Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1910-02-26
THE GOVERNOR ) ROAST

warmer Saturday.
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THE GOVERNOR > ROAST
The Joint Committee on Military
Affairs, with no evidence before 1T
to substantate its report, has severe
~ criticised Gov. Wilson for his con-
duct in suppressing the might rid
ers" of Western Kentucky, BY send
ing soldiers into counties whose local
authorities were either controlled or
terrorized by the lawless Lands that
were nightly going forth to shoot
and burn Of the business of the
structures upon Governor Wilson for
his reorganization Of the First
Regiment, the Kentuckian knows
nothing, but of the charges that
money was unnecessarily or extrava
gantly expended in breaking up the
bands Of might riders" it knows
much and knows that the charges
are untrue. Whatever may be Gov.
Wilson 8 faults and he has the grie
Vous one Of being blind partisan
who does not always keep his cam
paign pledges-:h state owes him a.
debt of gratitude for his patriotic
services in restoring law and order
in Western Kentucky. The rep ri
say S it cost $l89, 900 to do it and no
money was ever more wisely spenI
in Kentucky His might rider
campaign did much to redeem the
good name of Kentucky and was Of
far more benefit to the state than
the present session of the General
Assembly can possibly accomplish.
At the time his 300 soldier boys-as
brave band as ever riskod their
lives in any war-were put in the
fed. it was openly boasted that TO-
600 oath-Eound outlaws we're in a
position to defy the courts, trample
upon the laws and overrun the coun-
try at night to murder, destroy and
intimidate, raiding cities, shooting
into houses and driving women into
insane asylums. The reign of terror,
for the lack of a strong hand to cope
with it, had spread into an incipient
revolution, an armed rebellion
against the states authority. Three
days after one of the mob's worst
raids upon an unprotected town, Gov.
Wilson came into, office. The peo
pie had appealed for protection, for
permi ssion to have a detail from
their own military company placed
on duty at night, but the request
was denied. The invasion came and
the sleeping town put up the best
defense it could, rousing the people
in time to at least pursue and kill a
few of the fleeing outlaws. The sol
diers were called out and were on
duty when Gov. Wilson assumed Of
fee. He acted with vigor and de
cision. He strengthened the militia,
established headquarters and put
resolute and experienced officers in
command with orders to break up
night riding. Let it be said to his
everlasting praise that he never
weakened, even when threatened
with personal violence, but continued
his policy until peace was restored.
He soon found that the counties
whose local officials would not ask
for soldiers were the very counties
that arbored the might riders"
who preyed upon the people of 9TH
er counties. His patrol system, by
which mounted men were sent to
break up unlawful meetings, at an
expense of $4,000 finally did the
work. The leaders left the country,
the bands were broken up, and the
peop Z, once freed from intimidation.
haG courage to talk. The soldiers
soon knew who the might riders"
were and where they held their
meetings. Their identity once es-
tabllsned, the rest was easy. Sol
diers and federal courts soon did
what county officiala and local rourfa