The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-05-18
ONE INCIDENT CLOSED
Governor Smith Hears From
General Merriam.
ALL SEEMS SATISFACTORY
The Head Of the Idaho Troops Explains
and the Executive of Montana
Applauds the Formers
Actions.
Special Dispatch to the Standard.


Helena, May 17.-Governor Smith to-
day received a reply to the letter he
sent to General Merriam, who is in
command of the federal troops sent TO
Wardner to restore order, in which he
asked if the general had ordered
Lieutenant Lyons, who was sent into
Montana to arrest alleged strikers, TO
ignore the civil authorities IN mal ing
the arrests. General Merriam shows
the governor conclusively that : rede
no such order, and that the statement
in the press to that effect was in error.
He sends the governor copies lf the
kilograms sent to Lieutenant Lyons
in regard to making the arrests.
The letter from General Merriam fur
nlshes the governor with satisfactory
explanation, and so far as known
closes the incident. The governor this
afternoon sent to General M.r-iam a
reply acknowledging the rec aips Of ris
communication. md app!auding his
action in at all times reco 3nizing the
civil authorities.
The letter from General Merriam IS
well as copies If the teeyIaphic or
ders to Lieutenant Lyons and the gov
ernor's reply to the officers in con-
mand of operations in the CUeur
d. Alenes, iolioW:
Camp U. 5. Troops, Wardner, idaho
May 15 1S99.-To ,1iS Eek ,'.rncv, the
Governor of Montana-Sir: Acknowl-
edging. your letter dated May i2. leg
to hand you herewith thf ,"i"sldns
three) contain lg the nrde.s ana in
structions under when lieutenant Ly-
ons, Gath infantry, acted iu"ir : his
recent trip into your state, a.romrGny-
II
the state of Idaho. Lieutenant Lyons
reports exact compliance with his or
ders and instructions, and 7 hope you
Will be convinced that every precau-
ton has been taken to avoid the slight
est discourtesy toward the civil au-
thorities of Montana in our effort to do
what was possible and legal to assist
the executive of Idaho in his effort
to arrest escaping criminals. With as
surance of highest regard, your obedi-
ent servant,
(SigneO "H. C. MERRIAM.
BRIG. Gen, q. S. A."
kilograms from General Merriam to
Lieutenant Lyons:
'Wardner, Idaho, May T, 1S99.-Lieu-
tenant Lyons Thompson Falls, Mont
Send injured man to Harrison with &t-
tendant. 1t Is not expected hat
troops make arrests in Montana, only
receive the prisoners for safe keep
ing. Governor of Montana has prom
ised to cause the arrest of escaping
rioters. Await his action until Mon
day noon. then return to Mullan and
wait further orders If no action by
Montana authorities.
MERRIAM, Brig. Cen"
"Wardner, Idaho, May Z, 1899.-Lieu-
tenant Lyons, Thompson Falls, Mont.
Governor of Montana has ordered
sheriff Of Missoula county to make ar
"a
prisoners you have tomorrow morn
ing. delaying in Missoula long enough
to permit your deputies and Missoula
sheriff to make arrests there. Then
come to Mulan. (SigneO
MERRIAM, Brig. Gen."
tenant Lyons, Missoula, Mont.-Tele-
gram received and action taken. Be
ready for answer from Governor Smith
direct. Act accordingly. (Signed)
'MERRIAM, Brig. Gen"
Governor Smiths reply to General
Merriam:
Helena. Mont. May l., 1ss9.-Gen
H. c. Merriam, Wardner, Idaho.-Sir:
Your letter of the 18th instant, with
enclosures COPIES of kilograms sent
Lieutenant Lyons) is received this
morning. I am pleased to see that you
were misrepresented in the statements
made in the press. Your letter with
copies or the kilograms d1ScloseS that
at all times you recognized the proper
civil authorities. In this I applaud
your action, for while at times the civil
authorities may need aid of the mil
itary, / don't believe it consistent with
the spirit of our laws or institutions
of our country to supplant the civil
with military or martial authority, eX-
cept in extreme instances. l am. with
great respect, very truly yours.
ROBERT B. SMITH,
Governor of Montana"