Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-26
AT THE WAR DEPARTMENT.
A Dispatch Received From Col
Swaine State Authorities Criticised.

A Dispatch Received From Col.
Swaine State Authorities Criticised.
There was little opportunity for the es-
cape OF the Hoganites last night, owing
to the completeness of Col. Swaine's plans.
The men were fairly caught between posts
and could neither proceed nor retreat, even
had they sought to take advantage of the
waning conveyed to them by some of their
sympathizers in advance to the effect that
the troops were in waiting for them at
Fort Keogh, near Miles City, Montana.
Col Swaine telegraphed late last night
that he had brought four companies of
troops down from Fort Custer to Custer
Station. on the Nothern Pacific line. This
Is west OF Forsythe, so that the Hoganites
could not return. Then, leaving SUFFICIENT
force at Fort Keogh to stop the train II 1t
should succeed In passing him, Col. Paige
hurried forward to Forsythe with another
rorce, and. taking advantage Of the late
hour, pounced down on the train stealers
ana arrested them without bloodshed, an
important consideration at this time
The problem now is what to do with the
captives. Col Swaine has been instructed
TO turn them over to the United States
marshal. but it Is feared that the latter
cannot at present take care Of all of the
prisoners. The Attorney General is wait
ing TO hear from him, and will lend all
the assistance within his power. At the
war department II is believed that the
leaders in the movement and return with
them to Butte for such action as the court
may direct. The others, 1t Is presumed
would break up their organization and
uisperse, warned by the fate of their
leaders to refrain from further tresrass
on railroad or private property and being
kept under espionage by the troops mean
while.
Col. Swaine Heard From.
Advices from the seat of war in Mon
fo ,1z l..
War Department this morning, but this
Is probably accounted for by the considera-
BILE difference in time between Washington
and Montana
About noon the following dispatch came
to army Headquarters from Col. Swaine,
commanding the department Of the Dakota:
ST. PAUL. Min. April 26
To Gen Schofield. Washington. d. c.:
The twenty-second infantry, under COM
mand of Lieut. Col Page. continued west
to Forsythe, Mon, arriving there at mid
night. Hogan. the leader, surrendered his
band tStans, as prisoners. All quiet
Commanding"
The Indiana Case.
The War Department has taken no action
as yet toward interfering with the Frye
party, which captured a train on the Van
dalia railroad in Indiana yesterday, and
probably will not do 50 unless application Is
made for assistance by the governor of
Indiana
The conditions in this case are different
from those In Montana. as the Vandalia
line Is not operating under the direction of
the United States courts, and, therefore, the
federal government cannot take the initia
tive In moving against the train stealers.
1t Is evident that the national authorities
are somewhat disappointed and chagrined at
the failure Of the governors and local au-
thorities In western states to do their full
duty in such cases as that happening at
Terre Haute yesterday. All along II is
thought in official circles here there has
been shown a disposition to refrain from in
terfering with these organized bodies, even
when they have violated property rights and
TIE laws of the states each locality content
ing itself with transferring the evil as
rapidly as possible to the neighboring town
or state, as the easiest way to get rid per-
sonally of the trouble.
State Authorities Criticised.
1t is felt that rather unworthy political
considerations have operated in such cases.
and that these have led local authorities
to disregard the comfy Of one state to-
ward another, and of all of them toward
the national government, which is threaten
ed by the easy transfer Of disorderly mobs
to the seat of government. 1t cannot be
set up in extenuation by the state authori-
ties that they have not the power to deal
with the law breakers, for the national gov
ernment has shown it's readiness to exert
its forces and power whenever called upon
by the authorized authorities. At present
a close watch is being kept upon the large
body of men in the state of Washington
who are reported to be making ready to
capture a freight train in that state and
start eastward, and at the first overt act
Of that character the federal judiciary, and
then, IL necessary. the federal troops, will
interpose and arrest the law breakers. for
In this case, as at Butte, the railroad is in
charge of the United States courts.
THE USE nI, TnnnDS