Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-05-19
STATE MILITIA NEEDED.
General Merriam's Opinion OF
the Outrages at Wardner


At a conference with a number
OF Wardner's business men General
Merriam declared against the es-
adjustment of "a new military most
IN the Cpur d'Alenes for the pur.
pose OF Keeping down the dynamit-
ers. The formation of a strnno
state militia, he suggested. would
oe the best means of maintaining
order after the present riots are
effectually quelled.
The meeting was attended bv
nearly all of the business and
professional men of the town
Almost without exception they
were in favor of the establishments
OF permanent martial law and the
erection OF a military post of size
sufficient to subdue entirely anv
further disturbances.
In the language of Judge Tubbs
who discussed the situation freely
''even with post 10 miles below
here, the rioters could rush down
here and do any damage they
might wish before the troops could
get on the ground. The only So
luton OF the trouble is the presence
right here of armed and active
regulars.
II have only adherence for such
conditions as exist here said
General Merriam, land | should
rather live under the tyranny of
the Russian monarchy than to live
IN terror of the mob such as rules
In the CTur d'Alenes. | have
tried in vain to discover what
motives may prompt men to such
deeds OF crime as have marred the
history of the district. Since |
cannot discover the reasons, | am
forced to believe the only way to
quell these disturbances is by the
aid OF martial lava one man
power, where gun shall be met with
gun and dynamite with dynamite.
10 subdue these rioters the only
way possible seems to be to resort
to their own weapons.
Nevertheless there are grave
difficulties in the way of establish
ing permanent military post here.
The constitution ofthe UnitedStatps
does not contemplate that the fed
eral government shall intervene in
state affairs until the state has ex-
hansted every resource of self
protection. Indeed, were a post
here, the situation would not be
materially changed, for the soldiers
would be powerless to move against
rioters until authorized by the
president on the request of the
governor. With garrisons at
Spokane, Helena and Fort Sher-
man, with perhaps Missoula, troops
could be crowded in here almost as
rapidly as if they We're on the
ground and the time gained by
having post here would be slight.
"When the request came for
troops, this time, the soldiers were
rushed in here at once. The forces
all over the United States were
placed at my disposal, and de-
tachments from eight garrisons are
now in the Cnur d'Alenes. That
they were not here in time to avoid
the loss of life and property is the
fault of the governor. who failed to
call for troops until the damage had
been done. The same conditions
would exist were permanent post
here. Until the governor called
for their aid, the troops would be
powcrlcsa.
ut is The fault If the state that
She was not ryadN to give plotec-
ton to her citiz,ns against such
outrag, as these, She should have
a militia powerful enough to cope
with such outbreaks. When the
national guard from Idaho went to
the war, the militia should have
been recognized SO that it would
still be ready for such trouble.
"The laxity which has prevailed
in the prosecution of the murderers
who have infested this district
would soon be remedied should the
state pass a law for an indemnity
from the state fund of $4,000 TO
the family Of every man killed at a
riot. The law might also provide
that the owners of property de-
stroyed by mobs should be REIN
bursed to the amount Of its full
value by the state. The payment
of few such awards would soon
bring the people to sense of the
crimes being perpetrated here.
cat the same time, since the
trouble largely originates i'll hostile
organizations of men known as
labor unions, should suggest a
Flaw making the formation of such
unions or kindred societies a crime
lSur6ly .histosy ~fIlsnishes arg lrieas
] sualDiehtly IN favor Of nlch y
| course, +, s-.ss e - 5 &c
Out Of 1872 prisoners examined
only 26 claimed to be Americans,
The others were largely Swedes,
Italians, and Firms.