The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-05-16
lid PLEDGED FOX MINERS.
WESTERN FEDERATION At SALT
LAKE ADOPTS RESOLUTIONS.


OF the fe6efattou Of miners today Inc Iot-
lowing resolution WAS adopted:
Whereas. the country VA. startled upon
the 18th day OF April with the blowing up
Of thes Bunker Hlli and Sullivan mill ~
Wardner. Idaho. and the fact that or
ganiEed labor and more particularly the
miners union OF that district, have been
charged by the military authorities and
the public press with the commission o.
this crime. and the public in general ieo
TO believe that such were the facts, ana
Whereas, many Of cur brother mem
beers have been placed under arrest and
thrown into q dirty pen. under many IN
dicsments In connection with the occasion;
and
Whereas, none OF the employees OF the
Bunker HAi and Sullivan Mining Company
were members OF organized labor. and that
We deprecate destruction OF property or
Whereas. the Federal military autheri-
ties OF the United States. through the
intervention CT Gov. Ssuenenburx. Of the
Shoshone. state Of Idaho. to be ia =
state OF insurrsciion, and that said county
Is placed under martial Law: and
Whereas. the military commander. Gen.
Merriam. in charge Of the United Stases
military forces sent to and having charge
OF affairs in the Occur d'Alene district.
having issued manifesto to the mine
owners OF that district. declaring the sew
eral miners unions Of the Western FEEDER
alton OF Miners. located In said district. II
legally constituted bodies without the
authority Of constitutional law In the
premisss. and further ordering and for
bidding the said mine owners of said
Occur d'Alene district from employing any
members Of said unions and,
Whereas. hundreds of citizens OF Sho-
sRone county have been arrested without
due process OF law. and against whom no
crime can be proved. and thrown into .
military prison. which can only be duplica,s
OF Russia In his Internal Siberian prisons.
which has horriied civilization In modern
times. All OF which Is contrary TO the
constitutional rights guaranteed TO the cit.
liens OF these United States Therefore.
be ii.
Resolved That the Industrial conditions
are bad enough when /; is necessary for
men who are willing 10 labor II ask per-
mission of those who have means for EN-
pioymcnt To have the privilege 20 work
to maintain their families but when Ii be-
comes necessary to also secure permission
from the military authorities before the
RICH. TO work - secured. we believe We
have arrived at q condition Of despotism
that augurs Ill for the future welfare OF
est terms at our command such ass1mp-
ton Of power and dictation as Gen. Mer-
ram and his co-workeTe have arrogated to
themselves Farther
lied wage earners of the West 20 stand firm
under the present crisis. for the protection
of their homes. wives. children and de-
tyranny OF military government in the
Cossir d Alenes. for X such things are to
be lest forever.
Re~oiver. further That We assure our
brother nnicnists who have been arrested
tha, We vii! aid them to our fulies. power
in securing their release from charges
whlc.i We believe have been unjustly made
against them.
teniion of the yroclamations Issued to cover
the condition IN tho Occur d'Alenes IL 10
disrup; and destroy the labor unions In
eraI. We cali the attention OF organized
labor 10 the fact that free gathering and
speech are guaranteed by the constitution.
Grated by the simple order OF the military
powers We WI contend to the fullest ex-
tent Of our ability
"Reselved. Tina, We s.igmatze the or
Ger OF Gen. Merriam and the civil auihori-
ties that men seeking employment IN the
nfires OF this district must renounce MEM
beIship in the miners unions 10 be worthy
only Of despntte ruler. and not worthy
of notice by citizens OF America, and de-
clare ,hat the miners union had nothing
whatever 10 do with the destruction OF the
Bunker Hill mill. and will defend their
right Of n.gaulzatiaa.
Resolved; by the seventh annual con.
ven'fon Of the Western Federation OF Min
era tina, we pledge the. f'ill strength, nm
aneial aid ard moral aid OF the Western
Federation of MinerS OF America backed
BY the Western Labor Union and every ma
tiEhtt ana SUBORDINATE labor organization
on this cortirent 10 support maintain and
defend our fellow citizens and brother min
ers now In prison and being Illegally and
uatCssiy coerced by the inausifion of ar
rarn'ed military authority In violation of
The provisions Of the constitution OF these
United States. which holds that the civil
law IS supreme. and above al military as
sumption; therefore be /, further
Resolved. by this convention Tha. the
executive board of this federation is here
by ordered nd directed to employ the hes.
legal counse, 10 be rad in the land 10 de
send cur brother miners now held fncar-
eerateo In the military prison in the Occur
Aienes and 10 .est IN our civil courts IRE
r.sht OF any military despo; to declare
THIS federation to be an Illegal and crimi-
nj boiy''
BY unanimous vote ~ was decided tina.
Butte shall be the headquarters OF the as-
ISOLATION for the ensuing year and the
Pueblo Courier was named as the official
organ for the coming year
The Following officers were elected this
afternoon: Edward Boyce. president: J.
r Mcdonald. vice president: James Ma
her. secretary.
The following were named as the exec,,-
tive board; j. r. Feney. Butte Mont.
Charles Foley. Rossiand. r. C.: William
Walsh. Butte, Mont. Charles MAYER.
Deadwood, s. D., and u. p. Mct;inley, AIT.
man, Col
MINEna