New-York tribune., 1900-04-02

A WAR AGAINST CRIME.
GOVERNOR STEUNENBERG TELLS OF
LAwLEss CONDITIONS IN IDAHO.
STRONG ARGUMENT FOR PRESENCE OF
TRICTs-How THE TROUBLE BEGAN.

FEDERAL TROOPS IN THE MINING Dis
TRICTs-How THE TROUBLE BEGAN.
Try TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE
Washington. April 1.-"It is not against or
ganized labor. but against organized crime. that
the State Of Idaho has been waging war" This
was another OF the strong statements made by
Governor Steunenberg at the close of the last
hearing on the Coer d'AIene riots by the Mill
tary Committee Of the House Of Representa-
tives Marked silence and attention were dis
tincty notable the Governor told OF the in
Vulnerable cases Of anarchy. crime riot and
lawIessness that had sometimes led up to mur-
der and assassination. Earnestly and quietly he
stated his facts. and so convincingiy that they
must have impressed even Representative
Lentz. who has been endeavoring. but fruitless-
ly. TO show misuse Of the United States Army
and of the power Of the President. The Demo-
cratic Governor said:
Covert threats are constantly being made by
those engaged in the riot Of April %. which
suited in the destruction Of some S25OOOO worth
OF property and the assassination of two men.
that as soon as the troops are removed they
will crafty their revenge upon those citizens
who have been induced TO assist the state in
its attempt 10 ferret out crime. In the begin
ming of the present prosecutions upon the part
of the State a great many good citizens were
induced TO testify and give evidence upon the
representation that they should be protected.
of these men would be compelled To leave the
country and sacrifice their homes and property
should the protection which assured them
be taken away by the removal of the Federal
troops.
This is not conflict between labor and cap
ftal, or question of wages, but IL is a conflict
between the State of Idaho and certain criminal
organizations which seek TO cloak themselves
under the cover of labor ORGANIZATIONS.
THE ORIGIN OF THE TROUBLE.
1t is impossible to appreciate the necessity o,
the troops in that vicinity without going some
what into previous conditions.
In 1892 a difficulty arose between the mine
owners and the Miners Union by reason OF the
constant interference OF certain members OF the
union with the operation OF the mines This
led to injunction suits upon the part OF the mine
owners wherein the unions enjOined from
interfering with the operation OF the mines
On the morning of July H. 1S92 the union
men. having previously armed themselves. COM
menced firing on the guards and wOTkmen at
the Frisco mine and mill They next ran giant
powder down the penStOck of the Frisco mill
and blew II to pieces In the general fighting
which followed quite a number of were
killed. Governor Wiley proclaimed martial law,
the troops We're sent in and quiet was restored.
The State undertook to prosecute a number OF
the parties fOr murder. but the final result
that they all escaped punishment, except GER
tain minor purishments for contempt cry
shortly raised for the removal of the troops.
IL being alleged that quiet had been restored and
that there no longer any necessity TO keep
them there Martial law was revoked November
1S. 1872. the troops were removed. and 1t is TO
the history of the camp since the removal OF
the troops that l invite particular attention.
Even before the removal OF the troops and
while the removal was being contemplated, the
following notice was posted at the mouth OF the
tunnel of the Gem mine:
one. Before this month is over 1900 pounds OF
s!ahI powder VIII oe GXpooed ana an IN thls Hllne
viii be sent to hell If we cannot work the mines.
one else shall.
CRIMES COMMITTED BY STRIKERS
This was followed Immediately after the
mOval of the troops by a number of citizens
who had been identified with the State in its
prosecutions being forced to leave the country.
They were treated in the most brutal manner.
one man being tied on a handCar. which was
turned loose upon a steep incline. others hauled
out of their beds midnight and forced TO
leave without even being permitted TO take with
them their personal property.
On July H. 1898 in a public speech, one Peter
Breen, of Butte. Mont. who is now one Of the
parties putting forth strong efforts TO have
the troops removed. declared in substance;
We have given the mine owners fight to
the finish. and if they are not satisfied we can
happest moment of his life and that he at
all times willing to be Classed of the dyna-
miters of the COeur d Alenes-
On July g. 1894. John Kneebone was
openly murdered. This man KneebOne had been
of the principal witnesses for the State in it's
prosecution in lS92. and had been many times
threatened being at time driven out of the
county and almost fatally wounded. and at the
time of the wounding he robbed. On this
day. July ;. 1894. in the afternoon. about forty
masked TO Gem from the direction OF
Burke. Their coats were turned inside out and
they were otherwise disguised in some respects.
Each one carried a rifle or shotgun They
marched down the railroad track and were in
full view of all who were out in the street They
then went in the direction of the MILL Knee
bone working in the blacksmith shop When
he saw them coming he jumped through the open
window and started TO run. He was fired upon
by the mob and rolled down the hill. dead The
parties then inquired for the whereabouts OF
Superintendent r. X. Neil. Foreman Crumer.
Frank Higgins and Charles West. These parties
were taken captive and marched up the railroad
track by the masked men. In the mean time
the wires had been cut both above and below
Gem. The above parties were afterward found
and rescued by their friends. Most OF them,
however. left the country at an order to
avoid being assaulted or killed.
On July II, 1894, attempt was made TO blow
up the electric power house of the Bunker Hill
mine, Warduer. The explosion. which was
intended to destroy the property, fell short
of its mission by striking some obstruc-
ton that prevented it from going under the
building The building was badly shaken and
in some respects injured.
SO / might go on recounting number OF other
instances in which this nigh handed and Grim
inal method employed "a drive good citizens
out of the country, bat enough has been said
to disclose the lawleSs1esS which has prevailed
for years, and beg TO state that the officers OF
the county have remained inactive. the County
Commissioners and the Sheriff apparently con-
niving at these crimes. and one, therefore.
has been punished in all these instances
AGED pJTR DIE TOGETUFP