The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-05-16
DANGER SIGNALS OUT
The Occur d'Alsne Country Still in a
Deplorable Condition.
BOTH SIDES STAND FIRM
Governor Mcconnell Appealed to
for Protection But He Says
the Matter Reefs In the
Hands Of the Sheriff.


CRotlAi OtcHattu W tut otanuatas
Spokane, May 14.-The troubles in
the Occur dAlenes continue and the
feeling of insecurity and absolute dan
ger is growing. There Is disposition
on the part OF some of the miners to
resume work at the scale of wages Of
fered, but the fact that any attempt
to reopen the mines on anything be-
low the scale demanded would almost
certainly result in trouble. makes the
owners of the mines charry about COM
mencing operations. There Is little
prospect OF any immediate change in
the situation unless. indeed, serious
trouble should be precipitated by hot
headed individuals on one side or the
other The condition of the country Is
described. In a measure, by the FOL
lowing correspondence, which has Just
been handed to the press for pubiica-
ton:
Governor Mcconnell of Idaho, has
received a letter from a man who has
been working in the mines OF Shoshone
county for a long time. He makes an
appeal for protection against the
Miners Union. The governor with
holds the writer's name. The miner
says:
II write to know whether the people
of the Occur d'Alenes have any redress
for the wrongs they have been COM
PEELED to submit to for the greater part
OF the last three years? We are sur
rounded with mountains of silver and
lead, and are offered fair wages by the
Gold Hunter Mining company, work
$3.50 and SO per day, which, in my opin-
ion is all they can pay at the present
low prices of metals. superintendent
Curren started to work the property.
and was succeeding In manning the
mine with first-class men, when he was
notified yesterday by Thomas Henry
that he would have to shut down or he
would be taken out of the camp and
have the mill blown up. and even
stronger threats than that. To save
the property Mr.. Curren shut down.
Now what are the people here. who
built up the town and have all their
means invested in the country, TO do?
Many people are in actual want, nave
not even the necessaries of life and no
hope for the future.
partment was prompt ard soon had
so we cannot look to him for assist
ance. / have been approached by
two different men. One of them was a
man who stood up for the union until
they closed the Morning mine last win
ter. Now he advocates, as he expressed
IL, cleaning them out. There are many
the same way. and should this thing
last much longer Year the result will
be terrible"
To this letter Governor Mcconnell
sent the following reply:
81 have your letter OF the 7th inst.
and am very sorry to note the condi-
tions which prevail In your commu-
nifty.
.The state is made up OF counties,
the counties of precincts and precincts
OF individuals. In our form OF govern
ment the object of its founders was to
leave the management OF their A,usi-
ness affairs as nearly as possible to
the people. II an individual needs pro-
lection he applies TO his local officers.
and from the decisions of the lower
courts appeals may be had to the SUI
preme court. Under certain conditions
the governor OF the state may be called
upon TO interpose with the power of the
mites by assisting the local officers In
enforcing the laws.
mo demand hiss been made upon me
by the sheriff OF your county to assist
him in the performance OF his duties.
Until he does 80 or until I have infor-
nation that your county is in a state
OF insurrection. have no authority I'M
der the constitution to interfere. be-
lieve that the business men OF your
county have learned TO rely too much
upon the state and general govern
ment for protection. II the men who
need employment and are anxious to
work at such wages as are offered
them viii unite and stand by one an
other In maintaining what is undoubt-
edly the right OF every American citi-
zen, the privilege of earning an hon.
est living at such wages as he can Sc
cure, they viii receive full protection
under the law. even to the extent OF
wiping from the face OF the earth every
organization which interposes armed
interference and dynamite to prevent
them from honestly earning a liveli-