Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-22
States Executive the First Witness
for the Defense,
HE TELLS OF THE 0UTRAGES
Called ON President for Troops be-
cause state Troops Were In Philip
pInes-Slate Of Terror Existed
Afternoon Dispatched


washington. March 22.-Unusual In
terest attached to the Occur d'Alene IN
yestlgatlon today as the prosecution ar
ter presenting testimony almost unin-
terruptedly for five weeks closed It's
case and gave way to the defense.
Gov. steunenberg Of Idaho was the
first witness called in rebuttal OF the
charges which have been made He Is
type Of the sturdy far West, Of mas
slye build, and his indifference to con-
ventlonalites IS shown by a refusal to
wear necktle. AS he took the stand
he spread before him several HUNDRED
telegraphic dispatches
The examination was conducted by },
c. Cheney, one OF the counsel FOR the
defense.
GOV. steunenberg said he was elected
governor Of Idaho In 1896, on the Peo-
PIES Democratic ticket, having accepted
tho nomination OF the Democratic con-
yentlon. He read kilograms dated sew
eral days prior TO the blowing up OF me
Bunker Hill mill on April 29, and lead
ing up TO that event on April % Fred
erick Burbrdge OF the Bunker Hi mine
telegraphed that an armed mob had
stopped the Bunker Hill men from
working, and calling for protection 10
the property interests He also read
many kilograms to and from the sherlh
and others. showing the steps taken 70
maintain order The governor sug-
gested arbitration Of differences, but IN
answer Mr. Burbridge stated there was
nothing TO arbitrate and again called
for protection.
on April 70. the day OF the blowing
up of the mill Gov, Steunenberg said he
received at 1851 a. m. a dispatch ilpf<
Mr.. Burbrldge stating that all the min.
ers Of Canyon Creek had laid of and
were coming TO Wardner TO menace the
Bunker Hill men This was accompan-
led by another request for protection.
At the same time dispatches were re-
oeived from A. L. Mohler OF the oregon
Railway and Navigation railroad. first
stating that an armed force had taken
/ Wardner. and then at 4 ,. m, stating
| that the rioters had set fire to the mill
! that they had placed dynamite under
| the mill. and that ii would be blown up.
Sheriff Young also telegraphed him
/ from Wardner that the mill was blown
up and giving the gravity Of the situa-
! ton. At 6p.m.. the governor said, he sent
| dispatch TO the President, calling for
1 federal aid. as the Idaho troops were
absent In the Philippines.
| The governor said he had been III
prior TO the Occur d'Alene excitement,
! and being unable 20 go In person he
sent a representative, Bartlett Sinclair.
10 the seat Of disorder on April 30.
/ Sinclair telegraphed urging that the
President be advised 10 rush the troops
from the nearest post. He also tele-
graphed that he had thoroughly inVes-
tigated the need Of martial law that
the local administration OF the law was
farce. and amounted TO maladmlnis-
tration. that people We're afraid To tes-
! tIfy and that masked men were prowl-
ing about the town terrifying people,
Many Ike kilograms showing the excit-
ing developments from day to day, the
armlng of the citizens, the making OF
arrests. etc, were read by the governor
on this information and from his own
knowledge Of affairs for six years, In
Guiding repeated outrages with appar-
entity no effort TO apprehend the guilty
parties. the governor said he proclaimed
that state of instruction and re-
bellon existed at the scene Of disturb
ance.
Gov. steunenberg said he cautioned
Mr.. Sinclair not to align himself with
either side. employers or employees
Sinclair had made speeches in New
York for Henry George so that tn,
governor said he regarded him as quail.
fled TO give fair consideration to tn,
labor situation.
Representative Lentz objected at this
point TO the line OF inquiry by Mr.
Cheney. and questioned the propriety
OF having private counsel direct the In
yestigation.
Chairman Hull replied that the pros
ecution had selected Mr.. Lentz 20 al
rect its side. Mr.. Robinson, an attor
ney for the miners, had assisted. anC
the defense was entitled TO have coun
sci.
The committee voted 10 permit IN,
question TO stand as the attorney pro
Rounded II. As there were frequent oh
iections 10 questions, the committee
agreed TO a motion by Mr.. Sulzer tina
the governor be allowed 20 tell his stOr!
i'm his own way. without interruption.
} Gov. Steunenberg then related in de
!
proclamation. Arrests We're made o
those reasonably suspected Of compll
city in the disturbance.
The governor said he took such pre-
cautions as were possible TO look ate
, the prisoners But the conditions o
Insurrection were most unusual and a
! every point the authorities were EN-
J barrassed by the insurrectionary ele
ment. He visited the barn and tn
stockade occupied by the prisoners an,
sought 10 have the stockade for per
manent quarters completed. He said h
talked with the prisoners who toll
him that the bread was too light bu
everything else was all right. tn
chief commlssary OF the State informei
, him that the parties who furnishes
bread had been waite, upon by com
mittee and warned that they must no
continue the supply
A bakery was thereafter built by IN
authorities and good bread supplied
GOV. Steunenberg was asked wher
, The instruction had It's inception an
what mining camps engaged In H.
The insurrection OF April %. he said
started al Burke. where a meeting wa
, held In the hall OF the Western Fedora
, ton OF Miners The participants pro
ceeded To arm themselves and went b
train ~ Wardner Al Gem, he said
, similar meeting az a similar hall wa
held and arms and masks were dis
trlbuted lie described the gradua
concentration Of the men at Wardne
whore he said they waited In dlsor
ganlzed state until a single engine ar
rived from Wallace Then systemati
orders were given the first bein
'Wardner TO the front
Gov. Steunenberg was asked wha
mart the United states troops took 1
: Inc arrest and detention OF ,mprisone
2 miners. lie said the position thew 0C
! cupied was the same as that which n
I state militia would have occupied
| -, haa hae,, available