The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-03-31
REIGN OF TERROR IN.lDAH0
cor. STUENESBERG'S n TfMONY BE-
IORE THE HOUSE COMMITTEE.
lie Says Human Life and Property Are Not
safe In shoshone County and n Ter
ror Exists There, Due solely tn the
Riots That Were IncLted by the Miners.

lie Says Human Life and Property Are Not
safe In Shoshone County and That Ter
ror Exists There, Due solely To the
Riots That wer. Inclted by the Miners.
WASHINGTON. March 3O.-"Human Ito Ia not
safe In Shoshone county: property Is not snfe
there men are afraid 10 speak openly OF what
they know" were the concluding words OF Gov.
S'euneuberg's testimony at the close OF the
redirect examination before the House Military
Committee. which is Investigating the Idaho
labor troubles.
Tho Governor hal already told OF the labor
troubles that had existed in Idaho since 1892.
Property had been destroyed time and again,
murder and assassination had been committed.
yet his efforts 10 bring proof against the GRIM
mails were futile. Men had. time and again.
told him things that he knew to be facts, and
yet had assured him with equal positiveness
that If he dared to use their names they would
denounce him and declare that what he
said was false. They had spoken to him
in confidence and he had to respect
their confidence. Business men knew that
nobody would trade with them II they opened
| their mouths. Some had indeed been COM
pellod to give up business and leave the state.
An era oi fear. dread and terror exists there. no
said, due solely to the riots and Instruction
that have been melted by the miners. Tho
Governor also said that he had found Secretary
Root determined to Withdraw the troops from
Shoshone county on Oct. 70 last: IN fact., an
order had been issued to that efect, hut NJ his
earnest protest the withdrawal Vas POSTPONED.
In response To- Mr. Dicks close questioning
as to, the charges made IN the resolution OF.
Tered In the House by Representative LentI, as
u result Of which the investigation was or,
dcred. the Governor denied that the writ on
habeas corpus had been suspended. He de.
tA, that I.AHN y .tN hll tluttA .nV r
rests. that the prisoners were held under
tn" most brutal and tyrannira, condition,
that the Bull Pen was UNFIT for human haoi-
tation. that the treatment OF the prisoners
was brutal and degrading. that an ESCAPING
prisoner was shot by one OF the soldiers. ana
that Il dying prisoners request for q priest had
been refused. II charge which had been inve>.
tIgatei, and found false, at the lnstlgatoh CT
a very high official Of thu Catholic Church
other statements made in the resolution OF
Representative lentz were also fatty, denied
by Gov. Steuneu berg, namely. that the men
had to slenpon bare boards :that they were COM
lellod to stand erect for seven hours each ,iay
In the hot sun under penalty Of death If they
attempted To move or 81 down: that Capt,
Edwards Of the United States Army had called
speech WAS stopped that peaceablo assem-.
blages were denied that union men were not
allowed 70 appear before the industrial com
mission that tho wives and families OF prison
ers were subjected TO insult and Ohtrages by
the soldiers OF the United States.
The Governor was also very positive in his
assertions that neither Gen. Merriam, nor his
commissioned and nOn.COmmi ssionel officers,
nor the prlyates in the United states Army had
IN any way usurpsd ne rights OF tne state, or
comfort OF the prisoners. 1t was also shown
that 10th their food and sleeping accommoda-
tions were better than those Of the soldiers.
The miners were not put into prison.
but were temporarily restrained until good
order had been restored. and visitors had
cleanliness OF the Bull Pen, and the care eX-
ercised IN making the miners a. comfortable
a possible. The Governor testified that there
was no misuse OF the military powers ~ tho
intel States: that the mine owners had
nothing. whatever 10 do with the policy OF the
State Of Idaho, and that the troops were
merely employed to quelI tho instruction and
rebellion that compelled the Governor TO pro-
claim martial law in the county Of Shoshone.