The Washington herald., 1908-04-08
KENTUCKY WIGHT Riders.
Gov. Wilson Corrects an Interview
and Sets Himself Right.


and Sets Himself Right.
Not long ago the New York Evening
Post contained what purported to be an
interview with Gov. Wilson about the
night riders in Kentucky. The attention
OF Gov. Wilson was called to the in
terview. and also to an editorial in the
New York Independent about the same
interview. Thereupon Gov. Wilson wrote
Ia personal letter TO the Independent
repudiating the interview The Inde-
pendent telegraphed to the governor for
his consent to publish the letter. He con-
sented that it might be published. It Is
mighty good reading. and here it IS:
some friend has just sent me your
issue OF the 18th of March vita editorial
on "Kentuckys Anarchists" 7 do not
write this for publication, because 1 never
make explanations OF defenses OF this
kind, but / write you this personal letter
Tor the Information of your editor.
The young gentleman who interviewed
me for the Evening Post seemed to me
to get further wrong than any disinter.
ested and sensible young man that | ever
talked 10. I did not say that any man
mixed UP in the night-rider tobacco busi-
ness was a Christian or honest or a good
citizen, nor did | ever use the expression
almighty stubborn. They are towards
and criminals and fei0ns, and should be
killed when making attacks and should
be IN the penitentiary when detected
after attacks. / did not in any way con-
done or apologize or smooth over their
INFAMOUS conduct ] have not done it IN
kentucky where they are, and I certainly
did not DO il in New York, where I was
thousand miles from them. ] did not
say there Is anything TO be said for them;
such a statement is grossly false and in
excusable. There is nothing can be said
Tor them; but am hopeful that the work
which has been carried out without ceas-
ing since the beginning Of these trOu-
Dies VIII develop presently that something
Is done for them, and that some OF them
viii be done for. Nor did ] indulge IN
the observation about feuds IN the wild
mountain countries. Nor did ] say night
riders are educated ordinary Americans.
nor did ] indulge in any silly talk about
It's being purely "a business trouble. like
one OF your competitions IN New York. -
cannot think Of any more idotic stuff
than this that you have quoted. and I
cannot conceive OF q man. speaking as di-
rectly, as positively. and as seriously as
have done, being represented to q great
host Of readers, Ike those of your paper.
IN such an absurd and stupid attitude. II
is utterly inexcusabIe In that reporter.
I do not believe in palavering and
smoothing over penitentiary crimes that
destroy liberty I believe in killing the
criminals while in attacks. and in put
ting every one not killed in the peniten-
uary, II 1t took a thousand. This organ
ization is most dangerous. Il is a secret.
oathbound organization. where only a
small group know each other, and differ
ent groups do not know who are I'M the
other one, and the head Of the organiza-
tion has the power OF life and death over
the members, and il has spread ike Wild
nfe. There are thousands OF members
or this concern, but there is no COM
promise with them. They will be brought
10 book. The matter viii come out all
right, not By neglect or liberation, but by
mercilessly following up, attacking ard
destroying this organization