Muhlenberg County Kentucky
Mining
Break in Ranks of Night Riders
“Antis” Among the Possum Squads Lining Up With Citizens for Suppression of Lawlessness.
Organized Labor Hurt By Latest Outbreaks
Mass Meeting Today.
By Associated Press.
Greenville, KY., Nov. 17. - A mass meeting has been called for this afternoon to consider conditions resulting from the “Possum Hunter” raids and take steps to restore order in Muhlenberg county. The county officers are back of the movement.
The United Mine Workers have protested against being connected with the “Possum Hunter” in any way. They say they are trying to unionize the mines by peaceful means only.
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(By the Louisville Herald's Special Investigator.)
Cleaton, KY., Nov. 16 - Tonight all Muhlenberg county was an armed camp. The lawless outbreaks of the Possum Hunters in this and other counties of Western Kentucky during the past few days have given rise to a crisis in the affairs o the organization. The “antis” opposed to the violence program that appears to have been outlined by an unruly element within the organization are arming themselves with the avowed in intention, it is said, of inflicting retaliation on the raiders. They are supported by the citizens.
At sundown, I am told, in this city, at Greenville, Central City, Drakesboro, Beech Creek and Hillside, it is a common sight to see husbands and fathers patrolling the front yards of their homes. They are armed with Winchesters. A battle between the two factions is expected momentarily.
Hurting Union Cause.
Organized labor, in Muhlenberg county particularly, I am informed on good authority, is on trial for its life. If the vicious element is permitted to dominate the affairs of the organization, it is predicted that unionism in this section of the coal fields will be wiped out. It is for this reason that the organized workers, opposed to violence have joined with the good citizens and placed themselves on the side of law and order.
A mineworker with whom I talked last night told me that the newspapers have not exaggerated conditions in Muhlenberg. “The half has not been told,” he said. “The conditions are intolerable. No man, woman or child is safe when the raiders in the Possum Hunters' organization are on the warpath.”
Tells of Organization.
The mineworker then told me in detail why the Possum Hunters were organized, how the warfare between members of the organization and mine guards started, how the movement spread from Hopkins to adjoining counties and of outrages that have been committed by raiding bands in Muhlenberg. He said:
“The history of the Possum Hunters dates back little more than a year ago, when the organization was formed in Hopkins county. For forty years the operators in this field have adhered to what is known as the ‘guard system,’ and employed armed men to protect the mines and property against alleged agitators representing organized labor.
“In that period many strikes have occurred in what are known as the Hopkins county coal fields. In all of these the miners have lost, and as a result of the failure of the miners to bring about an organization, hundreds of men have left the fields, and their places have been filled with southern Negroes.
Watched Night Riders.
“The last strike that occurred in Hopkins county was in the year 1907, during the war between the Night Riders and tobacco trust. The few white miners who were left watched very closely the struggle between the Night Riders and the tobacco trust, and when they saw the price of tobacco jump from one, two and three to eight, ten and twelve cents per pound, they seemed to catch the inspiration, and at that moment the Hopkins county miners organized what is now known as the Possum Hunters.
“It seems the Possum Hunters were seeking the path of least resistance to lead them out of bondage. From that day there has been war, in a way, between the guards employed by the coal companies and the non-union miners in the employ of the same companies.
“In some peculiar manner this organization has spread to the counties of Muhlenberg, Butler, Ohio and McLean. Unfortunately the organization in these counties at the present time seems to be controlled by a band of irresponsible and unscrupulous leaders. To show how it has been diverted from its original purpose the following depredations in Muhlenberg county may be interesting.
Minister is Whipped.
“On one occasion a minister of the gospel was called to his door at midnight, and, clad only in his night clothing, he was seized by a band of drunken, heartless rowdies and compelled to walk thru the rain over rocky roads for more than a mile and forced to place his arms around a tree while his back was lacerated with switches in the hands of his captors. The only offense that this man had been accused of committing was carrying news to a certain coal company. No investigation was made and no opportunity was given him to clear himself of the charge. While he was being beaten his wife was at home on her knees praying for her husband's safe return.
“On another occasion at a meeting of the local union of the United Mine Workers at which the vice president of the organization was present a band of masked men, twenty-five or thirty in number, entered the hall and told every man present to hold up his hands while they bent one old decrepit man over a bench and beat him until he begged them to kill him and thus end his torture.
“Only a few weeks ago a band of fifty or more alleged Possum Hunters visited the home of a prominent representative of the United Mine Workers of America and compelled his frail wife, at the point of Winchester rifles, to go thru every room and search for her husband. The only offense that this man had committed was to disagree with a number of his colleagues in office on a question of policy affecting the organization which they represented.
Other Depredations.
“The vicious element now in control of this organization are not only whipping men without cause, but are attempting to deprive every one of their right of free speech unless their views harmonize with these self-constituted leaders of the Possum Hunters.
“The butchers have been ordered to cut the price of meat; merchants have been instructed as to how they must conduct their business; officials of the district organization of the United Mine Workers have been warned not to render any decision in conflict with the views of these leaders. At the present time, no district officer can afford to do his duty in the adjustment of disputies between employer and employe, lest he become victim or fall a victim to the unruly element of the Possum Hunters organization.
“So serious has the situation become in this county that no mother can place her prattling babe to rest without the horrifying fear that the little one will be murdered before morning. No father in the county dares retire before the night is well past lest his home be attacked, and possibly himself and loved ones slain while they sleep.
Mayor Is Threatened.
“Mayor C.W. Wells, of Central City, who has always been a friend of organized labor, has been warned that he would be hung if he did not yield to the demand of the vicious element in the organization of Possum Hunters to dismiss his Chief of Police, J.D. Langley, because the latter is not in sympathy with the outlaws who are terrorizing the county. Each night the mayor finds it necessary to guard his home. Because of this his wife has been rendered ill and is suffering from nervous breakdown.
“These are only a few of the instances of the outbreaks of the lawless element. Unless something is done and done immediately to curb the raiders there is no telling where it will end.”
It is stated authoritatively here that the L.&N. and the Illinois Central railroads, operating thru this section, have warned their employes to remain strictly neutral in the present struggle fearing the destruction of property owned by the railroads in the strife-torn district and in which many thousands of dollars have been invested by both companies.
Citation: “Break in Ranks of Night Riders.” The Lexington Leader [Lexington, KY], 17 Nov 1914.
Updated December 8, 2015