The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1910-04-27
PRESIDENT Of
EQUITY SOCIETY
Makes Comment on Re-
cent Conviction
DE- EIGHT TOBACCO GROWERS
Thinks Federal Officials Are
Too Hard on Farmers,
While Trusts Escape.

Representative James c. Cantrill, of
Kentucky, President of the American
Society of Equity, has issued state
ment deprecating the conviction in
the United States Court at Coving-
ton of the so-called might riders" for
criminal violation of the Sherman
antitrust law. He says:
II desire to call the attention Of
my brother farmers of Kentucky and
OF the nation to the fact that corpo-
rate greed and organized capital has
again triumphed over the rights Of the
American farmer. This time the farm
ers' own Government is responsible
sor his defeat That branch of the
Government to which every farmer
has always looked for protection,
and to which he has always been 10y
al, namely, the Courts, have turned
upon him to oppIess him..
"The case of the eight reputable
citizens of Grant county who have
Just been convicted in the Federal
Court at Covington, KY, is the case
Of every American farmer. l do not
criticise the Courts, but on the con-
trary, however much it hurts, l urge
complete acquiescence TO their decis-
ions. | do believe that every Amer
lean citizen has the right in a re-
spectful manner to pass judgment
upon the DEGREES and the actions Of
ourtCourts. l make no criticisms, but
simply state facts in order that all
men may understand.
The case of the United States Gov
eminent against the American Tobac-
co Company las been pending in the
| Courts for over a year and only last
week the Court announced that the
case must be again argued, which
means that decision will lie postponed
indefinitely. About six wpeks ago II
Grant county farmers were indicted
in Covington and last Saturday they
were convicted and fined from 500
to $1,000 each. Their crime con-
sisted of asking one of their brother
farmers to withdraw his tobacco from
the market and hold it in his posses
sion for higher price and until his
neighbors could sell with him.
The Supreme Court of the United
States deems the American Tobacco
Company case OF such importance as
to order another hearing upon it.,
while another United States Court in
diets, tries and convicts 5 American
farmers In 6 weeks,and the jury spent
one hour in arriving at conclusion.
The Grant county farmers were ex--
ercising the highest right of an Amer
lean citizen in what they did, viz:
the protection of their own property
and the right of free speech. The
Sherman antitrust law under which
these farmers were convicted has been
on tie statute books for 20 years.
Every great trust in the country has
been formed, has fattened and OPP
pressed the peopls during these 30
years while the law was taking its
Rip Van Wrinkle nap, but az soon as
the farmers began to organize to Sc
cured reasonable price for their prod
ucts, the sleeping law awakes and
proceeds to crush out the farmers,
while the great captains of the trusts
complacently and unscathed proceed
to plumber the people and add to their
millions.
"In my judgment this decision of
the Court is the hardest blow ever
directed against the farmers of the
nation. II tbe farmer is to be fined
and jailed for attempting to organize,
then the Sherman antitrust law must
be repealed or amended SO as to pro-
tect him in his inherent rights, or
slavery and serfdom. as every line
of business with which the farmer
must deal is organized. If this de-
cision is finally upheld, then every
labor organization is doomed forever.
The prosperity of the country depends
upon agriculture, and when the farm
er is denied the right to demand rea-
sonable prices for his products, ev-
cry line of business in the nation
must suffer.
"A bill is now pending before Con-
gress, backed by the National Admin
istration, which permits, the railroads
20 pool their interests for reasona-