The evening times., 1899-05-02
RlOqING MINEN7 IN
7HR q0OR D'ILHNHS
Prospects of the Governor De-
claripg Martial Law.
Union Miners Will Resist the Pres
ence Of Soldiers.
Canyons Laid With Wires Connected
Sentiment with Authorities.

Boise City. Idaho. May 2.-It would not
be surprising II Governor Steunenberg
would be forced himself to violate the let
ter Of the law II he decides to take vigor-
Gus action in the Cour d'Alene mining
troubles. A peculiar condition exists and
the situation Is critical. Governor Steunen-
berg and Adjutant General Weaver went
East today to meet General Merriam, who
is hurrying from Denver to the scene. They
desired an opportunity for consultation
with him which might not otherwise have
been obtained except at the expense OF a
dangerous delay. The desire of the gov
ernor Is to declare martial law In the
Cour d'Alenes In order to render the mil
tary force effective. Still, II he does 1t. he
will clearly violate the law. which requires
as q condition precedent to declaritii,n
that an insurrectiOn exists a foiral for
NAL application from the sheriff. probate
judge. CT county attorney. All these Off
GERS are under the control of the Miners
Union and refuse to act. Public sentiment
CT the State generally. however, will SUP
port the governor in his contemplated ac-
| tion.
Martial law will probably be declared
within two days and 1t is expected the
l
attempt Of the regulars to abridge their
! liberties. So a serious conflict is immi
nent. 1t Is believed 500 soldiers. the mum
Der asked for by Governor Steunenberg
will not be sufficient. The Miners Union
numbers no less than 200 men, all fully
armed. many Of them with guns taken
from the armcry of the militia companies
| in the Cour d'Alene.
The Boise Statesman the leading pa
per of the State, says editoriaily relative
| to the difficulties in the governors path:
THE governor would be sustained by an
Overwhelming public sentiment in taking
| the bull by the horns and assuming control
o: the government OF the county. The
courts would sustain him. for 1t is incon
ceivable that it would be held there is no
remedy for such a condition as prevails in
that county. There is a great fundamental
law uLder which property and personal
rights are entitled to protection. and il the
statutes in their weakness do not provide
| machinery for the purpose the authority to
| act must still rest with the government
created by the people CT the entire State"
1t was reported here today that the
miners were holding mass meetings and
making every preparation to make a stand
against troops. One OF the leaders Is re-
ported as saying: Our position is i'm
pregnable and any damned lot of soldiers
that starts up the canyon for US will never
| go back y
| II is believed the canyon is laid with
wires connected with high explosives. Au-
ditor Sinclair, the governors representa-
tive at the scene. reports that fifty armed
men left Wafdner last evening for the pur
| pose of wrecsing the underground work
ings OF the Bunker Hill and Sullivan
mines. The mill connected with these
mines was destroyed Saturday Accurate
news from the scene is difficult 10 obtain
| and 1t is believed the wires have been
| hammered with by miners