The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-10-20

Washington, Oct 19.-In his annual re-
port Just published Brigadier-General
Merritt, commanding the department of
Dakotas, says that the movement of
troops in his department during the last
summer was occasioned by two remark
able outbreaks, which it has peen neces-
sary to control by the use of the army.
In April was the organization and move
ment of the so-called commonwealers, or
Coxeyites the other was the strike, COM
mencing in June on the Northern Pacific
railroad, precipitated in sympathy with
the strike at Pullman, ILL., General Mer-
rift SAYS:
The first of these developed to the
greatest extent in the farther northwest
ern portion of the department in the state
OF Montana, being augmented and ag-
gravated by causes like those which made
the strike, occurring subsequently of con-
siderable proportions, and more or less
Glif1cult to control. The causes are a
large large boating, mining, and a times unem-
ployed population. which being more or less
Tree from the restraint of law, is always
i!sady TO join any movement in which
iuleness, VlclousneSS and lawlesSness are
found Another cause is an affected SYM
pathy extended to the lawless by both
high and low in office who depend on the
suffrage of the less law abiding for their
presence. This dependence is apparent
among all classes of the community. The
merchant grocer, the tradesman and all
VITO I'VE by patronage of others are con-
strained to openly express sympathy with
the violent and in many cases with the
laWless because of the principle of boy
cottlng which has been reduced to a
science IN this newly and nea grely pro-
tected state, while many communities of
the classes of which l speak privately
condemn lawless conduct. fear that their
means of procuring a livlihood will be
taken from them by the boycott places
them, SO far as their public expressions of
opinions go, among the worst element. 1t
is not wonderful under these circumSt STAN
ces that lawlessness was in the ascendent
in Montana during both of the outbreaks
referred to. 1t is perhaps only necessary
to add that although resistance was made
to civil authorities, in no instance did the
people included in this outbreak resist the
military when it appeared on the scene of
disturbance. The troops were used with
complete discretion by the officers in
command and the law enforced without
violence"
A BAD State of Affairs
In treating of the great strike, which
stopped every wheel on the Northern Pa
enc railroad, and inflicted great loss and
untold Inconvenience on the public, Cen
eral Merritt says:
ut is difficult to conceive a worse state
OF oil affairs than existed on this road.
any point west of Fargo Posts situated
on this road could hold no communication
with department headquarters save by
telegraph. If the blockade had been con-
tinued, communities living and troops
stationed at different points on the road
were in danger of starva ton resulting
from the stoppage of supply trains"
General Merritt tells in detail how he
disposed his forces TO meet the emergency
and open up communication, and says:
1T is especially gratifying to note that
all these movements which involved in
many instances, considerable marching
under the least pleasant conditions, We're
performed promptly and in the most
creditable manner. The dispatch with
which troops moved, without being
cautioned to that effect the alacrity with
which they reached their several desttna-
tions and the clearness with which orders
were understood and reports were made
reflect on the soldierly instincts of the
responsible officers at the posts and in the
field.
81 have no doubt that if ample measures
had not been taken in time 10 prevent it.
g great destruction of railroad property
even to the effacenent Of the road for a
considerable time. would have been
wrought by the lawless element whose
character has been limited at in the fore
gcing.''
In conclusion General Merritt returns
his thanks to the officers of his staff and
to Colonies Wayne and Burt, especially
for their excellent management of the
opera tions in their care. In connection
with the labor trouble, he also calls atten-
ton to the necessity of system of tao
tics for machine guns.