The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1908-11-19

The fall Of 1900 ! vas employ
NV professional capacity as a
rive TO investigate certain
!, Of the oighthder trouble in
,n Kentucky. A far-sighted
M Official, who saw in the march
"peace armies about him
.badop Of coming events. had
,nined TO iorewarn and forearm
m agains, a day when be as an
Of the law, would he called up
IA act His county is in the
heart Of the "Black Patch"
!, tina, time there had been no
r,ak within his jurisdiction
MANY miles away, however. the
Of valuable property still smold-
in the wake OF masked bands OF
keht marauders. AL about him,
even 10 bus own county, anony-
warnings and threats we're be-
entered broadcast by every
Tha, these threats we're not
rs 10 in,imidate had been most
ica.ly demonstrated In adjoin-
toan,ies, where the lavless bands
In trail OF smoke and the
Of The lash 10 mark their
vay OF insifucting me in my
task he said III want TO know
the night rider is. Is he the
sentative citizen or the ire
sble hoodlum; or is he from
banks Of both2"
bus vas mapped out TO me my
assignment in an investigation
movement that has developed
! nany-sided ,mul,iphased prob
a problem as yet far from
lon. and one that as the days
becomes more and more CON-
bed
H PRODUCT or CONDITIONS.
inaTily, toe nigh, rider is a
sd Of conditions. He is a foster
Of an organization known as
Farmers Protective Association
Isltucky, Tennessee and Viz
The legitimate purpose of
organization is 10 do battle with
tobacco trust. The period of
Ugh, rder's incubation may be
oned from the time when inde-
eni tobacco handlers began to
lmo TO the CARROT OF the tobac-
us'-V when competition began to |
and leave a clear field TO a
lnaiion Of capital and methods |
gradually reduced the selling |
OIL the farmers staple money |
until It was worth less to him
the cost Of production. Not |
the night rider a protege OF |
uusiiorced conditions. but he |
Ell must bear responsibility for |
ondl'lons from which he springs. |
failure 10 exercise business |
NY and foresight his federation
shods, schemes Of the tobacco
and his Cutting the markets
an oyeT'Production. thus play
The hand Of the trust, all en-
MIN 10 a iull share Of credit
'ame-ior the intolerable condi- |
Of which he complains--condi-
WIN which he justifes himself |
parting from the paths OF recti-
10 don the black mask and ride
under cover Of night, to force
sn'''on Of his tights with the
the torch and rifle.
arsi report to my employer
10y no means a satisfactory one.
SlAed hint found him in
MUS rs, Its opening sentence
| The night rider is your |
moor your neighbours son and
'oI lhe statement, a figure
sseh intended to convey to him
'us situation as ! had. by care
l. y. found It, is literal |
| ~ w. =. save as to his own son. for
Eurlng to his private Office. h.
, Sua pondered over the report.
'as result that he was convinc.
US general truth. Two weeks
l;sSss1,aA'hg, thorough work had
\ 11 ,e me data upon which | had |
|U,o vac report, and | was sure of |
n.y. rOund' To Justify the conclus.
IT, experiences will not be amiss
\ n. s "a Of a tarmer,- and aid.
=. 'De deception by the darkness
be / b,a az ISOLATED schoolhouse, |
n. mac learned an "Assoeia.
|he o o,.a. was to be held. TAX |
| a h Sil.C = to hitch my horse
away from the building |