Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-06-30
Butte. June II, 1899.
Hon. r. r. Smith,
Anlano Mani

Butte, June II, 1899.
Hon. r. B.. Smith,
Helena, Mont.
Dear Sir:Your letter Of the 18th instant
enclosing S. for the fund in aid of the
miners imprisoned at Wardner. is at
hard. The money has been turned over
to the committee having such matters in
charge. l am advised that the money will
be returned to you through the proper
cha nnels. as the friends of the men re-
quiring aid mo under any circum-
stances accept a contribution from your
hands. A careful reading of your letter
precludes the idea that your remittance
was sent through anxiety to assist the
destitute miners in the Occur d'Alenes.
but rather with the purpose in mind of
w the members of the Miners
Union that you could rise to the heights
or generosity when occasion offered. des-
plte the resolutions of disapproval of your
course adopted by organized labor. 1t is
perhaps needless to say in this connec-
ton. that the greatest assistance which
You could have rendered the men referred
to and far above all money consiG.era-
tons, would have been a wholesome re-
spect on your part of the constitution and
the laws of this state. which would have
barred the military authorities from maxi
ing arbitrary and illegal arrests of inno-
cent men in Montana and the taking of
such men to Wardner in violation of the
rules and regulations governing the eX-
tradition of those guilty of alleged mis-
conduct elsewhere. You say in your let
ter: IF l Was as cold and bloodless as
the trades and labor assemblies Of Butte
Or the Miners Union of Granite l might
not even contribute this small mite. But
knowing as l do that everything / did
would have the approval of every honest
laboflng man, l am contented to let the
bacKbiters and ~traducers say what they
please and pass all resolutions they think
proper This sweeping declaration from
a gentleman of your prominence and
ability must be interpreted as indicating
That few If n of the laboring men who
are familiar with the course you pursued
with reference to General Merriam are
honest, for without exception, SO far as
my extends. laboring men
approve of the terror of the resolutions
to which you refer. You add: Il know it
is a coWardly spirit in any man or mon
to condemn without hearing or pass reso-
lutlons which state falsehoods on their
face 1t is perhaps unnecessary for me
to discuss with You the question of
Ve1acity which you seek to make an issue
between yourself and the men who adopt
ed the resolutions which you condemn.
The facts speaks for themselves, and are
now matters of history. Your logic, how
ever is lame in consuring the laborinp
"Nii VI Soui CouIsI NlIu-
out hearing. for it might incidentally be
SAID that You permitted the arrest of men
IN Missoula county and their ~transporta-
ton to Wardner without an opportunity
being granted them for a hearing. You
not only permitted this to be done lille
galiy. hut you placed them outside the
purview Of habeas corpus so tina a hear
ing could be denied them Indefinitely. In
the light of the facts, it would seem that
You have little cause to complain of the
treatment accorded You, since you be-
trayed 50 much energy and ability in
overlooking the golden rule yourself.
Having denied to laboring men the pro-
lection to which they We're constitution
ally entitled, in the exercise of your au-
thor'ty as chief executive of this state.
their sense of propriety- will not permit
them to accept the munificent contribu-
ton of cash which yol! so thoughtfully
to the committee. With great
respect. Very Truly Yours,
+. DANIEL M'DONALD.