The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-08
lsnecial to The Herald.)

Boise. Ida, June w. ]. Walker,
editor of the Freeman's Labor Journal,
and an organizer for the Western La
Dor Union, tells a remarkable story con-
corning General Merriam and Governor
Steunenberg's military rule in the
Occur d'Alene country. Mr.. Walker,
being one of the principal leaders in
labor matters in the northwest IS kept
posted on the progress of affairs in the
Occur d'Alenes, and he says he knows
whereof he speaks in the assertions ne
makes.
The manner in which things are
done in the Occur d Alenes under the
pretended authority of martial law IS
scandalous; it is worse, II is a disgrace
TO the American government, SAID Mr..
Walker in an interview: VIII tel
YOU a few things that have been done
under the orders of General Merriam,
which 1 am assured on the highest
authority are absolutely true
Il am informed that the inquest held
or the pretended remains of James
Smith the union miner who was said
to have been killed, was held on
coffin full of rocks. The military could
not get possession of the body, anu
knowing no one dared raise d question
as to what was in the box, they filled
coffin with rocks and proceeded TO hold
an INQUEST on the assumption THAI the
proceedings would stand anyway.
Frightened a Woman.
During the inquest they went TO the
wife of one of the miners in the STOCK
ade and made her induce her husband
10 give evidence. The woman was in a
delicate condition. They knew she
needed the attention of her husband,
and told her the only way she could
secure his release was for him to give
evidence for the government. They
told her they intended to hang at least
fifty men under any circumstances, and
the only way she could save her nus
band was by making him tell all he
knew.
The woman, thoroughly frightened,
went to her husband, but he was inno-
cent of having done any wrong, and
was not afraid of their threats. He
refused to have anything TO say and
tried to allay her fears, but did not
succeed, and the strain was too much
for the sick woman. She went home,
was taken critically i'll, and the
chances, 1 am informed, are greatly
against her recovery. This placed that
man in just this position: He was re-
quired TO swear TO lot of lies to save
his Wife's life.
Thrown Into Stockade.
IN another case a disinteres.cd citi-
zen was arrested as a witness He had
seen the men who took part in the
dem onstrations in which the bunker
Hill s, Sullivan mills were DESTROYED,
and as he occupied a neutral position.
he told the officers, when arrested, he
knew eight or ten of the men well
enough TO identify them. which he
woulG do Accordingly, 4 squad OF
fifty men were marched ont. He knew
none of these, and thirty-fiVe more
We're marched out. Again he was I'M
able To pick out a man he remembered.
and told the officers to keep marching
them out. and if there were any he re-
membered he would identify them, but
because he had not been able TO recog- |
nize any of those he had seen, they !
came to conclusion he did not want TO |
identify anyone and threw him into !
the ''bull-pen, where he still remains. !
With him is was a case of identify |
some one whether he knew them or
not. or go to jail.
''One day a fire started in the bull /
pen one of the men smoking had |
dropped a spark in the straw given the 1
men to sleep on. There was danger Of !
a recurrence Of such fire and the |
men asked the officer in charge to re- |
port to General Merriam and ask to /
have better water facilities put in. In /
response. Merriam issued an order /
directing the soldiers, if'a fire occurred, |
40 shoot down every man VINO Tried 10 /
get out
Lives Are In Danger.
mo, just consider the result if bad |
fire should occur. The prisoners would /
have TO remain and be burned up or be
shot 10 death while trying TO save their
lfves. for the soldiers would obey orders.
Can you imagine a more barbarous or
der to be issued by d civilized govern
ment?
= could tell you enough of just such
instances of humanity and abuse Of
authority TO fiji your paper fun and
still have more 10 tell for they have
been practiced every day since the
trouble commenced. Whatever may be
the merits Of the case, ! think every
one will agree with me that nothing
can warrant such unnecessary stretch
ing of the authority vested in military
officers under martial law"
Mr.. Walker made a statement which,
If based on correct information, puts
the blowing up of the Bunker Hill and
Sullivan mill in an entirely different
light than it has hitherto appeared. |
He states that the Miners union had
nothing to do with the blowing up of
the mill; that such a thing was not
contemplated when the movement at
Wardner started. or If it was, very few
know of il. and that he was positive no
more than twenty or TWENTY-FIVE men |