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6/17/1910
Food For Thought

Mr. Editor:

Doubtless all of your readers are familiar with the history of our past troubles on the lake. It is well remembered and generally known that Tom Johnson was arrested and carried into the camp to be interrogated by Patterson in person, that Ed Marshall was treated likewise and others too numerous to mention were under the instruction of Gov. Patterson and Col. Tatum brought into camp under state guard and that numbers of them were sweated and that the tears of wives and daughters had no effect, that numbers were sent to Nashville where two of the number died in chains, and as one result six were condemned to death and but for a supreme court with an eye single alone to justice, they would have all been hanged at that time. The scene changed and Ed Marshall and Tom Johnson are leading delegates to Patterson's convention the 16th of June. Again, the Hon. John White, was by the Patterson element regarded as being in sympathy with the Night Riders, yet he is Patterson's choice of Obion County to represent a law abiding people. It is generally known the Hon. J. H. McDowell was the author of the constitutional amendment years ago and has a silver set and gold headed canes publically presented him in recognition of his valuable services, and he is leading the fight in Obion County and West Tennessee for Patterson when he knows that Patterson has publicly declared for repealing some of the temperance laws passed at that legislature. Again it is generally known that the Farmers Alliance was charged by the Patterson element as being in sympathy with the Night Riders (which no honest man believes) yet the state president Montgomery, was the man selected to represent the people in this senatorial district.

It is well known that our present Sheriff was criticised and threats were made to depose him charging him that he did not do his duty. The public rose up in their might and give the charge a black eye by re-electing him by an overwhelming majority. Food for thought. I confess I can't fathom the depth of the enigma. Consistency is real jewel. Will some one solve the problem?

OBSERVER

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