Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-27
Some More Anarchy.

The truth of the saying that lawless-
ness Is catching Is supported by the
latest news from Kentucky.
Night riding. which has been a vicious
pastime In the tobacco-growing sections
Of the state. Is now followed by an out
break In the mining section of the state.
1t Is easy to believe that the coal miners
took their cue from the tobacco quarter.
Seeing the prices of tobacco regulated In
part by violence, the miners decided that
wages could be regulated in the same
way. So in Whitley county. where there
was dispute between the miners and
the mine owners. the former took mat
tiers into their own hands and banded to-
gether to carry their point by force.
The law was appealed to, and a United
States judge. in the interests of peace.
issued a restraining order until matters
could be heard and properly adjusted.
But the restraining order did not go
with the strikers. They treated it with
contempt. and when the officers of the
law appeared to enforce 1t a collision took
place. Two r7en-an officer and a miner
were killed, and several others. officers
and miners. were wounded.
Then came an appeal to the governor
for troops. and 1t was instantly complied
with.
In an interview Gov. Wilson is quoted
as saying:
to put down lawlessness wherever it
comes UP. and / will send the troops
down to Whitley county as soon as they
can get there. All during my admins
tration ] want it understood in every
section of the state That will insist upon
law and order. and the troops will be
ready at all times to assist the county
and state officers in seeing that the law
is obeyed. / have no motive whatever
in this except to see that the law is
obeyed. for that is all l desire. and it
must be obeyed.
This is the only proper view for an Of
fetal 10 take, and yet actions under 1t
often subject officials to severe criticism
Gov. Wilson has discovered this. He has
been very energetic in dealing with the
night riders. rushing troops to localities
where they were needed, and keeping
them on guard as long as there was a
threat of a renewal of hostlities. The
steps were taken partly in response to
local appeals for state protection. Com
plants were made of lack of energy on
the part of county authorities.
But protests were heard. Even politics
was introduced. Men who had opposed
the governor in his race for his Office at
tackled him with charges that he was act
ing in the interests of the tobacco trust
Others complained that the presence OF
state troops in county was a reflection
upon all the people of the county, though
they could not deny the atrocities which
had brought the troops to the scene.
The judge who issued the restraining
order in this case is well supported in his
action by the event. He must have been
convinced that danger to life and property
was at hand, and that reckless men were
to be dealt with. His writ was his only
weapon. He issued that in the hope that
1t would serve a good purpose. But so
serious was the situation and so reckless
the men directing matters that not even
the court could secure respect The
strikers set the court aside, and having
taken things into their own hands carried
them on TO destruction and death. When
the courts are defied there is anarchy