New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1909-04-12
MORE WIGHT RIDER ACTIVITY.

Once begun. there is no logical limit TO the &C
tfrties Of those whose ideas Of liberty lead them
into such associations as have been generaIly
referred 70 as Night Riders Ostensibly banded
together for their own protection and peaceiully
IN rronlote their own interests through combina-
zion the associations as they have grown in
strength have extended their operations until.
during the last year the name has brought terror
TO many American farmers not unlike that when
is inspired in the Italian immigrant by the men
tion # the Black Hand. And in principle these
societies are not essentially different, although
the Night Riders purpose TO benefit many, while
the Black Hand institution would appear to bc
a close corporal ion. To the aggressive members
of the body assuming that they are farmers
and not mere "sympathizers'' who, unwilling to
work themselves are not unwilling TO live on
the product OF the labors OF others. 1t appears
that the only liberty worthy of consideration is
to be found within the organization and those
misguided individuals who feel that they can
find more freedom outside Of 1t are looked upon
by those inside as enemies of their class and
entitled to no protection, legally or otherwise.
During the winter with crops selling ut high
prices and with agricultural prosperity general,
the law of supply and demand has done for the
farmers all that could be expected Of organiza-
ton; but now. in Southern Indiana, new phase
of the Night Rider proposition is developing. In
the agricultural sections the number of tenant
farmers has been increasing very rapidly in the
last twenty years This is true throughout the
West. The original settlers, or their children
who followed after them, have became wealthy
as q result Of their iabors, and the younger gen
Grafton has deserted the farms 70 enter business
and professional life In the cities. This has left
MANY farms in the hands Of those who either
can not or will not work them, and the result
would be the same as in the East, with its so
called deserted farms, but for the fact that the
fertility Of the land lures others to it, and as
they have not the means to purchase the farms
at the high prices at which they arc held they
must Of necessity become tenant farmers.
Among this class n new Night Rider move
ment has been started. Under the law Of sup
ply and demand the proportion Of the crop
given TO the landlord when the farm is worked
ON shares has increased. Where 4 was once u
third. It is now two-fifths, and in some in
stances a half. The renter would prefer to
have two-thirds OF the crop for himself dis j
return for his labor, and an association has
been formed on the plan of the Night Riders
which purposes By intimidation to prevent the
payment OF more than the minimum amount of
rent Tenant farmers not in the. organization
have been Informed that payment Of more than
third Of their crops to the owners OF the
farms will result in personal harm and tie
destruction of crops.
II is 10 be hoped that the better sense Of the
people generally will prevail. The demand for
farm lands and the price to be paid in rentals
for them are determined entirely by the pro
ductive value of the land. High prices for
farm products make high prices for the land
itself, and this means high rentals UnqueS-
tionably there is more profit in giving the
larger share of the crop to-day than, there was
III tie smaller share at the time the one-third
ratio was established Land values In Ken
tCeky and Tennessee have suffered greatly Gs
result of Night Elder activity in the tobacco
belt. Some authorities have said that it would
require a generation, even without further dis
play OF IN wieSsness. 10 restore the affected re
Sions to the condition of prosperity which pre-
Vailed before the outbreak. Already il is said
some fine farms in Indiana are tenantless. A
general decline in land vnues would result dis
astrousy TO the community and the state and
while those most interested in the movement