Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-16
THE GOVERNORS EXPLANATION.

1t has been said that an honest on
fession is good for the soul. Doubtless the
governor of Montana. and the political
party Of which he is the accredited head,
would have profited through the prompt
recognition of the adage. But his excel
he made a mistake in permitting suspects
to be dragged out of Missoufa county
over the line into Idaho by the soldiers
of General Merriam, in violation of the
constitution and the law. On the con-
trary, he would place all the blame upon
General Merriam and not even concede
a bit Of official carelessness to himself.
The Inter Mountain disclaims any de-
sire to do Governor Smith an injustice
in this matter, but as a great principle
is involved a candid discussion OF the
facts is in order, to the end that the re-
sponsibility may be definitely located
where it belongs. If the truth indicates
that his excellency was careless, to say
the least. then it is regretable that his ex-
PLANTATION of the affair lacks the moral
courage to say so.
1t is conceded by Governor Smith that
he ~telegraphed the sheriff Of Missoula
county to assist. the Idaho authorities in
arresting men who We're supposed to have
entered this state from the Occur d'Alene
country. AS the section of country from
whence these suspects We're supposed to
have come was under martial law, and
the reason that it was under martial law
We're wanted, it is presumed that the gov
ernor Of Montana, as a man of undoubt-
ed Intelligence, knew that the authorities
to be assisted by the sheriff of M~issoula
county upon his orders were military au-
thorities. Hence, the sheriff of Missoula
county was directed by the governor to
arresting suspects.
1t is perhaps we'll to bear in mind, as
we &C along, hat no requisition papers
We're on file in the executive Office from
the governor OF Idaho, charging any of
these men with extraditable o~ffenses
gains the law. Governor Smith was
merely doing business on suspicion. He
did not wire the sheriff of Missoula
county to hold the suspects in Montana
when arrested, until they could be prop
erly extradited under the forms of law
According to his own statement, the gov
ernor merely wired him to assist tbs
Idaho authorities in arresting these mer
to lend all possible aid, rather, as the
newspapers reported the matter at the
time.
1t appears, from what can be gathered
OF the situation, that between so and 6t
men We're arrested in Missoula county b,
the federal soldiers, assisted" by thu
county sheriff, who was acting under Ii.
rect instructions from the governor o,
by the gentleman who was directed
merely to assist the Idaho authorities
but were left in charge of the PRINCIPALS
by whom they were herded in box car,
for some "a hours before they were moved
over into Idaho within the jurisdiction O,
martial law.
Does Governor Smith assume to bf
ignorant of these facts? Did he no,
know that these men were being haulef
out of the state in absolute contrayentior
OF law? Does he pretend to say tina,
General Merriam took these men ont n;
this state ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS them
away in the dark, as it We're? If so. he
is subject to court martial and. the gov.
ernor of Montana should permit no gras sc
to grow under his feet until proceedinp c
OF that character have been instituted.
The facts, however, seem to indicate
that ample time elapsed between the ar.
rest OF the suspects and their remova1
for the governor to have uttered a nro.
test against such a procedure on the mar.
OF III military authorities. WHY did he
not do so? Why did he Withhold his nro-
test until a week after the men had been
taken back to Idaho and confined in bull
pens. without a preliminary examination
touching the question Of their guilt or in