The representative., 1900-03-29
posed to plutocracy-those who are not
going over to the Democratic party.
/ D,
sULzER,s pooMERANG.


sULZER's BOOMERANG.
Representative Sulser. of New York. has
made strenuous efforts to utilize the Idaho
ipvestigAtion for the manufacture Of politi-
cal capital for the Democratic party. and he
seemed to get along swimmingly until ho
struck snag in the person Of Gov. Steun-
enberg 1t happens that Steunenberg wan
elected as q Democrat and fusionist and
when he appeared on the witness stand he
boldly and manfully assumed entire respon-
sibility for all the so-called outrages per-
petrated In connection with the Occur
d'Alene mining troubles. Sulzer had been
trying to fasten the responsibility upon the
Republican administration at Washington,
and Steunenberg's attitude naturally nom
plussed him.
The governor said that II any arrests were
made prior to the Issue; OF his. proclama-
tion 1t was with his authority and approval,
and because Of his general authority as chief
executive of the state; that he directed Gen.
Merriam to take such steps as were neces-
sary to preserve order. On being further
pressed Gov Steunenberg said:1 Il assume
responsibility for every arrest in Shoshone
county by Gen. Merriam or any one else."
The governors testimony also showed that
he had found evidence of conspiracy on
the part of the turbulent miners dating
back several years; that he had accordingly
written out a proclamation f0rbidding mine
owners to employ men belonging to organi-
zations believed to be criminal; that he had
approved the course Of Lieut. Lyons, Of
which SO much complaint has been made,
and that he had given blanket authority
for the arrest Of all persons disturbing peace
and order and violating martial law; that
his attitude to the military was that of
commander in chief Of the military forces
of the state, and that the regulars were
under his orders. the same as the militia
would have been. When asked II he In
tended to continue the military law indefi-
nitely he said 1t would be continued until
order was restored and all rights secured
from violence.
Gov. Steunenberg's testimony has proven
to be a complete boomerang to the Demo-
cratic section Of the investigating commit
tee. They thought they had unearthed q
rich mine Of Republican tyranny" when,
10 and behold, man elected by Democratic
and Populist votes comes forward and sh0ul-
ders the whole blame. II blame there Is.
1t is as yet too early to make up the ver-
dict as to whether the authorities in Idaho
exceeded their just measure of duty In the
premises; that can be done when the evil
dence is all in. 1t Is certain that they
were confronted by q very dihacult situation
by a condition of lawlessness which re-
quired prompt and decisive action. Gov.
Steunenberg on the witness stand shows
luton. and he displayed these qualities
prominently while the mining troubles were
at their height. Whether his course was
praiseworthy or reprehensible, his unquali-
fed assumption of responsibility cuts the
ground from underneath the Democrats,
who are trying to turn the investigation into
a political catapult to batter down the Re-
publican breastworks. Partisanship should
have been kept out Of the investigation;
the probing should be upon the merits OF
the case-hut since Sulzer went out for Re-
publican scalps 1t is rather amusing to-rsee
him returning with the solitary top knot OF
the most prominent Democrat and Populist
in the state dangling at his belt.-Minne
apolis Tribune. .,sa
The foregoing is rich in argument
against both the old parties alike, and
no old party paper can tell political
truth without giving evidence that
should condemn both the old frauds In
the minds of all honest men. The.
Tribune errs in calling Gov. 'Steunen,
berg both. Democrat and Populist- It
would have been as consistent to have
called him both a negro and a white
man.
No genuine Populist bears the slight
est resemblance to a Democrat, anu
every so-called fusionist who voted for
Steunenberg was, in fact, Democrat,
too dishonest to admit it.
1t is to be hoped that the victims of
the bull pen are men who voted for,
Steunenberg, and that they are .new
taking their medicine and It matters
not whether they are Democrats or, so,,
called fusionists, for they "all think.
alike"
The leading plank In the Democratic
platform for the coming campaign will
be anti-militarism. This plank will be
for Bryan to talk on and not for the
party to stand on. cleveland sent
troops to Chicago to help Pullman win
a strike and Mckinley sent troops to
Wardner to help Rockefeller win
strike. Both presidents alike sent
troops alike because obligated to these
heavy contributors to their campaien
funds, and both presidents alike lied
about 1t when they claimed troops were
sent only to. preserve order. s....s.
II Bryan was president. today the
same thing would occur in the case Of
any difference between capital and la.
Dor. Every Democratic governor in
the South and such Democrats as
Steunenberg in the North could be re-
lied upon to do the dirty work and Bry-
an would hide behind the legal proviso
that the president shall not. send troops
into a state until called upon by the
governor to do SO. - 49,.
It is to be hoped that sometime the
old party fool voters will learn that
both old parties alike put forward one
class Of men to formulate platforms and
make campaign promises and elect an
other class Of men to violate them.
Before election such as Bryan are
held up before the delighted multitudes
as all there is Of Democracy, and after
election people learn that such as
steunenberg are the whole thing.
The Tribune Is right when It saws
that "partisanshiu should have been
kept our Of this Investigation With
partisanship kept out the two old
frauds would be unit and no inyestt-