The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-09-18
THE MAILED HAND NEEDED.


 We find the following editorial par agraph in The Huntsville Banner:
 Is 1t possible that Alabama is going night riding? Down in the black belt. s sa,a ectton not to sei thsr % cotton at any price lower than that agreed upon by the Cotton Growers Association.
 We do not know where our Hunts vile contemporary gets it's information. and for the credit of our State and people we hope there is a mistake. If by the expression. flown in the black belt" 1t refers to small section of the cotton region of Mississippi 1t is correct, but we have heard of nothing of the kind in Alabama. and pray that we may not hear 1t.
 But whether this outrageous exhibi- tion of lawlessness shall spread to our own State or be confined to Mississippi can make no difference SO far as the principle of the thing is concerned. There should be no hesitanecy or soft methods used in dealing with a sit- uation of this kind by the law. The best way to put out fire and prevent a disa strous conflagration Is to go at it while the blaze is small and weak and not suffer it to burn until 1t is beyond control. Conditions like those reported from our sister State are bound to grow worse if not checked in their infancy. The experience of Kentucky's tobacco region and night rider outrages and excesses show how such lawless combinations will grow and spread until a great State is brought to shame and millions of property destroyed.
 No form of brigandage and lawiess- ness is more dangerous and reprehen- sible than that which obtained such hold in Kentucky. and is making a little demonstration in Mississippi. It Is striking at the very foundation of law and order. and virtually making robbery a concerted business. If those cotton ginners who have been warned not to gin any more cotton until au- thorized by the night riders refuse to obey the next step will be the burn ing of their gins and the murder of the owners if they resent the attempt to destroy their property. In what re- spect does this differ from highway robbery. except that this seems to be an organized form of crime? In fact, to burn the property of another in the night is much worse than stealing or robbing. both in principle and In ef- feet.
 There ought to be no delay or hesi- tation on the part of the law and the officials of Mississippi in dealing with the situation now developing over there. If the civil authorities are un- able to suppress it and punish the out laws the military strength of the State should be brought into requisition. It is no time for ternporizing or wearing gloves. If not stopped in its infancy it will not only spread in that State but will reach to others. We have an almost unbounded respect for the citi- zenship of Alabama, and almost unlim- ited confidence in their loyalty to law and order, but the old adage that "evil corrupt good manners" may be extended beyond mere commit nications. A few lawless men like those who have been operating in Mis- sissippi may cross over and overawe if they find any of their class over here. We have lately gotten rid of one form of Iawlessness that was a disgrace to our State. but this other Is worse than the strike troubles were and would be more difficult to deal with. Wherever such conditions exist not only should the legal ma of the State be active, tire less and relentless in putting it down but all good and law abiding citizens should lend their influence and, if me- their time and activity to the officials. There are occasions when but the mailed hand of the law will sufi1ce, and the crime of night riding is one of them