The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1899-10-24
FEARS OF BLVLESSDESS
Idaho's Governor Explains Further
the Need Of Federal Troops.
Dir. Steunenberg Relieves That the
Withdrawal of the Regulars VIII
Re Followed by Riots and Blood
shed-A Statement of the Situa-
tion Submitted to Secretary Root.

Governor Steunenherg, of Idaho has filed
with the Secretary of War a supplemental
statement explaining why he so vigorously
appeals for the retention of Federal troops
at Wardner. Idaho. He declares that the
withdrawal of the troops would certainly
be followed by loss of life. and explains
that the prisoners now guarded by the sol
diers can be properly cared for by the
State after the first of November.
Governor Steunenberg arraigns severely
the alleged labor organizations involved in
the trouble and says: Covert threats are
/ constantly being made by those who en-
gagged in the riot of April 30. which result
ed in the destruction OF some s250.000
| worth of property and the assassination Of
two men. that as soon as the troops are re-
moved they will crafty their revenge upon
those citizens who have been induced TO
assist the State in its attempt to ferret
out crime, and the history of that region
eonyinces me that these are not idle thI eats
or the boasting of irresponsible parties.
but are the expressions of deliberate and
weil-arranged purposes and plans. ii
should be understood that this is not
conflict between capital and labor or
question Of wages, but it is conflict be-
tween the State of Idaho and certain GRIM
ipal organizations which seek TO cloak
themselves under the cover of labor or
ganizations. We are not in conflict with
organized labor as such in any manner
whatever"
Referring to the riot at Wardner and the
many crimes committed he adds: The
members of the mob guilty of these crimes
seemed utterly deprayed in every way, as
many of them wore masks made of Ameri-
can flags. and when the dynamite exploded.
destroying the mill, the shout, Down with
America was everywhere heard. These
facts were clearly proved in the trials
which followed. Martial law was declared
troops were sent into Occur d'Alene upon
the request of the governor OF the State
and a special term of court was called for
the purpose of bringing to light those who
were engaged in the riot of April 20. The
first matter that presented itself was that
OF the county officials, or rather the coun-
ty commissioners and sheriff. These Off
cials were impeached and removed from
office by decree of the court for misconduct
OF Office and particularly in encouraging
and conniving at the crime of April 90.
The evidence disclosed that these crimes
CT April % were the result of weil-arrang-
ed conspiracies. beginning about April l3,
1899. For instance the evidence showed
that at Mullam, upon the morning OF
April %. these men formed in line in front
Of the Miners Union Hall and took up the
march from that point TO the railroad;
that at Burke. the miners collected in and
about the Miners Union Hail. some of
them carrying guns at the time upon the
public street and unmasked and about 10
o'clock marched to the depot, covered the
engineer with rifles and took complete
control of the train; that at morning they
met in the Miners Union Hall where guns
and masks were in readiness and We're
handed 10 parties coming in, the room be-
ing darkened and the guns were taken
from a hiding place under the desk near
where the president of the union sat.
The crowd seemed 10 be at all times
under the control end acting in obedience
10 the commands OF superior officers,
marching and obeying orders with mil
tary precision. The blowing up of the
Bunker Hill and the Sullivan mines on
April 29 were openly endorsed by the OH
cial organ of the Western Federation of
Miners, which was edited by J. r. Sover-
eign. This newspaper is still the mouth
piece of lawlessness, and is, with each is
sue, particularly encouraging those who
committed the crime OF April 29 to con-
tinue in such work when the opportunity
presents itself. The paper brazenly admit
ted that the destruction OF property and
the murders OF April % were the work of
the so-called labor organizations OF Occur
d'Alene, thus clearly proving them to be
criminal organizations.
AT the present time at Coeur d 'Alene,
as We have stated, quiet prevails solely
by reason of the presence of the Federal
troops. Threats are constantly being
made against those who are seeking u
enforce the law and spite of revenge
manifested which no one upon the ground
can doubt is simply waiting for the re-
moval of the troops to be put in execu-
tion.
"A large number of these Parties who
were in the riot of April 90, it is true, have
left the country, but most of them have
simply gone across the line to Butte, Mon.
and to British Columbia and will return
Immediately upon the removal of the
troops. Upon their return there will be
inevitable conflict which, in my judgment
Will result in much bloodshed.''
As to the prisoners now being guarded
Governor Steunenberg remarks: 1T
should be stated here, however, that these
men have not been held under or by rea-
son OF indictments upon the part of the
State; but because they were men whom
we could not permit to be at large under
the present condition of affairs in that sec-
tion. The men who were held under in
dictments found by the State grand jury,
and whom We desired to try, escaped pr-
son few days before the regular term
of the court, at which time all the prep
arations had been made to try them