The Paducah evening sun., 1910-02-24

sible railroad point to infected dis
tricts, and they had nothing to do
with conditions in McCracken coun-
ty The committee might as well
have charged the governor with send
ing them into every county. through
which they had to pass on the train
to their destinations.
But, had the governor not sent
troops into certain counties where
the county officials did not want
them, the legislative committee
would now, in all probability. be in
Producing resolutions censuring the
governor for not sending troops and
for neglecting to protect the men and
women of Kentucky from assault,
arson and murder.
II must be remembered that near
ly every rural paper in the Black
Patch, and nearly every county off,
cial, If not in active league with the
night riders, was intlmidated by
them, to the extent that they were
hostile to the states efforts TO re-
store order.
Citizens begged the governor for
protection, but the county judges of
Lyon and Galloway only, asked for
troops. Since then Judge Crum-
baugh and County Attorney Krone,
Of Lyon, have been run out of the
Democratic party by the night riders.
and a legislator from western
Kentucky introduced bill, TO place
the board of control in the hands of
the legislature for the avowed pur-
pose of getting the goat of Hon.
A. ]. G. Wells, member of the board
and former county judge Of Galloway.
Though scores of arrests were
made and indictments were returned
after the soldiers took the field, of
men. against whom the state could
produce direct evidence, not a single
was secured. and, SO far
as We know, no serious effort was
made to convict any OF the night
riders by these county officials.
whose request for troops. the legisla-
tive committee found was not
received by the governor before
soldiers invaded the Patch. Since
most of the county officials
were night riders themselves. 1t Is
MT surprising that the governor did
not wait for them to ask for troops.
When the troops under expert
anoad aRoarc toolr tho daId fhav
soon found they were confronted
with a conspiracy that extended over
several counties. lying either within
the confines of the Third judicial dis
trict, or. as in the case of the infected
part of Caldwell, dipping down into
that district. The only disorder I'm
the Purchase, took place in the only
county lying west of the Tennessee
river, which Is in the Third district
Galloway.
A systematic campaign thereupon
was entered on by the soldiers and,
in spite of the fact that they were in
hostile territory. and that ignorance,
cowardice and depravity composed a
triad of discord. which made the
counties of Trigg. Christian and
Lyon ring with anarchy, not an out
rage was committed after they be-
gan patrolHng the highways. and
from that hour dated the decline of
night riding. Moreover. during the
months of their service. the Ken
lucky soldiers never committed a
wanton act or allowed their zeal TO
exceed the bounds Of discretion. Ev-
cry private seemed to realize that he
was performing a delicate duty as a
citizen OF the commonwealth, and
the state has reasons to be proud OF
In the final crushing OF the night
rider spirit, the state courts played
no part, excepting in this district,
where a night rider from the Third
district got over the line and COM
mitted a felony. The federal court s
autocratic handling OF the situation
made the leaders OF the movement
see the light. .
The people of Kentucky can re-
member the thousands OF acres OF
good farm land thrown on the mar
ket on account OF the night rider
outrages, OF the millions of invest
ments kept out of the state, and the
citizens driven into exile. A Padu-
cab minister is authority for the
story of a former resident OF the
Black Patch, who returned there re-
Gently to find his people he had left
living in the most pleasant relations
with their neighbors. speaking in
tones of pessimksm and distrust OF
their fellowmen. When he inquired
of his sister, Have you folks lost all
the religion you ever had?" his sis
ter replied. ''If you had lived here
the last three years you might have
believed there Is no God"
We do not believe the people of
Kentucky will soon forget the serv-
ice done by the governor and the
brave citizen soldiers of .he COM
monwealth in restoring order. or the
courage the governor displayed In
IL