The Paducah evening sun., 1910-03-01
Hopk;nsville KentuckIan.

affairs, with no evidence before IL TO
its report, has severely
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 bands that
were nightly going forth to shoot
and burn. OF the justice of the stric-
lures upon Gov. Wilson for his re-
organization of the First regiment,
the Kentuckian knows nothing, but
the charges that money was unneces-
sarily or extravagantly expended in
breaking up the bands of night rid
ers it knows much and knows that
the charges are untrue. Whatever
may be Gov. wilson's faults-and he
has the grevious one of being a blind
partisan, who does not always keep
his campaign pledges-the state owes
him a debt of gratitude for his patri-
otic services in restoring law and
order in western Kentucky. The re-
port says it cost s1s9.0O0 to 10 Il,
and no money was ever more wisely
spent 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 general assembly can possib-
ly accomplish.
At the time his 800 soldier boys
as brave a band as ever risked their
lives in any war-were put in the
field IL was openly boasted that TO-
900 oathbound outlaws were in a
position to defy the courts. trample
upon the laws and overrun the
country at night to murder. destroy
and intimidate, raiding cities, shoot
ing into houses and driving women
into insane asylums. The reign OF
terror, for the lack of a strong arm
to cope it. had spread into an Incl
pient 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 people had appealed for protec>
tion. for permission to have a detail
from their own military company
placed on duty at night, but the re-
quest was denied. The invasion
came and the sleeping town put up
the best defense IL could, rousing the
people in time to at least pursue and
kill a few of the fleeing outlaws.
The soldiers were called out and were
on duty when Gov. Wilson assumed
Office. He acted with yigor 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 con-
tinued his policy until peace was re-
stored.
He soon found that the counties
whose local officials would not ask
for soldiers were the very counties
that harbored might riders" who
preyed upon. the people of other coun
ties. 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 people, once
freed from intimidation, had cour-
age to talk. The soldiers soon knew
who the might riders" were and
where they held their meetings.
Their identity once established, the
rest was easy. Soldiers and federal
courts soon did what county officials
and local courts had failed to do
stopped the reign of terror.
The legislature committee only
covers itself with shame by condemn
ing a government for upholding the
law. The thinly yelled defense Of
the might riders praising them
with faint condemnation. is most hu.
initiating to every good citizen who
knows the facts.
Tho Democrats in the general as.
sembly. some of them under indict.
ment themselves, and others under
open charges of corruption from one
of their own members, can do nc
} greater service to the Republicans
in the coming campaign than by
making night riding an issue with