Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-25
THE c0UER D'ALENES IN POLITICS.

AL the nrSt opportunity that present
ed itself the democrats dragged the
Couer d'Alene affair into politics. The
managers of John r.. Mclean, the demo-
cratic multi-millionaire candidate for
governor of Ohio. endeavored to secure
votes in the mining districts in h state
by reciting the condition of affairs in the
panhandle of Idaho, and attributing the
misfortunes of the miners in that locality
to the national administration. Presi-
dent Mckinley was held responsible for
military rule in that section, and every
effort was made to arouse prejudice
against the republican party.
But the bloated aristccrat at the head
of the democratic ticket reckoned with
out his host. His satellites did not
know or understand the facts. The re-
suit was, the bourbon attempt to intro
duce Idaho into the Ohio campaign prov
ed a most disastrous boomerang to that
party. The republicans have printed the
letter written by Governor S~teunenberg
to the secretary Of war, explaining that
IN oIOl1C, olu 1IS ucHIoCI dliC COIlSI6S
of the state of Idaho, We're responsible
for martial law and the presence Of
troops in the Couer d'Alenes. This let
ter disposed of the democratic contention
in Ohio, just as 1T knocked silly a lot of
cheap political guys in the state of Mon
tana. who thought they could mislead
the public as to the real facts of the stu
alton.
The letter from the democratic COVER
nor of Idaho merely confirmed hi ev-
cry intelligent man knows, namely, that
federal troops are never ordered into a
state by the war department except up-
on an urgent appeal from the executive
to the effect hat he is unable to control
the situation with the forces at his COM
mand. When such a demand is made
the federal government does not have
the option of refusal, under the law. 1t
must comply with the demands of a SOW
ereign commonwealth for federal assist
ance when that demand comes through
it's chief executive office-the governor of
a state.
notwithstanding these facts, the Doodle
managers of the aspiring multi-mil-
lionaire of the Buckeye state nave indus
triously tried to work on the prejudices
of men in the coal mines, by narrowing
~recitals Of the brutality of President Nc
Kinley in sending troops to the Couer
d'Alenes. Practically paralyzed by the
publication of Governor Steunenberg's
letter, the Ohio democrats do not know
which way to turn. In a feeble sort of
way they try to explain that the COVER
nor of Idaho was imposed upon by a ras-
cally silver republican who wrote the
letter and persuaded his innocent and
guileless excellency to sign it. This, how
ever, is an explanation that does not ex-
plain, for if the governor lacks the abil-
ity to write his own letters he is just the
kind of a man to rush in a lot of troops
on the plea that he is too weak to handle
the situation with the yeomanry of his
own state.
About the only thing the McLean man.
ayers can do is to suck their thumbs and
curse the governor of Idaho for making
such a serious mistake as to write a let
ter to the war department containing
the truthful statement that he was re-
sponsible for the presence of troops. Had
the democrats been able to make any
Roadway in Ohio, by misrepresenting the
Idaho troubles, they would have used
that issue with great vigor next year
in all communities where large bodies
of laboring men are employed. AS it is
they had rather fondle the business end
of a red-hot poker.
MISREpRESENTING THIS PAPER.