The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1909-08-20
United States have given no just cause

perpetrators Oh thlS uecu ~ ulNHipIJSu
Of justice then Tennessee stands out
lawed and accursed, with the mark OF
Cain upon her brow. +"
But while these things are true there
is another matter which is not to be
treated insignifcantly, and that is the
legislative act enabling an investigation
Of the Reelfoot Lake claims. The pro-
visions of this law should be carried
into effect without delay. The legal
counsel should be named, and this
counsel should be held to prompt,
thorough and exhaustive execution OF
it's work, the result should be declared,
and then it should be taken through
the proper channels to the Supreme
Court for still further comprehensive
and exhaustive investigation. After all
this is done, and the lands in question
are declared to be the property of the
West Tennessee Land Company, then
the West Tennessee Land Company
should be protected in its rights OF
ownership. But if the claims to these
lands are held to be unwarranted and
insupportable, then the State should
take charge of the lands and hold them
as a public reserve.
1t is claimed that the Nightrider
organization in Obion County had its
origin in the disputes over the fishing
privileges at Reelfoot Lake and the as
sessment of royalties upon the fishing
industry. That being true the titles to
these lands should figure as an impor-
tant factor in the general equasion OF
individual rights. If these titles are
unsupported by the records then there
is found cause to exist half-hearted-
ness among the law-abiding people in
the cause of justice demanding the pun
ishment of criminals who are guilty OF
murder. If, however, it is shown that
these claims are supported by the evil
dence and the facts then the populace
will not be slow in moving against such
crime. Ordinarily when man sets up
a claim to real estate even by the pay
ment of taxes or by quitclaim the owner
ship need not be questioned when all
the interests are satisfied. But, as IN
the case of Reelfoot Lake lands, which
have been variously claimed by differ
ent parties for years and years, occu-
pied and utilized as public fishing
grounds without restriction except that
which is imposed by the State author
tiles in the game laws, there should be
be shown without question that these
claims are valid, else the claims should
be set aside, and until this is done there
will never be peace and quiet in the
good county of Obion. Settle this ques-
ton and all the forces of law and order
and good citizenship will help to crush
rebellion.
We repeat that there is no excuse un-
der heaven for the murder OF Rankin,
and there is no reason why heaven and
earth should not be moved to avenge
| this murder. That is the way we look
at the matter. Justice should be meted
out to these murderers at the sacrifice
of technicalities even though the West
Tennessee Land Company stole every
foot of ground they claim. But getting
public sentiment to see it this way is a
different matter, and we do believe that
these matters should be properly adj
iusted so that the people may be as
surcd that the law is intended to apply
to one citizen as we'll as another.
That is why we wrote last week depre.
eating the delay in this investigation
These affairs are more important to the
people of the State than may be easily
reckoned and should not be brushed
aside for other things that may appear
of equal or more weight.
If the Supreme Court should adiudgt
the Reelfoot Lake lands to belong tt
the West Tennessee Land Company thel
that company should be protected in it
property rights just as any other lane
owner, and should it be determined tt
drain the lake no man would have thu
right to interfere. But no man has {
right to control or to drain or to inter
fere in anyway with the operations OF
the lake until he proves his claim.
As to the murder of Rankin we re
produce and indorse the following from
the greatest editorial writer Tennessee
ever produced, which still stands as
challenge to the people of Tennessee