The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-01
MERRIAM UNDER HOT FIRE.
cRoss-ExAMuNATIoN IN THE CoEUR
D'ALENE INQUIRY.
II only Brings Out That He Hnd
Nothing TO Do With the Permit
System, and Acted at All Times
Under the Civil Authorities.

WARRINGTON, April 30.-Brig. Gen.
Merriam was again on the stand In the
roeur d Alene investigation today, with
Attorney Robertson conducting the cross
examination.
.Would you consider II right" asked
Nobertson, that the federal troops force
man at the point of the bayonet to pro-
tect the property OF mine-owners. and
mat similar protection be withheld from
the menu"
II would use Just as much power and
,ust as much influence" replied Merriam,
ITO have the mine owners observe their
obliwations as 10 compel the mine men
10 observe theirs"
The Permit Proclamation.
Concerning the permit proclamation
Merriam said he had suggested 20 Bart.
S~rtsfn TEXTURES should be embodied.
These were adopted by Sinclair.
when Robertson sought to show tnat
he war department had not been sum
GENTLY advised as to the permit system,
Gen. Merriam said that was for the war
Assortment TO determine.
4he witness was asked n the dispatches
n secretary Alger did not In effect say,
~ 81 the permit system alone" Mer-
nam said he had not interfered In this
.ysfem OF labor affairs IN any way. ex-
ss.pt for tho purpose OF maintaining Or
An Alleged Interview Denied.
Merriam was questioned as 20 an inter
view reporting that at a meeting Of citi-
rsss 81 Occur d'Alene he had stated that
congress should pass a law to deal with
tons. He said he. was glad or an oppor.
funify 10 correct the errors OF this alleged
Interview He had not. he said, men
tioned congress. nor did the interview so
sssfe, though an erroneous presenta-
tacn ~ this character had arisen. He
stated that what he had said at that
meeting was IN substance. You ought
@sEe the action OF these people. mar
mted BY Mr. Sovereign in his paper,
crimes punishable by law"
trouble was In the state He was per-
fsctly positive, he said. that he had not
stultined himself by telling these gen
ilsmsn that the remedy IVA, was IN the state state
did not Mr.. Gompers charge you with
nahine the statementT' asked Robertson.
4 never saw Gompers in my life," an
Robertson related that In an address at
Dsnver Mr.. Gompers had made a charge
& this character. Merriam said he had
nceatsdly stated that he never pronounc-
s2ihs unions Of tho Occur d'Alene district
alnlnai organisations.
Views ON Labor Organizations.
70 Representative Dick Gen. Merriam
aAtsd that he did not disapprove of labor
organisation as such, for. like other So
~ and charitable organisations, they ac-
tpmplished much good In their legitimate
Pheres But he expressed the opinion that
The radical leadership In the Occur
dAenes had diverted these organizations
from their beneficial spheres.
uis Authority I'm the Occur d'Alenes.
Representative Sulxer cross-uuestioned
Ca Merriam particularly on the extent
q ~ authority In the Occur d'AIene re-
gioa. The witness said the state ofYcers
1890 responsibility for the general pol
Ky IN force and no was satisfied Ia lat
me rsspcnsibility rest there.
Wv e!sunenberg had frankly and Rener-
eesV mken upon himself full responsible