The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-04-13

'rhe night is dark. heavy, fun Of
secrets. The old schoolhouse stands
in the clearing, brightly lighted; the
door is open. throwing a cherry beam
into the Kentucky woodland near at
hand. Inside sit the farmers, gray
boards and youths, holding q lodge
meeting. What lodge? The local
branch OF the Burley Society," They
are talking. The one word Tobacco"
is heard over and over again. They
discuss prices, conditions. You might
catch references to Equity" Pool
and "Erust." 1t is an orderly meet
ing which transacts legitimate bust
ness and ~-adourns. After which,, all
the peaceahle members drive to their
homes and sleep with good conscience.
But. later, another meeting con-
veneS i'll Il wooded bend of the road
ncar by. Dark forms glide up
through the underbrush. Men with
handkerchiefs around their faces up
40 their eyes make signs to each
other. Men who had taken an oath,
with both hands at their necks, and q
o banging by as a threat to trail
tors.
Suddenly q whisper in the dark:
silent Brigade."-the password.
yes; on Bonded knees" The coun-
tersign.
a man with a white handkerchief
knotte,i into his coat-lapel and pinned
to his right shoulder passes the senti-
mel. Behind him comes another with
Il scarf crossed upon his breast-the
captain. An ominous whisper runs
among the leaves. The silent mem
bers OF the Empire Invisible gather
about their chief.
They bring out horses from the,
brush and mount. Some carry spades
and hoes; others partly filled sacks;
another a~can of kerosene. They all
-, n y Ill
farther they draw rein.
NOW for the first - - ,
SAWS the iCadCr.
They conceal their horses and climb
the fencerintO a mans tie!d.
"Where's his plant BEDS
e"aere. Cap. behind the stables"
A plant bed is not much larger
than Il mattress. Each sweep of the
hand with salt lessons the tobacco
crop Il thousand pounds. Kerosene
does just as.well: or h hoe. The
man vath the hoe" has a meaning in
Kentucky never intended by painter
or poet. He also is q popular figure
in the Industrial parades.
No more p!ant> BEDS" asks the
captain.
No"
Then where's that 1906 tobacco
he's got?"
I'm the second barn, Cap"
On the way one of them drops
Paris green III the watering trough.
The leader works over q bottle in the
dark.
The captain hands the bottle to one
Of the men. who steals into the barn
with it. The bottle is a fire-trap. 1t
contains potash, sugar and sulphuric
aeid. The bottle, being turned up
side down, the acid eats through the
cork in two days. Then. contact or
the. stuff with hay or litter will set
the barn on fire.
"Mayn't we even throw q scare into
him?" pleads the hooligan. @
III you're not afraid says the
leader. Here" and hands HIM a
spade. s.
The next morning the independent
planter who lives there. finds q grave
dug in the sod before his front door.
on the yatepost is q bundle of switches
tied with a rope. "A note signed
Night Riders'i advises hin to- join the
Burfcy. Tobacco Society.
Hiram Hedges was q poor farmer
Of county. The nlght OF
March 10th. t~hirty-five masked men
code down the old Maysville turnpike.
At the Hedges farm they stopped ano
roun6cd on the door. The nan and
his wife and their children aWoke,
trembling.
Hedges caught up his shotgun, then
nesitated. One of his sons describes
What happened.
Father said it was no use trylns
10 ght that mob with one gun, Sc
ne went to the door unarmed anc
opened it. He asked the men OUTSIDE
what they wanted. ;.
lyon know. We want you to quit
raising tobacco -
According to the boy, his father salo
he4would dig up his beds If they Wouio
go away. They agreed, but as NJ
turned his back to enter the MOUSE
they raised their guns and nreo
Hedges fell within the house, bleed