Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-05-17
Official Paper Of Nez Perez County
Steunenberg and the Miners.

prompt action IN declaring hiaf''ai
law for the Occur d Alenes inn
mediately after the Wardner riot.
II was not an unselfish love for
law and order that impelled
Steunenberg 10 issue tha'
proclamation. 1t was selfish
political move. The miners
union voted against Steunenberg
for governor, and the influence oil
the miners union was destined to
be aginst Steunenberg for the
United States senate in 1900. The
declaration was intended to crush
a political power which he had
failed to control.
Sheriff Young who is now under
arrest and Editor Flanagan OF a
paper called the Citizen were men,
hers of the legislature in 1896. The
company of national guards which
was stationed at Wallace during
the past few years and up to the
time of their enlistment was
source OF ANNOYANCE TO the miner S
union and upon solicitation OF
Hons. Young and Flanagan
;Steunenberg agreed to disband
that company. He was only
restrained from doing SO by the
difficulties interposed and the
advice Of political associates who
appreciated the bad effects of such
a move. Steunenberg asserted
that the militia was support for
the gold bug mine owners and
they were sapping the life out OF
the country. He was opposed 10
afiording protection to the gold
bug element Of any section oil
Idaho at the expense Of his
political friends.
When the miners union by moi
violence captured the arms ant
ammunition Of the state from tn,
militia company the good peopl,
OF the state felt the sting of tn,
outrage. The people appealed Il
the governor for protection. TIL,
men who stole the guns were then
in line Tor Steunenberg The
people who were injured ano
intimidated by the condition IL
the Occur d'AIenes ut that time
were the same gold bugs who asked
for the retention Of the militia com,
pany. The miners kept the gun
and they had them on exhibition
AT the Bunker Hill riot. Steunen
berg was then advised to save tn,
credit of the state by securing tn,
lost arms and furnishing the Of
tenders but the offenders had voted
tor Steunenberg aud they eujoyet
Immunity from legal and executiv,
humiliation and degradation. The
gold bug" plea was again dis
regarded.
Then came the Whitney murder
Sieunenberg clustered for GU,
ward show but he did not cali o,
Uncle Sam. He offered a pape
reward. Yes he did more. II,
sent Jack Campbell the present
sheriff OF Ada county to the Occur
dsAlenes to act as a state detectiv,
aud executive secret agent. Their,
were no arrests and no militar,
force was invoked. The miner
union was then supposed to b,
friendly to Steunenberg for had h,
not favored them OH many oc
casions.
When the conventions assembled
last year and the miners unto,
delegates from Shoshone conn,,
did dot fall in line Tor thei,
governor who had let them kee,
the stolen arms, had no, made
them deliver up the Whitne,
murderers, they lost the governor
saliritude. When tire election re
turns revealed that the vote was
solid against Steunenberg aud hi.
ticket friendship ceased. Wher
The last riot occurred there were
NO political ties to justify favor.
for rioters Then followed instante,
The proclamation turning hi.
political enemies over to the mill.
tary authorities.
The governors promptness, his
law and order. his executive
mercilessress is for his presen,
political enemies his erst while
political friends. who engaged
Immunity in the pas.