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

ucf OF hOuS uurfu4 inc Ass naft coH-
fury. but no more. think. than the
average state OF tho Union. The mob
Of the past may be divided into three
general classes: One. where some re-
voting crime has been committed, ex-
citing and shocking public sentiment
so that a great many are excited
beyond ordinary restraint, resulting In
the wreaking Of vengeance upon the
supposed guilty person; another, arts
ing from Industrial conditions, follow
ing upon strikes and lockouts. and the
third is not wholly unlike the second,
Is similar ia the sense OF oppression
practiced or suffered by a great num-
Der Of the public.
To the latter class belong the night
riders and other related disorders,
which. by the way, have not been con-
fined in their operations to Kentucky.
Among this class in Kentucky was the
tollgate raiding people were killed,
more property destroyed by the raid
ers than was done In the time OF the
night-rider troubles. 49, VII
In reference to the tollgate raids,
then the public believed that II was
not a sound policy to give monopoly
of the highways of the state. which
we're turnpikes, to corporate and in
dividual owners, who could exact toll
from every other traveller; they be-
lieved that II was better for the pub
lie to own and operate the public high
ways.
ToIisste Nleht-RIders.
After many years of discussion laws
we're finally enacted empowering the
counties to acquire the roads. The
owners of the property and the coun,
ty authorities we're in many instances
unable to agree upon prices for the
property, and the impression was ere
ated that the owners were attempting
to indefinitely delay the matter Of pub
lie ownership, or to get exorbitant
prices for the property. There were
some then, impatient at the delays
and dickering. who cut up the gates,
terrorized and in some instances beat
the owners, and when resisted killed
gatekeepers and owners.
AS we now look calmly back upon
that dark chapter OF history, we fail
to find an excuse for these outrages
Troops and deputy sheriffs were call
ed out to protect the property. which
was undoubtedly right. But the pub
lie peace was quickest restored by the
speedy requirement of the roads by
the counties.
These roads were not acquired in
Difference to the mob spirit, nor as the
result of its actions. They were &C.
quired as result % a deliberate pur.
pose, framed in public opinion. Gre
ated by years OF previous discussion.
II conditions had been such that the
counties and owners of the roads
could have agreed more promptly, or
legislative acts to authorize the ac-
QUESTION of these roads had been
more promptly passed In compliance
with the overwhelming public de-
mand, there is no reason to suppose
that the mob would have had cause,
even in its own misguided judgment,
to have destroyed the property. Toll
gates had existed upon the turnpikes
in Kentucky for the better part of
century without molestation. Years
of discussion had gradually ripened
public opinion into the belief that the
system was inherently faulty.
Laws Delay Cause Of Violence.
After the matter had finally been !
enacted into law giving counties the
right to purchase these roads, it APP
peared perhaps to the more thought |
less that the law was inadequate to-
wards giving relief. The county Off
cials In many instances we're unrea- |
sonable in their demands upon the |
owners OF the roads. or the owners |
were unreasonable in their demands |
upon the counties, so that II was made |
to appear to the more impatient that |
the law which had been enacted was
faulty. The more radical spirits In
the community saw in the situation a |
defiance of the public will. Then it |
was that they began their depreda-
tons. That was the last uprising of |
this class in Kentucky until the night
rider troubles in 1907.
| have already described In a pre-
vious address delivered at Hopkins
Vile, KY, on the first day OF May, the
conditions existing In this state for
many years prior to that date, affect
ing the interests OF the tobacco grow
ers. Without repeating here infinitely
these conditions deem 1t sufficient TO
remind you that the culture OF tobac-
co had been one OF the principal in
iustfies in this state since its separa-
lion from Virginia. and Of their faith
srs before them for all OF the genera
tons from jamestown to Independ
ence. They had found In the cultiva-
ton of this crop the means by which
they supplied the most OF their CON-
mercial needs. II was the basis of
heir currency. large part Of the To-
cal tax with which they betrayed the
expenses OF the colony, the tithes OF
The ministers in the established
aud the revenues with which
I