The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-07

wARDNER. Idaho. May 6-The nrst
step toward removing the county officials
Of Shoshons county. who are accused Of
being in sympathy with the rioters. was
taken today by the state, assisted by Unit
ed States troops. when Sheriff James D.
Young and County Commissioner William
Boyle were arrested by order Of State Au-
ditor Sinclair. who represents Gov. Steu-
nenberg in Shoshone county. Sheriff Young
and Commissioner Boyle were placed In
the stockade with the 800 other prisoners
Proceedings for the removal Of these Off
Gals from Office will be commenced on the
grounde that they aided and abetted the
riot OF last Saturday. Coroner France. by
statutory regulation. becomes acting sher-
III.
The trial Of those accused Of murder and
riot win In all probability be held at Wal
lace. the county seat Of Shoshone county.
The United States troops have taken
charge OF the Office and safe Of the Burke
miners union. and when the safe IL OPEN
co the Federal officials expect to hnd In
terminating evidence against some Of the
leaders who are absent from the state.
Citisens and business men are almost
unanimous In favor Of the establishment ar
= military post In the Occur d.Alene dis
trfct as means Of protection against sha
Iiotous element. but Gen. Merriam believes
the state authorities should provide ,protec-
uon Tor mine owners. speaking Of the mat
Ter, Gen. Merriam said there are GRAVE
dinicultss in the way Of estab,fahinr .
permanent military post here The cons,i-
tution OF the United States does not con-
template That the Federal government
snaii intervene In state affairs until ,ha
state has exhausted every resource OF .el,-
protection. Indeed were the nose A~,a ~.
situation would not be materially changed
Tor the soldiers would be powsrleus 10 NOV.
against the rioters until authorized nv IN.
president on request Of the governor.
win sarrisons at Spokane Helena. rort
sherman and perhaps Mksoula. troo,.
could De crowded In here almost IA ran,a.
~ as II they were on the ground. and m.
time gained by having the post here xvou,a
De slight. When the request CANA for
troops this time. the soldiers were rrshea
In mere at once. That they were MT
mere IN time to avoid loss of life and pron-
erty Is the fault OF the governor. who
failed to call for troops until the damage
had been done. The same condition Womb
exist were permanent post here. Tint,
the governor called for their aid the sol
diers would be powerless 1t Is the fau,t
or the state that she was not ready to
give protection to her citizens against such
outrages as these. She should have militia
enough to cope with such outbreaks. When
the national guard from Idaho went to the
war the militia should have been reorsan
lied so that IL would still be ready for such
trouble.
The laxsty which has prevailed in tho
prosecution 81 murderers who have in
Tested this district would soon he reme,,ed
should the state pass a law for indemnity
from the state funds of $1,000 to the
family OF every man killed in a riot The
law might also provide that owners OF
property destroyed by mobs should be re-
isnbursed TO The amount OF It's full value
by the state. Payment OF few such
awards wouii room bring the people TO
sense Of the crimes being perpeira;ed
here
At the same time since the trouble large
iy originates I'm hostile organizations OF men
known as labor unions. Gen. Merriam
would suggest law making the forma-
tien OF such unions or kindred societies q
crime.