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

~ expense accounts of $4,000 or some
such figure. This they vigorously
deny.
The 1907 Burley crop had amounted
to two hundred and twenty million
pounds. Half of his. raised and sold
by Independent growers, had ruined
the Equity corner in Burley. If these
Independent growers raised a crop ir
1908 they would neutralize the famine
campaign. They simply had to be
converted to the Equity idea; tina was
all. But how? Gentle PROSECUTING
had already failed with them.
Who are YOU fellows anyhoW?" de-
manded n such planter, to dictate
to me what l shalI groM on my own
| land 2"
The supreme insolence of it beref,
him. of profanity. With the earliest
days of spring he went about as usual
sowing seed in lis plant bed. Later
on, in May, ne would draw the young
tobacco plants from this bed, and
transplant them in his fields. But be
fore then, in March, a struggling, dus-
ty crowd came marching down the
road. They carried banners with to-
baccO Leaf emblelns. Many We're youne
men and boys. The older men looked
rather sheepisll, yet resolute. They
formed one Of the daylight Armies
that marched last spring through
BracAen and Mason counties. Hating
before the planters house, they urgeC
him earnestly not to grow tobacco. The
planter waxed mad and brought ou1
his shotgun. The next morning he
found his plant bed scraped over with
a hoe. It was too late for him to grow
new plants, so thus persisted his
chance for a 1908 crop. Here was
an effective name Of suasion.
Amy buyer Of tobacco was likewise
repugnant to the Equity idea. The
sole primary destination Of tobacco
must be the pool. A daylight army
called on S. D. Rigdon, of Mason coun-
ty, a buyer and grower and former
member of the Legislature. He re-
sented dictation. That night his a
house burnt down; cause unknown.
Suddenly began the reign OF the
Night Rider. The Black Patch had
already created q lively precedent.
They were having their own trouble
down there, and as an antidote they
| were raiding OWNS. burning barns, and
industriously numbering. The con6i-
tions for a like procedure a NV
ripened in the Blue Grass.
The Night Riders recruited their
members from every stratum of socie-
ty. They were rewarded with iTnnu-
nifty by sheriffs, courts and juries. The
abba prompt means OF securing
liberty when incarceration threatened
was e ready.
Local authorities being futile for
l. III vi -
strong hand higher up was nerved to
action. Augustus E. Wilson. Republic
can came into office pledged to stamp
out Night Rider violence. So far he
has had a mighty restless time OF, 1t.
Every faction peppers him with abuse.
Eastern papers denounce him for lax
ity. At home ne can rarely get grand
juries to indict and practically no petit
Jury to convict. The independent
growers berate him for their losses.
Equity men cry out that he wears the
American Tobacco Company conar
Years ago., before anyone ever u
Of him as a governor. he acted as at
torney for the Mengei Box Company,
an American Tobacco concern, IN a
tax suit.
Kentucky also holds the governor
to accoun for not hesitating at East
ern anuuet to condemn h laWless-
ness existing within her borders. n
Kentuckians regard this. as defamation
Of character
Among Wilson's h%arshest critics
those who s1leef at his executive abfll-
ty and charge him with loquaclty ana
lack fttact-you will find stouteSt
afhrmations that he is q splendid tel
low and absolutely incorruptible. They
explain tina criticism has emblttered
hin. against the Equity movement n
it's people.
TIL Governor: aimed the blaze
against himself TO. us TnotleS' ~
when. in the face of b TREMENDOUS
EQUITY sentiment, he had the courage
to use the military power OF the State
to stop Night Rider outrages. Tn
Kentnckian fumes against aught that
srnacks OF martial law. Thousands III
the Observation-Disclosures crusade Tor hlSn-
er tobacco prices hated Wilson as one
who would take the bread n ou.ter
from them. Poor Kentucky Sentle-
man. he hasn't had much fun being
governor. -,
A~States Law and Order League was
formed and treeps were oepioseu
throughout the Infested region, tronf
the Tennessee line to tnesOnlo .1aa
ling guns were stationed IN the seiee