Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1908-06-11


lence towards those who do not
think as they should, the net result
of such action will prove disappoint.
ing. 1t will prove boomerang to
him who instigated it.
THE ORIGIN.
Will it prove profitable to consider
the origin of violence in this right
eous struggle for better prices.
make the answer for myself, /
do not know the origin. have
heard of some two or three citizens
saying that these fellows who are
banded together in a bloody oath,
with masks on their faces, are sent
from God. / must confess that
have never been converted to this
theory. My recent inquiry into
their deeds in the past and plans for
the future in my own county, has
failed to rivet such conclusion on
my mind. The evidence which we
have collected points strongly in the
opposite direction. 1t has been sug-
gested by those who claim to be wise
that these unlawful bands are the
hired agents Of the tobacco trust. /
express no opinion as to the correct
ness of this theory. If this theory
be true, however, it is sufficient to
cause every member of the associa-
ton to do his utmost to bring the
guilty to justice, for their fight is
against the trust. A. solid phalanx
of the association, officers and men,
bers by the word, act and deed, at
tempting to put stop to these acts
of violence, would furnish most con-
vincing proof of the truthfulness of
this theory.
The idea has been advocated by
others that it is simply a band of
lawless men without chart or COM
pass who have by chance fallen to-
gether and taken advantage of the
situation to satisfay their own evil
desires and petty hates. Some have
suggested the idea that there exist
ed within the association an inner
circle, unknown to the association
proper, like unto that alleged to
have existed in the Western Fedora
ton of Miners a few years ago,
which directed the midnight work.
Some have been told enough to claim
that those in authority in the associ-
alton itself over-leaped the bounds
of the law in their zeal to succeed
and stood sponsor for the violence
visited upon certain individuals,
towns and communities. The two
last theories must be denied as the
proof is wanting. have called at
tention to all these theories not for
the purpose of attempting to say
which is true, but rather preparato-
ry to this statement:
That it matters not from what
source it springs-let it be one or the
other, it is the plain duty of every
officer and citizen to do all in his
mower in an honorable and lawful
way to stop it.
Ny theory is that no officer can
excuse himself under his oath for
the fancied reason that, forsooth. it
may help this cause or hurt that
cause. The greatest good will be
done to the greatest number by an
honest attempt to live within the
pale of the law. Any seeming, tenn
porary advantage gained beyond its
authority will prove boomerang
not only to the officer but to those
he represents. His very license will
lead the frenzied mob to greater
excess and thereby compound the
penalty.
This brings US to the discussion of
the most interesting if not the most
branch of our discourse
this evening. What is the duty of
the citizen in these trying times? It
may aid US in our study to classify
the different types which these
times have developed.
LIST. There is the Night Rider
himself in the saddle, with his fire.
arms, stocking leg and crude para
phernalia too tedious to mention,
going forth to conquer while his vic
TINS sleep.
End. There are those who openly
uphold his deeds and cheer him on