Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-10
CALLED FOR BY GOVERNOR
Troops Not Sent to Idaho Until Legal
Application Game.
In the Case Sent to
the House Committee on Mill
tary Affairs.

To throw light upon the mooted question
as to whether or not the War Department
acted in strict conformity with the law of
the land in employing United States troops
to maintain order last spring In Shoshone
county, Idaho, and particularly to make 1t
plain that these troops were not 30 used
in advance of a legal application from the
governor, the War Department has sup
piled to the House committee on military
affairs, which is now investigating the SUBJ
ject, in reply to a request, the following
official correspondence on the subject:
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington, March 8, 1900.
Respectfully returned to the Secretary Of
The Original instructions" to General
Merriam regarding the disturbances in Sho-
shore county, Idaho, were as follows:
Telegram.
BOISE, Idaho, April %, 1899.
To the President, Washington. d. c.:
I'm pursuance of the statute in such case
made and provided, 1, Frank Steunenberg,
governor of Idaho the legislature not being
in session, and 1t not being possible to con-
vene 1t, do hereby apply to the President
of the United States to call forth the mill
tary forces of the United States to suppress
fnSurrection In ShoShone county, state of
Idaho. This action is sustained in the fact
that all the available Idaho National Guard
volunteered for service in the Philippines
and said county is in state of insurrec-
ton. L am of the opinion that at least 500
troops in the aggregate will be necessary,
but smaller detachments should be ordered
in as rapidly as possible"
FRANK STEUNENBERG, Governor.
H. c. CORBIN, Adjt. Gen.
Washington, April 80, 1899.
Brig. Gen. Merriam. Denver. Colo:
THE governor of Idaho reports an insur-
rection beyond the power of the state to
control nfr Of hot tot
The acting secretary of war directs that
You repair at once to the capital of that
state, and, after conference with the au-
thorities there, you go to the seat of action,
calling to your aid such troops as may be
most convenient regardless of department
lines. Department commanders will be no.
titled You will take with you the neces-
sary staff officers. The travel enjoined is
necessary for the public service. By COM
mand of Mai. Gen. Miles,
H. C. CORBIN. Adjt Gen.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
Adjutant Generals Office
Washington, August 10. 1899.
Mr.. F. r. BowGen. President Grass Valley
Miners Union, Grass Valley California
Sir: Your telegram to the President has
been referred to this office. and 1 am in
structed by the Secretary of War to inform
you that the presence of troops in Shoshone
county, Idaho is due to the request of the
governor of your state, who made requisi-
ton for same under warrant of law April
20, 1899. as follows:
THE legisla .ure not being in session and
1t not being possible to convene it. l do
hereby apply to the President of the United
States to call forth the military forces of
the United States to suppress insurrection
in Shoshone county. state of Idaho. This
action is sustained in the fact that all the
available Idaho National Guard volunteered
for service in the Philippines, and said
county is in n state of insurrection"
The Constitution and laws of the United
States required the President to comply
with this requisition and any application
Tor relief should be made to the governor
of Idaho.
Very respectfully,
H. c. CORBIN. Adiutant General.