The San Francisco call., 1899-05-07
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WARDNER, Idaho, May 6-The first
step toward removing the county
| officials of Shoshone County who are
accused of being IN sympathy with the
rioters was taken tJ-day by the State
assisted by United States troops, when
Sheriff James D. Young and County
Commissioner William Boyle were ar
rested by order of State Auditor Sin
clair, who represents Governor Steun-
enberg, in Shoshone County. Sheriff
Young and Commissioner Boyle were
placed in the stockade with the 200 9TH
er prisoners. Proceedings for the re-
moval of these officials from office viii
be commenced on the ground that they
aided and abetted the riot last Satur-
day. Coroner France, by statutory
regulation, becomes acting Sheriff.
The trial of those accused of murder
tand riot will in all probability. be held
Lat Wallace, the county seat of Sho
shone County The United States troops
have taken charge of the office nd safe
of the Burke Miners Union, and when
the safe is opened the Federal officials
expect to find eliminating evidence
against some of the leaders who are alb
sent from the State.
Citizens and business men here are
almost unanimous in favor of the estab-
lishment of a military post in the Occur
d'Alene district as a means of protec-
ton against the riotous element, but
General Merriam believes the State au-
thorities should provide protection for
mine owners.
General Merriam said there were
IN, ho :,
fishing a permanent military post here
The constitution of the United States
did not contemplate that the Federal
Government should intervene in State
affairs until the State had exhausted
every resource of self protection In
deed, were the post here the situation
would not be materially changed, for
the soldiers would be powerless to move
against the rioters until authorized by
the President on request of the Gov
ernor. With garrisons at Spokane
Helena, Fort Sherman and perhaps
| Missoula, troops could be crowded in
here almost as rapidly as if they were
on the ground and the time gained by
having the post here would be slight
When the request came for troops this
time the soldiers were rushed here at
once. That they were not here in time
to avert loss of life and property is the
fault of the Governor, who failed to
call for troops until the damage mad
been done
The same condition would exist were
a permanent post here. Until the Gov
ernor called for their aid, the soldiers
would be powerless. It is the fault of
the State that she was not ready to
give protection to her citizens against
such outrages as these. She should
have militia to cope with such out
breaks. When the National Guard from
Idaho went to the war the militia
should have been reorganized so that
1t would still be ready for such trouble
The laXity which has prevailed in the
prosecution of murderers who have in
tested this district would soon be rene
died should the State pass a law for
indemnity from the State funds of
| SO, 900 to the family of every man killed
in a riot. The law might also provide
that owners of property destroyed by
mobs should be reimbursed to the
amount of It's full value by the State.
Payment Of a few such awards would
soon bring the people to sense of the
crimes being perpetrated here. At the
same time since the trouble largely
originated in hostile organizations of
men known as labor unions he would
suggest law making the formation
Of such unions or kindred societies a
| crime.