The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-05-19
GENERAL MERRIAM's VIEWS.
reIls investigating Committee of HIS
Connection with the Idaho
Mining Rioters.

d'Alene district of Idaho ut the time
of the mining riots, was rigidly ex-
amined and cross-exam mined by the
committee on military affairs of the
house of representatives. He defined
his attitude toward miners unions
and labor organizations of oil descrip-
tions very clearly. He said that he
believed these organizations of labor
were for a good purpose; he thought
that their purposes were as good as
those of all secret societies, or as
churches. His opinion of the miners
unions in Shoshone county was that
they were influenced to lawlessness
by bad leadership. He held these
unions were responsible, as organiza-
tions, for the lawlessness in the Occur
d'Alene district, which eliminated in
the blowing up of the Bunker Hill
and Sullivan mine because, as the evil
dence in the Paul Corcoran case
showed, the miners first met in their
union hall and then proceeded to car
~ out their work Of destruction.
Gen. Merriam gave his opinion that
the insurrection is now well sup
pressed. He explained that it was
suppressed the moment the troops
appeared at Wardner, because the
leaders kept out of sight, although
he considered it was as tangible the
day he left the county as it was on
the day he entered it. He thought
conditions had improved, however, 30
that John Kneebone-who was con-
>sidered a spy-were he alive, might be
caught talking with the mine owners,
or giving testimony in court, without
being murdered. AS to the RESPONSE
tility for the action of the trops,
Gen. Merriam said that, martial law
having been declared by the governor
of Idaho, he acted under the author
ity so given, and the higher officials
took the responsibility.
At the conclusion of Gen. Merriam's
testimony Capt. Frank A. Edwards,
of the First cavalry, who was in com
mand of the troops until the 1st OF
last December, was examined as to
the discipline and the condition OF
the prison. He narrated what recon-
mendations he had made on taking
command, for the improvement OF
sanitary conditions. He said that the
sick rate was reduced very consider
ably, and that only one man died
during that period. He testified that
the prisoners were treated humanely,
and were given wholesome food in
sufficient quantities, and that every
thing possible was done for their
health and comfort under the circum-
stances.
Capt. Edwards narrated how seven
of the Occur d'Alene miners under in.
dictment for murder, through the
treachery of the sergeant of the
guard, escaped from prison. The
court was about to convene and try
some of these men accused of murder
and seven of them bribed the sergeant
to give them their liberty. He passed
them out Of the prison, telling the
guards that they were to be taken
to the hospital. As the suspicion OF
the guards was excited, the corporal
was called, who ordered that the cap.
tain be Immediately notified. 1t was
then discovered that the men had
made good their escape and that the
sergeant had deserted his post. The
sergeant was captured next day
court-martialed and sentenced to IL
years in a military prison. He adj
mitted having received $3.50 for free
ing these men, but said he had been
promised $4,000. None of these al
legged murderers was ever captured.
Capt. Edwards stated that the testi
mony that Mr.. Heney, or any other MIN
er, had been reused from his bunk ir
the prison, by being pricked with 6
bayonet, was very absurd, because al
the time he was in command the sol
diers doing guard duty consisted o.
cavalry, armed with carbines without
bayonets. Replying to the questions al
| to what unnecessary restriction:
| had been put upon the miners, hi
said there were none. He endeav
ored to carry out all of the wishe!
of the men, and frequently favor
ed them with paroles that they
| might go home or to the neighborinf
town and attend to matters of bust
ness. In one instance, he said, pris
oner broke his parole and never re
| turned.
The witness testified that all re
quests for priest or minister were
granted, and that the clergymen were
free to visit the prison and hospital
and to hold service there IL 1t was de
sired. On one occasion Father Becker
telephoned him inquiring II the pris
| oners wished him to conduct services
He communicated with them and the,
said it was not necessary. On another
occasion woman presented herself a
his tent saying that she had been In
formed that her son was dying, IL mo-
already dead, of inhuman treatment
The son was promptly summoned, ant
the mother, upon seeing him, exclaimed
that he was looking better than wheT
he was first imprisoned.