The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1899-07-15
IDAnO nILlfIA was I MnHAcK.


staEy IlinstfssfnR ths VIeiensnsau II n,
ehosbens cennty DynamifsFs.
A very interesting story, further dis,
closing sho ylcionsneas Of the ehoshona
county dynamifers has just come ont.
Very Soon after Governor Staenen.
berg entered upon his o1scial dntie,
In 1881 be was confronted by the C0uI
d'Alene question. Under the former
administration, some militia companies
had been organized 10 that section 10
order that force might be at hand
with which tho stats could preserve
order In case Of any future threatened
outbreak. These companies were re-
crnited from among the ranks Of non.
union men principally At Wardner and
some other points. Their presence
greatly disturbed the miners unions
and Governor Steunenberg had nc
sooner been installed in ONCE than q
movement was started TO have these
military organizations disbanded. Ono
OF the first steps In this movement was
taken BY the Sboshone county deiega.
ton In the legislature, all the members
Of which were elected on the miners
union ticket. This delegation ave In
number waited on the governor and
earnestly requested him to disband
the militia.
What then transpired very faithfully
illustrates the character Of these 30
called labor organizations. The gov.
ernor didn't propose TO take any such
steps without making = very careful
inquiry. He asked his visitors
whether he could depend upon order
being maintained in this section of the
state IN the event Of bis acceding "a
their request. They assured him very
positively that 1t would contribute tc
the interests of law and order TO have
the military companies disbGnd DO.
cause, as they said, the miIitIamen
we're an aggravating element in the
community. likely by their alleged in.
science, to precipitate trouble at any
time.
After talking over this feature of the
subject at some length the governor
asked his visitors very pointedly il
they could assure him that there would
be no more outrages like the KneebOne
murder IL he should disband the mill.
tia The murder referred to was q
specially aggravated instance of crime
committed by these unions. Kneebone
was murdered in broad daylight, while
the superintendent Of the mine at
which he was employed and two other
workmen were run out Of the country.
The delegation parted the governors
question and he repeated it. and finally
brought forth the response from one OF
the men that that was a different kind
OF matter. The governor asked him
to- explain himself, and be bluntIy
stated that KneebOne deserved to be
removed. This statement ast0nnded
the governor, as 1t will astound every
reader who has been sympathiZing
with the cause Of these dynamiters,
and be asked why KneebOne deserved
TO be removed. lie was told that it
was because the murdered man had
made himself obnoxious.
"But how had he made himself oh
OOxiOus ?" asked the governor.
well. he talked against the union:
be declared that he could get along
without belonging to the union"
And do you mean TO say" asked the
governor, shat 4 man should be killt d
who thus makes himself obnoxious, as
you call It. TO = portion OF the CON-
munityy' and the member OF the leg
islature plainly stated that was his
meaning.
The governor appealed to each Of the
other visitors to know IL they all con
CURED in that view, and they all said
they did. Afterward, in private one OF
tina: delegation told the governor that
he could not 60 that far. II win be
observed that he didn't dare so express
himself in the presence of his col
leagues. James ID. Young, who was
elected sheriff Of this county last year,
was one Of the Legislators who waited
upon the governor upon the occasion
referred to. Boise Statesman.