New-York tribune., 1899-07-07
THE WARDNER NINE RIOTS.
MR. BRADLEY's ACCOUNT OF SOURCE AND
EXTENT OF THE TROUBLE-BUs1-
NESS PROSPECTS.

Wardner Idaho. July6 (SpeciaD.-F ". Bradley,
president Of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mining
and Concentrating Company in interview con-
cerning the recent mining troubles In the CHur
d'Alene. said:
~ hardly think that the situation here is prop
erly appreciated in the East and that there Is
disposition there 10 regard discrimination here
against employing union harsh and un-
tust but II they could examine into the question
personally and examine the evidence presented
to the Coroner and the documentary evidence
seized by the authorities from the union halls. they
would speedily hold contrary opinion.
THE riot OF April %. in which We had S6o""
worth Of property destroyed was the elimination
Of a long series OF similar outrages which had
gone unpublished. The union was kept up by acts
OF intimidation and violence. and the leaders by
impunity thought their reign absolute The day
after the riot those implicated went to work. as
usual never drea ming they would he called 10 ac-
count but when the State authorities. aided by
Federal troops. began making arrests, the men
IMPLICATED left the country In such numbers that
every mine was compelled TO shut down, save the
Bunker Hill alone. which closed only on the
dav Of the strike and the day afterward. Gov
ernor Steunenberg's proclama tion Of May 10 the
effect that no man would be permitted 70 work In
the mines without first renouncing allegiance 10
tho miners union. while greatly criticised, was
absolutely necessary TO the safety Of the district
and enabled US to go 10 the bottom OF the matter
and root out an evil that has been terrorizng the
Copur d'Alene for years This order has been
attributed 10 General Merriam. but this is mis-
take: II was not his business; the order was
proclamation Of the Governor.
SHERIFF WHITE BLAMED
eThe rank and file OF the miners really had
nothing to do with the destruction OF the Bunker
Hm on the morning Of the riot the men were
aor.d W renort al the unions by the union
chiefs and on their arrival supplied with
Guns and masks and ordered 10 board the train
for Wardner without knowing the reason TO
disobev their oath meant death as they knew oy
experience While the Bunker Hill manager mao
warning ne could do nothing but get out OF
danger as Sheriff White a member OF the
,,,,or snd with the rioters some Of whom he had
sworn in as deputies and 10 attempt defence
ouId have been resist officers OF the law THIS Is
the man who wired 10 the Governor that ne had
matters well IN hand. and that all was quiet VI
the 100 men arrested all but 35 have been released
and the authorities have captured the papers OF
the various unions which contain ample evidence
against the organizations
The Corur Alene fight was really made to keep
IN the wages az Butte. and the union authorities
there by covert threats attempted 10 prevent the
men renouncing allegiance 20 the union In accord
onca with the Governors proclamation. but the
,r,ne owners overcame this by explicitly promising
rro,action TO The men. who think. were glad TO
he able 10 throw of this yoke
MANY ARRESTED MEN RELEASED.
Seventeen hundred men are empioyed IN 'he
Cpur d'Alene all Of whom. except those ernployeo
here belonged 10 the union. and WREN the union
found they could not control the men al Waroher
-, cher means they attacked and blew up our
mines OF the 7O0 men arrested for completely In
tho riot only 10 per cent were citizens OF the Ohited
cta,os hut OF the 800 men who have taken out
,erroits under the new regulations 70 per cent are
citizens
while the wording Of the applications for per
,,s IN work NAV seem very drastic. II was only
,ssued after thorough investigation by all the stsr
= s. oe,c,als The Governor is in sympathy
MIN union,sm. and is himself a member OF the
,y,oeraphicaI union. and would have never de-
rounced the miners union as criminal unless 'ne
so,,nentary evderce seized in the union halls
80 nroved H. II is reported from Washington
,ha, the permit orders are causing embarrassment
and ! intend laying the question OF 'helf mon,
/ ,sno,,on before the Governor. am sure ne VIII
-, ha,sver is wise In the matter We are al
present rebuilding the Bunker Hi. and are using
-. nroAts and reserve fund for this purpose. but
o"' ~ pa,oh.r I think we can safely resume the
oavment Of dvidendA"