Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-10
The might Riders" Of Kentucky.

Let us have an understanding OF
what these might riders are who nave
been spreading terror and destroying
life and property Of late through Sec
tons of Kentucky. Their organization
seems 10 be based upon that OF the
ku-Klu which thrived in the South
in the chaotic period following the
Civil War. The Ku-Klux. however.
devoted most of it's attention to terror
izins the negroes while the color prob
lem cuts no figure in the work OF the
Kentucky might riders" This later
ganization is the outcome OF The long
continued struggle between the SOCIAL
ed Tobacco Trust and the organization
which Kentucky planters have formed
for the protection of their own inter-
ests.
The planters, naturally enough, de-
sire to get as high prices as possible
for their products. while the trust Of
course is anxious to secure its raw
material at the lowest possible price.
II Is what would be called in financial
circles war between bears and bulls.
! In order to get high prices the planters
propose 10 reduce the marketable to-
bacco crop 10 minimum and in order
10 do this they have resorted in sum-
nary and lawless fashion to the whole
sale destruction Of tobacco not owned
by the members of their organization.
In pursuance of this plan the band of
masked might riders" start out upon
their midnight raids. sweeping down
upon villages and tobacco plantations
and destroying well-dlleG warehouse s
and shooting anybody who in,erferes
with their work
1t is as though the AroOstook potato
raisers, or a large part of them. should
form an organization and in order to
get higher prices for their products
should destroy part of their crop.
particularly the crop Of the farmers not
belonging 20 the organization. Some
years ago in the South in order to
push up the price of cotton in a
year when there was particu-
larry large crop, but the project met
such general opposition that it amount
ed to little. Such an economic theory
Of controlling the markets is something
relatively new and Kentucky is :he on
ly place where it has been at all cX-
tenslvely applied.
The might rider raids began in tie
fall of 1906, and during 1861 there
were four distinct raids on as many
different towns, aggregating property
destruction OF over $5O0,000-the Hop
kinsville raid. 500, 900; the Princeton
raid. 100000; the Eddyville and FREE
donia raids, $4,000: miscellaneous
damages. s2oh.o0o. These reports of
direct damages do not include the re-
suits Of widespread terrorism, of
which the might riders make no ac-
count, their prime object being the inn
mediate destruction of property. This
year there have been many raids and
great damage. The officers of the aa
ISOLATION deny that they encourage
such lawlessnesS and there is reason Ia
believe that the might riders them
selves. who operate With masks on
their faces and fully armed, have no
large personal interest in the tobacco
crop, bat are simply taking advantage
Of the situation to work Oft their per-
sonal revenge and their desire to pro-
mote lawlessresS. 1t is Il form OF
iawlessneSs that should be severe
Iy reEreSsed. The situation is q
grave raprcach To Kentucky and is one
of numerous problems which that sIate
has upon its hands for solution Al the
! mr., M.