The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1911-07-07

eminent Il to snforcs ths laws equal
ly and impartially against the violent
lawiess night-ridsrs. and enforce them
also against the lawless though not
violent trust was that equivalent 10
saying that favor lawlessness! Ana
when 7 declared that II was the prov
ince OF government and It's duty to re-
move the aggravating cause which
provoked outbursts OF violence In VAL
GUS sections of the state. at the same
fine saying that the specific acts OF
violence should be punished, because
they were unlawful, was this justifca-
ticn Of lawlessness in any sense?
But passing this, will now ask
your indulgence for a moment TO
speak as to my personal and individ-
ual record upon the question OF mobs.
AS a public oficial, acting as com
monweslth attorney, specially ap-
pointed for the purpose, prosecuted
members Of a mob In Kentucky, and
that, II so happened. In a Republican
county In the state. prosecuted
them to the end Of the law. Later
became q public Official by election,
being chosen to the office OF county
Judge Of my county. The night before
my Induction into the Office q mob
took from the county jail a prisoner
and hung him until he was dead.
First OFFICIAL Act.
My first Official act was to convene
the fiscal court In special session,
and cause rewards to be offered for
the apprehension Of the members OF
the mob and for their prosecution. A
number of men we're arrested as the
result Of this effort and we're brought
before me for examination. They
were in every instance held to the
grand jury without bail and were in
dicted and tried. There | exhausted
every means in my power to punish
the members of the mob.
Since being member OF the court
of appeals, the question arose in
case before the court as to the effect
of a mob Of which l have been espe-
cially treating today, to-wit: the toll
gate raiders. A band of these ma
RAIDERS had destroyed tollhouses and
terrorized the keepers.
The road had to be abandoned by
the owners. Then the county con-
demned 1t under the statutes. The
question presented was the fair mar
ket value of the road as Of the date
of the condemnation. The county in
sisted that the value was as it was
found to be after the mob had depre-
ciated that value by its destruction
of the company's property. The jury
found accordingly. The court OF ap-
peals reversed the judgment on the
grounds that the verdict was mad
equate, and rested on erroneous ba-
sis; that the mob was band Of fell
ms, in law, whom 1t was the duty of
The county to dispense, and to protect
the property from; that the public
would not be allowed to profit by the
mob's lawless acts, but should pay
Tor the road which 1t required as If
The mob had not existed. In short,
that the law would protect to the last
extremity owners of the property not
only from the direct act of the mob,
but from the indirect results. The
opinion may be found reported in III
Reports, GA, and 1t fell to
me to write that opinion of the court.
Thus you will see that in three in
-. T. 1Nl to1 49, n
period of more than 20 years, and
occurring at intervals widely sep
arated, have I shown by my official
action and conduct, which fortunately
are matters OF public record. my es-
teem and my manner of dealing with
The specific acts OF mobs. ] went so
lar as the law empowered me; went
no further because had not the
power
Believe In Square Deal.
believe the average man is salts
led with a square deal. His idea is.
that is the end and purpose of al,
aw. And he is not far wrong. When
the law fails him, there is. in hts
mind. but two courses: either to
grin and bear IL. or kick" When a
great number having a similar griev-
snce find that they are not getting
square deal. or believe they are not.
which affects their actions the same.
hey kick simultaneously. II not
enough OF them to make revolution.
hey make mob. believe that
broadly speaking, the mob spirit. as
I Is called. rarely evinces itself ex
,ept under the belief that the Law is
nadquate TO redress the wrong, be-
isf most always slowly formed, how
aver swiftly executed. Not only that
he law Is inadequate. so far as the
statutes and officials are concerned
inadequate In that the public. through
my legal channel available to them
IAN not act
The bestgoverned people are self
governed people Likewise they are
he best satisfied with their govern
nent. II II is pliable enough to re-
pond promptly to the public will.
here would be no ground for lmpa-
fence at Il.
Legislature Not Representative.
The belief has been slowly growing