Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1900-05-03
A LABOR UNION MAN.
Gov. Steuncnbcrg of Idaho Denies
Charges Made by Democrats
In Congress.

Human life is not safe in Sho-
shone county. Property is not safe
there. Men are afraid to speak open
ly of what they know
These were the concluding words
of Gov. Steunenberg's testimony at
the rediyect examination into the
Occur d. 'ene riots in Idaho by the
military sffairs committee of the
house of representatives.
The governor of that state had
preceded these words by telling of
the labor troubles that had existed
there since 1892 Property had been
destroyed time and again. Murder
and assassination had been COM
mitted. Yet, in his efforts to bring
proof against the criminals, Gov.
Stuaenberg found that all efforts of
the authorities were futile. Men had,
time and again, told him things that
they knew to be facts, yet had as
sured 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 if they
opened their mouths. Some had in
deed been compelled to give up busi-
ness and leave the state. An era of
fear, dread and terror still exists
there, due solely to the riots and in
surrection that have been melted by
the miners. The governor also said
that he had found Secretary Root de-
termined to withdraw the troops
from Shoshone county on October
20 last, in fact an order had been
issued to that effect. But at his earn
est protest the withdrawal was finally
postponed. Such was some of the tes-
tiAony given by a democratic gov
ernor, elected on a democratic ticket,
and who declared that he would
again vote for Bryan this year if he
received the presidential nomination.
The governor is also, himself, a la
Dor union man, and a friend of law
abiding organized labor.
When Gen. Dick, of Ohio, began the
reeXamination of Gov. Steunenberg, he
questioned the witness closely as to
the charges made in the resolution Of
1ered in the house by Representative
Lentz, as result of which the in
vestigation was ordered.
The governor denied that the writ
of habeas corpus had been suspend
osl. He denied that Gen. Merriam had
made any arrests. He denied that
the prisoners were held under the
most brutal and tyrannical condi-
TONS He denied that the bull
| pen" was unfit for human habitation.
He denied that the treatment of the
prisoners was brutal and DEGRADING
He denied that an escaping prisoner
was shot by one of the soldiers. He
denied that dying prisoners request
for priest had been refused. charge
that had been made by tsle San Fran
cisco Examiner. and which had been
investigated and found false at the
instigation of very high official of
the Catholic church.
Other statements made in the res
olution of Representative Lontz were
also fatty denied by Gov. Steunenberg,
viz, that the men had to sleep on
bare boards; that they were COM
PEELED to stand erect for several hours
each day in the hot sun under pen
atty of death if they attempted to
move or sit down; that Capt. Ed
wards, of the United States army, had
called them "cowardly curs;" that
the right of free speech was stopped;
that peaceable assemblages were de-
;o,1, 81, - ,1
lowed to appear before the industrial
commission; that the wives and fam
lilies of prisoners were subjected to
| insult and outrages by the soldiers
of the United States. Each and every
| one of these charges, specified in the
resolution submitted to the house by
| Representative Lentz, was strongly
and emphatically denied by Idaho's
| governor, himself democrat
Equally as important were the very
| positive assertions by the governor
that neither Gen. Merriam his COM
rissioned and noncommissioned Off
GERS, or the privates in the United
| States army had in any way usurped
| the rights of the state. or acted other
wise than for the convenience and
comfort of the prisoners 1t was
| also shown that both their food and
sleeping accommodations were bet
ter than those for the soldiers. The
miners were not put into prison, but
were temporarily restrained until
| good order had been restored.
Mr. Brynn's Strength.
| Mr. fri ro ha ;c