New-York tribune., 1908-01-06

'he ioioWlng one Is raised. Some of them often
are compelled to mortgage a crop before it is
cut and cured The societies during the last
five months have made arrangements to ad-
vance two-thirds of the value of crops to grow
ers who need the money, but there is doubt as
to whether they would be able to finance all the
independents. even If the latter could accept the
arrangement
Farmers who support the pooling movement
maintain that the market for their product Is
controlled by a trust and that the only recourse
Tor the farmers is to form trust OF their own
and fight their opponents with their own weap-
ons They argue that if the societies beaten
the growers of two states must be for all time
at the mercy of combination which will fix
the price: that the financial crushing of the
'poolers.' who constitute the majority. would be
a greater misfortune than the crushing of the
minority.
DENY CONNIvANCE AT VIOLENCE.
Leading members of the pooling societies
strongly disclam any connection between their
organizations and the might riders any re-
sponsibility for the latter's actions. Pooling
leaders declare the might riders" are undoubted-
ly the scum of the regions in which they live.
spurred on and led by demagogues or men who
have personal spite to wreak on their neigh
bors.
movement, with plan for peaceful persua-
SION of growers to pool their crops. The day
riders go by day in bodies to the homes of
neghbors and urge them to join the pooling
movement. No threats are used, but never
theless many of the men visited confess that
this policy intimidates them.
The pooling societies now have hand part
of their 1906 crop and all of their 1907 crop.
Although they control 80 per cent of the crop
the American Tobacco Company, supplementing
it's purchases from the large independent in
terests by pushing its buying in other fields, ap-
parently has not yet been pinched for tobacco.
This fact combined 18th the consideration
that the company has the longest purse, has
moved the societies to start movement, now
in full swing, pledging the members not TO plant
any crop at all during 1908 By this course
they hope to force higher price for the 1907
crop and also to shorten the supply, so that the
company will have TO come to terms.
Fargo. N D., Jan. 5.-James Holen, member
of the national executive committee of the
American Society Of Equity, left here for In
dianapolis tonight to attend a special meeting
of the executive committee to consider the re-
cent depredations in Tennessee and Kentucky
by might riders" who are alleged to be mem
bers of the society. Mr.. Holen said that II 1t
were shown that the might riders" We're men,
bers of the society lie would introduce a resolu-
tion demanding that they be expelled. He said
the standing of the American Society of Equity
was endangered by the acts of the night nd
ers'' and that unless the iawlessness was dis
countenanced at once thousands of farmers
would withdraw.
HopkinsviIle Ky, Jan. 5.-Reports from the
country around Hopkinsville say there viii be
great gathering of farmers in this city to-rnor-
row in the interest of the Tobacco Growers AS
sociation. The purpose of the meeting is not
known to non-nlenbers.
Attorney General James Breathitt has received
several anonymous letters threatening personal
violence because of his activity in trying TO dis
cover the identity of might, riders.