Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-04-02
Gov Steunenberg Gives Startling
Information to Investigators,
CHARGES AGAINST JOYCE.
murderOus Combination Among tie
CGur d'Alene miners-State
Cum Were stolen,

Washington, April 2.--The chief inter-
est In Gov steunenbergs TESTIMONY
before the Occur dAlene Investigation
today was in his continuance Of the ro-
cita begun at the last session Of the
disturbed conditions prior to the up
rising Of April last, He had b4tn asked
by Representative Dick why he refused
to dlsband the militia Of the Occur
dAlene district In 1891 as had been re-
quested by the county commissioners
He said that at that time the officers
OF the Western Federation Of Miners
were advising the anning Of the unions
and be had an address by one bf these
officials stating that every union
should have rife club and that in
two years we can hear the inspiring
music OF 5000 armed men In the ranks
OF labor"
Gov. Steunenberg said that following
this there were evidences IN the Occur
d'Alene district that the advice was be-
ing followed,
A body OF armed and masked men,
ne hhlNs hRItAitu at az alAlANn anu
compelled the delivery OF large sup
ply Of arms and ammunition owned by
the State Of Idaho and stores there
pending the organization OF militia
company He began correspondence
and inquiry and could get no trace Of
the arms or those who took them
When he applied 70 the local sherih the
latter answered IN effect TO mind your
own business
The governor said that about the
same time he received a letter from the
@. A. K. commander at Murray, stat
ing that a number Of rifles and ammu-
milton were In danger Of being stolen.
Threats had been made to seize them,
and 4 notification had been served that
they would be taken. The G.. A. K
asked to be relieved Of further RESPONSE
hillty and the governor says he had
arms boxed and shipped away
Gov steunenberg said he sent Adjt
Gen French 10 Occur d'Alene. who re-
ported that a movement was on foot
on the disbanding OF the militia for
miners to come 10 Wardner and dyna-
mite the Bunker Hin mill, There were
repeated threats, the governor said.
that the officials Of the mine would be
murdered II they did not escape before
the Canyon creek miners came down.
He said he was shocked to learn that
Frederick 3. Whitney. superintendent
OF the Frisco mine, had been taken from
his room az night BY sixteen armed and
masked men, marched down the creek
and shot. dying In day or two.
A stir was caused In the committee
room when Gov Steunenberg. IN am
sWerlng a question as 70 what he knew
OF conspiracy In connection with the
blowing No Of the Bunker Hin mill
said;
Il learned that Ed Boyce. president
OF The Western Federation OF Miners
was In the country ten days before the
explosion OF the Bunker Hlll and Sulll-
van mill, and at that time he inaugu.
rated or perfected this conspiracy by
choosing twenty men from the different
organizations In that country and
swearing them These twenty men
chose one each and swore him, and the
forty each chosen a man and swore
him, and the eighty each chose a man
and swore him.
In that way there were at least 100
men In this conspiracy 60 DO this thing
sworn 10 secrecy"
Representative Hay (Va) questioned
the governor sharply as 70 his sources
OF Information,
The governor hesitated and then said.
Il learned these facts from James X.
Sovereign. through mutual friend"
When Mr.. Hay wanted the name Of
the friend there was some question az
70 giving the name but the governor
finally gave &c as A. 3. Campbell.
Mr.. Hay asked IL Mr.. Campbell was
IN the committee ROOM and the answer
came that he was Mr. Sovereign was
also present
The governor said he had not been
able 10 get further evidence. az people
who lived In the country were afraid
they would be assasslnated Il they were
known 70 have given any Information.
The committee then took a recess.