Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-03-22
OF Causes Leading Up to
the Wardner Trouble.
THE SENDlNG0F SOLDIERS
He Says Was an Absolute Necessity
in Order to Preserve the Peace
A Batch Of kilograms.

""SHiA6lOu MdFCH ZZ-OnuSual inter.
est attached to the Coeur d'Alene inves-
tigation to-day as the prosecution after
presenting testimony almost interrupted
~ for five weeks closed it's case and gave
way to the defense.
Governor Steunenberg of Idaho was the
first witness called in rebuttal of the
charges made AS he took the stand
he spread before him several hundred
telegraphic dispatches. The examina-
ton was conducted by J. c. Cheney. He
read kilograms dated several days prior
to the blowing up of the Bunker Hill mill
on April 29, and leading up to that event.
On April 26, Fred K. Burbridge of the
Bunker Hill mine testified that an armed
mob had stopped the Bunker Hill men
from working and calling for protection
to property interests, He also read
many kilograms to and from the sheriff
and Others showing the steps taken to
maintain order.
The governor suggested arbitration of
the differences but in answer Burbridge
stated there was nothing to arbitrata
and again called for protection. On April
20, the day of the blowing up Of the mill.
Steunenberg said he received at 1887 a.
M, Il. dispatch from Burbridge stating
that all the miners of Canyon creek had
laid off and were coming to Wardner to
menace the Bunker Hill men. This was
accompanied by another request for pro-,
lection.
At the same time dispatches were re-
ceiNee- from ALL Mohler Of the Oregon
Railway and Navigation the first stating
that an armed forge had taken possession
OF the railway tracks at Wardner and
then at p. m. stating that the rioters
had set fire to the mill that they had
placed dynamite under the mill and that
it would be blown up.
Sheriff Young also telegraphed him
from Wardner that the mill was blown
up and giving the gravity of the situa-
tion. At p. m., the governor said, he
sent dispatch to the president calling
for federal aid as the Idaho troops were
absent in the Philippines.
The governor said he had been i'll prior
to the Occur d'Alene excitement and be-
ing unable to go In person he sent ms
representative, Bartlett Sinclair to the
seat Of disorder. On April 30, Sinclair
telegraphed urging that the president be
advised to rush troops from the nearest
post. He also telegraphed that he had
thoroughly investigated the need of mar
tial law; that the local administration Of
law was farce and amounted to malad-
that the people were afraid
to testify and that masked men were
prowling about town terrifying people.
Many like kilograms showing exciting de-
from day to day, the arming
of citizens making of arrests, etc., were
read by the governor.
On this information and from his own
knowledge of affairs for six years, in
repeated outrages with appar-
entity no effort to apprehend the guilty
parties. the governor said he proclaimed
that state of insurrection and rebellion
existed at the scene of this disturbance.
Steunenberg said he cautioned Sinclair
not to align himself with either side.
employers or employees.
Sinclair had made speeches in New
York for Henry George, SO that the gov
ernor said he regarded him as qualified
to give fair consideration to the labor
situation.
Representive Lentz objected at this !
point to the line of inquiry by Cheney !
and questioned the propriety of having |
Chairman Hull replied that the prosecn-
ton had selected Lentz to direct its side !
Re cb.nson, an attorney for the miners. !
had assisted and the defense was entitled |
to have counsel.
The committee voted to permit the
question to stand as the attorney pro-
pounded it. AS there We're frequent OBJ
jections to the question the committee !
agreed to motion by Sulzer that the /
COVE, nor be allowed to tell his story in
his own way without interruption.
Steunenberg then related in detail the
steps taken to carry out the proclama-
tion, Arrests were made of those rea- I
sonably suspected of completely in the
disturbance.