The times., 1899-10-19
IDAHO MINING TROUBLES.
The Special Report of General Mer-
riam Made Public.

The Special Report of General Mer-
riam Made Public.
The Secretary of War made public yes
terday afternoon General Merriams spe-
cial report on the miners riots in the
State of Idaho General Merriam recites
the circumstances leading TO the sending
of troops to Wardner and gives the cor
respondence between himself and the War
Department, and Governor Steunenoerg.
He details the method of caring for the
prisoners. They were fed at the expense
of the State by an experienced caterer
and we're furnished abundant food. On
about Nav > the number of prisoners eX-
ceeded the capacity of the building ana
about 200 were quartered in box cars. Ihe
prisoners were not obliged to sleep on the
ground, as did the troops guarding them-
Following the promulgation Of Governor
Steunenberg's regulation concerning the
employment of miners and prohibiting the
eroplovment OF men who participated in the
riots, the Western Federation OF Labor
adopted resolutions saying that the Army
was preventing mine owners from employ
ing men other than non union men. BY
direction of the President the following
telegram was sent 10 General Merriam
II is CHARGED in resolutions of the Western
Labor Union under date Cf May %, Just received
by the President, that owncrs OF mines IN the
Coeur IL Alone district are denied the right OF
employing any man priess he ttst makes Ii'da'it
that be Is a uuu-Uu.an miner and that the army
sent 20 aid the STATE authorities 20 preserve peace
and protect property IS beng used 10 enforce lit
alleged order. The statement must De the re-
suit of some MISUNDERSTANDING, "hlCi siouiI ue
properly corrected The President wishes state
mcut Of facts at once
General Merriam replied
Resolutions referred 10 in your telegram are at
fault like most Others on that subject. stare
authorities require miners 10 obtain permits Out
no athdavts required Men must sign d
paper DENYING participation IN the crimes oi
Auril % also deny membership m any society
which did incte or approve those crimes ana
promise to obey the law. Troops are taElhs no
part in this unless keeping the peace does So
Every mine owner / have seen strongly approved
When General Merriam withdrew from
Wardner and left the troops in command
of Major Smith, he received a telegram
from the Secretary Of War saying that
the troops were to aid simply in suppress
ing rioting and to maintain peace ana or
der. Those were your original lnstruc-
tions" saws that telegram. The Army
must have nothing whatever 70 do with
enforcing rules for the government or
miners or miners unions. This is mat
ter fer the local authorities to deal with
General Merriam, in his report, makes
particular reference to these kilograms,
saying:
The telegram Of May 81. signed by Secretary
Alper. had given me much concern, for 1t CON
tained plain utimatoin that some order or
instruction intended for my guidance had not
been received To clear up all doubt ON tins point
I applied by mail for copy OF the paper re-
fcrred to in that telegram as my original IN
.tructions" The desired paper was not fur
ui.hed but in the mean time the Secretary
rnIeprarn containing the hurtful intmation
givcn ont at the War Department fer public1-
lion and was published very gs'erally through
5ut the country Thereup5u ! renewed my APP
rliration for whatever had been referred 20 in
that telegram as my original Instructions" To
fhis request no reply has been received. / note
thi, incident here because of the hurttul publ
cation.