where. continuing for months, 1t shall practically destroy the business and the property values of the whole people and decimate our population by removals to other states.
 ''The executive will faithfully uphold the law. but it is the, peoples law and It's strength is in the support of the people for their own laws"
 Changes in Statutes.
 The message then makes specific recommendations for certain technical changes to be made in the statutes governing change of venue so that the granting such a change of venue be- fho fVrAn af a Nktg county where iawlessness or intimida- ton place any obstacle in the way of prompt and fair trials.
 The Governor further recommends the immediate appointment of a com mission with full power to investigate the economic causes leading up to the tobacco troubles-that is to ascertain whether there has actually been an over production or whether the prices have been forced down by a trust or of buyers.
 Other matters dealt with at length by the Governor are re-districting the state so as to give equitable repre- sentation in the general assembly and complete reorganization of the system oe taxation. He recommends the pas- sage of bills. already prepared by com missions of public spirited citizens, dealing with these subjects
 On temperance. the message recom- me ends the passage of uniform local option law with the county as the unit | It also recommends important cnanges in the laws governing registration and elections; requests a complete change from the present method of managing state charities and penal institutions boards being recommend cd and declares for 8 law compelling publicity for campaign contributions.
 VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE