The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-28
IGNORANT OR MALIGNANT.


The men who projected and arranged the
meeting in Cincinnati Thursday night to de-
mand the release of the miners under arrest
in Idaho may not have intended that 1t
should be used to create political cap
ital, but it looks that way. The Jour-
nal has frequently called attention to
the matter because il seems TO be mis-
understood, and because persons like Pres
ident Gompers seem to desire to have 1t
seems impossible that a man can be so ig-
norant as to charge the responsibility Of
the troubles upon the President or the army
officers.
The case is this: For several years there
have been mining troubles in section of
the State of Idaho. Outrage, destruction of
property and murder have resulted. For a
time there was cessation. but last spring
the violence broke out afresh. Much prop
erty was destroyed and murder was CON-
mitted. In the sparsely settled country the
lawless element controlled sheriffs and
courts. Finally things came to such pass
that Governor Steunenberg. Bryan DEM
ocrat. called upon the President for aid by
virtue of the following provision of the Con-
stitution:
The United States shall guarantee to every
State in this Union republican form of
government, and shall pl otect each of them
against invasion; and on application of the
Legislature, or of the executive when the
Legislature cannot be convened, against
domestic violence.
When this Bryan Democratic Governor in
formed the President that domestic violence
existed in such formidable proportions that
he could not suppress 1t and called upon the
President for troops. the latter was in duty
bound to furnish them. Accordingly, he
sent General Merriam with detachment of
United States troops to report to Governor
Steunenberg for orders. Thereupon the Gov
ernor directed the general to send out de-
tachments and arrest and bring to a place
designated all the miners whom the Gov
ernor and the residents had charged with
interference with the enforcement Of the
laws, first proclaiming martial law. Gen.
Merriam issued no order as to those
who should be arrested. Only the Gov
ernor can proclaim martial law in a
State in which there Is domestic violence.
He is the commander-in-chief in the State.
and Is the only officer who can suspend the
writ of habeas corpus and exercise all the
powers under martial law. Further. it is
doubtful II the President would be war
ranted in Withdrawing troops from a dis
turbed district of State so long as a Gov
ernor should declare them to be necessary to
restrain violence.
Only few days ago the secretary of war
suggested to Governor Steunenberg the
withdrawal of the federal troops from
Idaho. Thereupon that official wrote the
secretary of war that the public safety de-
manded that the troops be left under his
direction, or violence would be sure to break
out again as as the soldiers should be
withdrawn. Extracts of Governor Steunen-
berg's communication to the secretary of
war have been printed in all newspapers
within the past few days. That communica-
ton clearly set forth the Governors respon-
sibility for all that has been done Every
arrest was made by order of the Governor,
and every man now held in confinement is
held by order of the same official If there
has been injustice and cruelty, not the Pres
ident, not General Merriam Is responsible,
but Governor Steunenberg. 16-to-1 Demo-
crat-he and nobody else.
Has not Mr.. Gompers the intelligence to
see this2 We think so; he is evidently talk
ing militarism to promote the election of
Mclean, just as he advocated is to in 1896
to the best of his ability in order to aid
Bryan. He was the first OF those who de-
manded the fag-furling in the Philippines.
and now he is trying to dupe workingmen
into the belief that the President has in
augurated mi,itarism in Idaho by way of a
haOinninQ