Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-10-09
Thos. w. Hardluick.
Wins Over Walker
BY Huge Majority
DORSEY MOVES
TO STOP NIGHT
RIDING IN STATE

Official cognizance has been taker
| Of the activities of night riders in
certain sections of Georgia, who
have sought by threats to close down
| gins and country stores until the
/ price of cotton goes up again. Gov
ernor Dorsey has written letter
| to Sheriff. w. A. Garrett, of Carroll
! county, urging him to use the ut
| most diligence in experimenting par
ties guilty of making such threats.
Commissioner of Agriculture ]. ].
Brown has issued a statement con-
demning the practice and declaring
that it will injure the cotton pro-
| Queer.
During the past few days the
gins posted with threats of de-
struction unless the establishments
were closed until the cotton market
went up. Business ;4ruses in the ru-
raj districts have also been threaten
ed in some instances. The most re-
cent case occurred in Carroll coun-
ty day or two ago, according to
information reaching Governor Dor
sey, and he Immediately took steps
to cope with the situation, also ap-
prising Commissioner Brown and
asking his aid.
The governor characterizes these
night-riding tactics as dangerous and
vastly injurious to legitimate bust
ness. He promises to offer the high
est reward allowed by law If any
buildings are burned as the result of
such threats.
Governor Dorsey's letter follows
Hon. w. A. Garrett, sheriff of Car
roll county, Carrollton, Ga.
Dear Sir: I am reliably informed
that notices are being posted in GER
tain places in your county that the
operation of cotton gins must be dis
continued, otherwise the gins will be
destroyed.
Section 1872. Parks annotated
code of Georgia, volume 6. says: Any
person who shall threaten, by post
ing any writing or printed matter,
to injure, damage, or destroy, by
ginhouse, barn, dwelling, stable,
storehouse or any other house con-
tanning valuable property, shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor.'
The posting of a notice in itself,
therefore, is violation of the law
Of the state.
'"It is your duty, and I am sure
it will be your pleasure, to appre-
bend, if possible, parties guilty of
violating this law.
The governor is not authorized
under the law to issue rewards for
misdemeanors. Burning or other
wise destroying ginhouser how
ever, is a felony, and if the threats
are carried out, upon information
from you, I shall be very glad to
offer the highest reward permissible
under the law.
IF we permit the legitimate bust
ness of ginning cotton to be inter
fered with, or the owners of ginner-
les to be intimidated by these no
tees, and the perpetrators to go
without punishment, the next step
their stores and then bankers to
close their banks, etc.
If legitimate business can be In
terfered with in this way, then Boil
shevism has already arrived.
Il suggest that you take it upon
aw-abiding people in the commuhi-
ties in the county where such no.
tees have been posted, and take
such steps as may be necessary to
apprehend the guilty parties and
portect gins.
THE people who resort to this
means of controlling economic laws
will not only fail to accomplish
their purpose, but will intensity the
very condition which they seek to
remedy.
IF L can assist you in any way,
do not hesitate to command me-.
Very truly yours,
HUGH NJ. DORSEY,
Governor"
Mr.. Browns statement follows:
what we want to do is to let
Secretary Houston know that the
south has always been loyal, that
we have always been patriotic, that
the signs which have been posted in
some sections of the state do not
express the sentiment of the people
I hope farmers will impress upon
the people of their communities
where such signs have been posted
that it would be fatal mistake to
resort to violence and lawlessness.
Il am informed that posting of
these signs has been general
throughout the south. Whoever may
be backing this propaganda, I do
not know, but if it is followed up
by acts of lawlessness,, it will in
jure the cotton growers"