The sun., 1908-05-15
The Night Riders Of Kentucky.

The Night Riders Of Kentucky.
The term night rider" is too new to be
found in any dictionary, yet if new edi-
ton Of a dictionary were 10 be published
to-day it would have to be defined therein
as meaning a member of lawless band
of men organized originally for the pur-
pose of preventing the cultivation Of
tobacco in Kentucky and neighboring
States The procedure Of these bands
has been to visit tobacco plantations on
horseback in the night time and destroy
the growing crops of tobacco or tobacco
in storage there-the latter usually by
fire-at the same time fOrcibly eIacting
from the planter a promise to refrain
from planting tobacco in the future,
Submission TO these raids has been the
rule, but resistance has been occasionally
encountered, with bloodshed and murder
as the result
Lawlessness Of this character, al
though having its origin in strictly eco
nomic considerations, has grown with
immunity and indulgence until the cause
which brought it into existence is no
longer the handspring Of its action, In
stead of merely endeavoring by their
unlawful assaults upon persons and
property to regulate the tobacco indus
try in Kentucky, the night riders in that
State have sought TO control almost
every form Of human activity in the
rural communities. The employment
of negro labor has aroused their venge-
ance in many localities they have
punished public officers for the righteous
discharge Of official duty; and under the
pretence of acting for the good Of the
people they have become agencies Of
private malevOlenoe, greed and revenge,
quite as much as were the old KukluI
Klan of the Reconstruction period or the
infamous whitecaps Of Indiana.
1t is gratifying, however, to observe
signs that the reign Of the night riders
Of RSntucky is coming to an end. In
that excellent agricultural journal the
Country Gentleman, published at Albany,
we find a letter from a very intelligent
Kentucky correspondent which indicates
that the outrages which have dsgraced
that Commonwealth for three years are
at last being sternly and vigorously
repressed by the iron hand Of the law.
Galloway county it appears, has been
one Of the localities most grievously
afflicted by the night riders. Hardly
night passed that some person was
not either whipped, his barn or residence
burned. or he was called out Of his house
and told what he must do, Anonymous
letters were sent by Wholesale in one
instance a general warning to the resi-
dents of a certain section was tackled
up at a crossroads and was allowed 10
remain there for days, on account of
the threat contained in it that whoever
tore the paper down would be visited
by the night riders This was fol-
lowed by the murder Of the father Of
family; and things came TO such a
pass that the County Judge, man of
courage and determination named WELLS,
applied to the Governor for a military
force TO assist him in maintaining good
order and enforcing the laws. His re-
quest was promptly complied with. In
spite Of much popular and prominent
opposition judge WELLS has repressed
disorder and procured the indictment Of
the leading night riders in his county,
and it really begins TO look as though
this nefarious organization would be
broken up, for the example set in Gallo
way county is being followed in other
parts Of the State where its operations
have been most troublesome.
The writer TO whom we have referred
states that the night riders are un-
doubtedly organized on a military basis,
although the authorities have sought in
vain thus far 10 discover who is the COM
mander in chief The form of their blood
OATH however, has been disclosed in the
confession Of one Of their number and is
az follows;
Il, In the presence Of the Almighty GOD and
these witnesses. do solemnly promise and swear
TO become member Of this order shall not be.
tray this order In any way BY sign, act, words or
writing. or cause 10 be revealed the secrets Of this
order. do solemnly promise and swear that
viii obey an order, which may he Tlytn me by
them and Will 60 At Gny HInr that tbcy mas call
upon rue unless or ms family are sick, and n
should bstray this order 10 any way shall bave 10
SubuIt 10 The penalty which may be put on me,