Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-19
COXEYITES AND STRIKERS
Both Glasses Bothered the Department Of
Dakota.
Gen. Merritt Describes the Serious
State of Affairs That Confronted
His Command Last Summer.

In his annual report, just published, Brig.
Gen. Wesley Merritt, commanding the De-
partnent of Dakota, says that the move
ments of troops in his department during
the last summer was occasioned by two re-
markabie outbreaks, which it has been nee
essary to control by the use of the army.
One. in April. was the organization and
movement of the so-called army of COM
monwealers or Coxeyites; the other the
strike commencing in June on the Northern
Pacific railroad. precipitated in sympathy
with the strike at Pullman, ILL.,
"The first of these developed to the great
est extent in the farther northwestern por-
ton of the department., in the state of
Montana, being augmented and aggravated
by causes like those which made the strike
occurring subsequently, Of considerable pro-
portions and more or less difficult to con-
troll.
Causes of the Trouble.
These causes are large. floating. min
ing and at times unemployed population,
which. being more or less free from the
restraint Of law. is always ready to join
any movement in which ideness, vicious
ness and lawlessness are found. Another
cause is an affected sympathy extended to
the lawless by both high and low in Office,
who depend on the suffrage of the less law
abiding FOR their positions. This principe
OF dependence Is 1llil enl among all classes
Of the community. The merchant, the gro-
Ger. the tradeSInan and all who live by the
patronage OF others are constrained to
openly express sympathy with the violent.
and in many cases with the lawless, be-
cause of the principle of boycotting, which
mas been reduced to a science in this
newly and meageriy populated state. While
many in these communities of the classes
Of which i speak privately condemn law
less conduct, fear that their means of pro-
curing livelihood will be taken from them
by the boycott places them, SO far their
public expressions of opinion go, among the
worst element
| No Resistance 10 the Military.
1T is not wonderful under these circum-
| stances that lawlessness was in the ascend
| ant in Montana during both of the abnor-
| NAL outbreaks referred to. 1t is perhaps
| only necessary to add that although resist
! ance was made to the civil authorities, in
/ no instance did the people included in this
| outbreak resist the military when 1t APP
| peare1 on the scene of disturbance. The
| troops were used with complete discretion
| Dy the officers in command, and the law
| VAS enforced without Violence"
In treating OF the great strike which stop
| ped every wheel on the Northern Pacific
| railroad and inflicted great loss and untold
inconvenience upon the public, Gen. Mer.
| ritt says:
Appalling Condition of Affairs.
| 1T is difficult to conceive a worse state
! of affairs than existed on this road. There
| was no mail communication with any poin
west of Fargo. The posts situated on this
| road could hold no communication with de
| partment headquarters save by telegraph
| If the blockade had been continued com
| munitieS living ana troops stationed at diff
ferent points on the road We're in danger o
starvation resulting from the stoppage o
supply trains
Gen. Merritt tells In detail how he dis
fb.Ae lf1g
open up communication and says:
| Compliments for the Command.
1T is especially gratifying to note tha
| all these movements, which involved, il
many Instances considerable marching
under the least pleasant conditions, wer'
performed promptly and in the most cred
| lIabIe manner. The dispatch with whIcl
| troops moved, without peIng cautioned q
tnaI effect, the celerity with which the.
recned their several destinations and III
Ilearness with which orders were under
stood and reports were made, reflect creui
on the sOldierIy instincts of the respons IDl
officers at the posts and in the field.
Possible Danger Ayerted.
Il have 40 doubt that If ample measure
had not been taken IN time TO prevent
that a great destruction of railroad prop
erJy. even to the effacement OF the roa
for a considerable length of time, woui
nave been wrought by the lawless elemen
whose character has been limited at In tn
| foregoing
In conclusion Gen. Merritt returns hi
, | thanks to the officers OF his stair, and I
Coils. Swaine and Burt especially, for thei
| excellent management OF the theater Q
operations in their care. In connection wit
the labor troubles he also calls attention I
the necessity of system of tactics fO
, machine guns.