Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1892-07-12
A BAD PIECE OF BUSINESS.

The riot in the Occur d'Alene region
10 about tho worst thing that could
have happened to the Miners Unions.
to tho non members, to the mine
owners, to the county, to the state,
and to the community at large.
1t has resulted in the loss OF many
lives, and caused. untold suffering to
tho relatives OF the killed or wounded;
in the needless destruction of valu.
able property; in putting the state to
considerable expense, and thus in.
creasing the already heavy burdens of
the taxpayers; and in casting blem>
ish upon the fair name Of our young
State abroad that will tend to keep
away the capital that is so badly
needed to develop our magnificent
resources.
For all this damage, all these hurt
full consequences, there il no com>
pensstion. When the fret act o.
organized hostility was committed,
the Miners Unions we're doomed, and
even the cause of organized labor, in
whose behalf this violence was resorted
to. received baokset that it will re-
qui,e years OF prudent and conserva>
tive management to recover from.
We cannot believe that the destruc.
ton was deliberately planned and
, accomplished with the knowledge OF
the labor unions. True, many men
are involved in them; but they must
i, have acted spontaneously, on the
spur of the moment, and accom-
plished the ruin and desolation when
under the spell of all irresistible feel
ing. But the result will be the same
As. If the Unions had formally ordered
and done the deed.
This commonwealth cannot tolerate
murder and incendiarisn,. Wheneve.
men take the law into their own
hands. no matter what the provoca>
ton, this must be put an instant stor
to. When the civil authorities are
unable to cope with q mob, the
military authorities must be awaited
Of. This has been done in this case
The militia of the State is on its wa,
north, travelling as fast as the iror
horse can transport it.
The miners will be wise ifthey sub.
~ nit without further effusion of blood
They may have been denied thei,
rights, goaded on to desperation, be
~ trayed BY hirelings into the commits
sion of overt acts Of hostility which
d. they themselves abbor. But the
ID power of the commonwealth has been
N invoked, and every able bodied man
every dollars worth of property o.
y credit within tho command of the
State of Idaho, backed by the full
is strength of the United States govern
ment, will be availed Of, If necessary
r. Our opinion is that the trouble i,
about over. The parties concerned
ia the killing and destruction have
probably scattered by this time, and
ne left tho State. When the mil,ti.
er arrives it will simply, if prudently
handled, be kept aloof from tho riot.
:. ers and their sympathizers, and all 1T
duties will consist in guarding the
mines and hosting works for q weel
or two. II the region is put unde1
martial law, the militia will DO re,
CURED to do sentry duty in the towns
preserve order. and keep all person.
81 in doors after dark.
20 1t must be confessed that tho show
d. ing to be made by the militia will no,
RI be very formidable. If Co. F be
g. taken as a sample, we do not believe
s. that over 800 militiamen can be mus.
q tered. But this small force will never,
% theless suffice to impress upon the
q hostiles the fact that tho State ha.
concluded to use repressive measures
and q realization of this fact will tenc
or to repress the few whose voice would
still be for war.
If the mob should madly conclude
to resist, then volunteers will have &c
be called and hurried forward while
10 tho militia simply avoids a conflic,
until . sufficient aggressive force i,
" collected to overawe tho disorderly
re element.