The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-23
THE COEUR D'ALENE ENQUIRY.
Governor steunenberg Takes the
Stand for the Defence.


The defence in the Occur d'AIene en-
quiry was begun before the House Com
mittee on Military Affairs yesterday. The
statement Of what the defence will at
tempt to show was presented to the COM
mittee and Governor Steunenberg was
called TO the witness stand. The state
ment filed with the committee, in part,
follows:
1t is deemed important by the defence
10 show
"First-That the Governor of Idaho had
just cause for proclaiming the county Of
Shoshone to be in a state of insurrection
and rebellion in May, 1899.
''Second-That the Governor properly
called upon the President OF the United
States for military assistance in establish
ing and maintaining peace and order in
said county at that time.
"Third-That the President properly
sent the troops Of the United States TO
that locality.
"Fourth-That the United States troops
under General Merriam, acted In coujuuc-
ton with and in support Of the Governor
and his legally constituted agents in pro-
tectiug life aud property.
TO establish the first proposition il Is
necessary TO put the Governor of Idaho
upon the witness stand and have him de-
tail the information OF the critical situa-
ion Of the matters In Shoshone County.
Idaho. upoa which he based his action in
procla;ming that county in a state OF in
surrsetion and rebellion. This evidence
should be followed by evidence of persons
competent to testify 10 the actual condi-
tons upon which the Governor based his
opinion. Every man who was on the
ground Immediately before. at the time,
end Immediately following the blowing up
April %, 1899, should be examined
las to the second proposition above. 1t
IS purely question Of law, and the testi-
mony responding to the first proposition
will be sufficient upon which to base the
conclusions of law.
The third proposition above is also d
question OF law to be decided upon the
testimony given in support OF the first.
las to the fourth proposition. there
should be detailed by the witnesses, Cen
eral Merriam and his subordinates, Just
what they did in aid Of the State authori-
ties and how they conducted themselves
in the performance of the duties which de-
volved upon them at that time.
In this connection. every act and thing
said and done by the military in connec-
ton with the State authorities, which
looked TO the establishment and mainten-
Snce of law and order in that community
,
therein, should be detailed. We must
carefully avoid the questions which purely
concern the disputes between the mine
operators and the miners unions or mine
employees for the reason that this inves-
tigation is not a question of settlement OF
the troubles between mine operators and
employees.
" the permit system established by the
State authorities and supported By the
United States troops. was a thing used for
the purpose OF protecting life and prop
erty and establishing and maintaining
peace and quietude in the community, then
She permit system should be presented and
its methods explained
In furiherance of the fourth PROPOSE
tson. the care and conduct of the barn and
prison IN which the arrested men were
confined should be explained and the de-
tails Of the care and conduct of the pris-
oners. and particularly the part the
United States troops took therein, should
b. detailed before the committee for the
purpose OF showing that everything that
W. done was done for the purpose of
properly OBTAINING said prisoners and Sc
curing the ultimate end OF finding out who
the perpetrators of the outrage committed