Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-10-28
FEDERAL TROOPS IN IDAHO.

tEDEtAL TROOPS IN IDAHO.
New York Mail and Express1
Gov. Steunenberg, of Idaho, has made
q formal statement concerning the
presence of federal troops in Shosfone
county, in that state, which is emf
nently creditable to his judgment and
courage. 1t will be remembered that u
serious riot, instigated by striking
miners, occurred in Shoshone county
last April, which resulted in the loss
OF two lives and property valued at up
ward of $250,000. Nearly 100 of the men
directly responsible for these crimes
were subsequently arrested, and when
the state and local authorities found
themselves unable to guard the prison
ers and maintain law and order an
appeal was made to the federal gov
eminent for assistance. Troops were
thereupon sent into the county, where
they have since remained, rendering
effective protection to life and property.
The arrival of these troops in Idaho
was instantly met with howl of pro-
test from certain democrats, populistsl
and other demagogues, who denounced
the proceeding as military oppression
of organized labor by a republican adj
ADMINISTRATION. This senseless clamor
has continued with increasing violence
in spite OF the fact that the troops were
sent in response to an urgent request
from democratic governor, but now
the latter comes forward with state
ment which exposes the whole noisy
crowd of slanderers in their true colors.
The secretary of war In recent letter
to Gov. Steunenberg signified a desire
to withdraw these troops from Idaho,
and suggested that the state authors
ties take charge of the prisoners ano
relieve the federal government from the
duty of guarding them. The governor
l.replies that the withdraw OF the
United States forces at this time would
surely result in great loss of life and
| property, and he adds:
Covert threats are constantly being
| made by those who engaged in the riot
of April 90, which resulted in the des-
| struction 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 in
duced to assist the state in it's at
! tempt to ferret out crime, and the his
tory of that region convinces me that
these are not idle threats or the boast
ling of irresponsible parties. but are the
expressions of deliberate and we'll ar
ranged purposes and plans.
| AS to the labor question involved in
the controversy. the governor speaks
boldly. Enthusiastically and in terms
which confound the demagogues of his
own party. He says:
i ut should be understood that this is
I tor hotyv on tai =
Dor. nor question of wages, but 1t is
a conflict between the state of Idaho
and certain criminal organizations
which seek to cloak themselves under
the cover of labor organizations. These
Organization were originally undoubt-
ledly legal and proper, and We're organ
4 lied for commendable purpose, but
they have been taken possession of by
men who utterly ignore all law. who
are anarchists in belief and practice
4 and by such men transformed int
g criminal organizations. We do no
lconcede for moment that these organ
/ izations in Shoshone county, to which
we are referring, have anything IL
common with the great labor organi
II cations throughout the country, ant
q they are not in any way to be con
SlQefeu III lIdl llS III. " - O. Y 49, =
] conflict with organized labor as such
lin any manner whatever. At the pres
ent time in the Occur D'Alenes quie
apparently prevails. but 1t is solely b,
reason of the presence of the fedora
troops"
This frank testimony from demo
cratic governor completely vindicate
the action of the federal government
in sending troops into Idaho at his re
!; quest. There is no politics, no real la
Dor question, involved in the affair an.
!. more than there was in the suppress
, sion of the "Mol!ie Mcguire outrage
in the Pennsylvania coal region twent.
years ago. The fight is simply one be
, tween anarchy and law. The point
tissue is whether an organized band
. criminals shall be permitted to terroriz
1.-THE citizens and paralyze the buslnes
!, Interests of an entire community. In
Estate authorities, finding themselve
, unable to maintain peace and order
appealed to the federal government
The appeal was made by democratic
governor and a republican administra
ton complied with it. That is all ther
is of it, and Governor Steunenberg ma
manfully said SO regardless OF tn
small fry agitators who are misrepre
senting the facts for political purpose:
n 4 y