Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-05
NO CAUSE FOR CENSURE
MAJORITY REPORT ON THE COEUR
D'ALENE INVESTIGATION.
General Merriam's Course Commended d
and the Attitude of the Governor
of Idaho Praised.

The report of the majority of the House
committee on military affairs on the investi-
cation of the Occur d'Alene labor troubles
of last year was submitted to the House
today. The report praises Gen. H. c. Mer-
riam for his course during the Idaho labor
troubles and says that he and the officers
and men under him are to be commended
for their wisdom, prudence and soldier'y
behavior. The report concludes: THE re-
suit of this investigation is a complete
vindication and exoneration of their con-
duct"
Governor of Idaho Praised.
The committee arrived at the following
conclusion after its investigations:
First The governor of Idaho, in his eff
forts to establish order and enforce the
laws of the state, is to be commended for
his courage and fearlessness. The blind
hatred excited by the mob, the consequent
disturbance of public business and the
reign of lawlessneSs is in a fair way to be
adjusted. The citizens OF lG2ho are TO pe
congratulated on the removal of a danger
Gus cancer that had long threatened the
peace and order of the state. Better ideas
prevail as to the rights and duties OF men
in relation to the preservation of society, :,
and this improved condition of affairs is in
a great measure due to the conduct or the
governor of that state.
Second. The conduct of the military in
the irving hours from May to the present,
amid the disturbing elements of the Occur
d Alene. when fierce passions famed un-
checked when no hand was raised 10 stay
the dynamter ard the murderer where the
mob had been supreme, is matter OF earn
est congratLlation to the country.
THE coiored troops who stood watch over
the prison at Wariner had storrned the hill
at San Juan and their many bearing.
courtesy and dignity tell of the true sol
AZ be y.-l; m
dtional characteristics of the American sos
der, and all are worthy of the commenda-
ton of the country. They bore themselves
with soldierly bearing under circumstances
of the greatest aggravaton.
Calling for Troops Justified.
After reviewing the story of the disturb
ances in Shoshone county, Idaho, the report
continues
"Cnder the circumstances the governor
of Idaho was warranted in making appica
ticn to the President for troops to aid the
civil authorities in executing the laws o..
the state.
ut is conceded on al! sides that the Pres
dent of the United States was justified in
sending troops to Shoshone county, lcaho,
in response to the application of the cover
nor.
"Since October. 1899. the troops. 10: over
gUH III nunbtF, nave PEI ''i nv '''' 80
enforcing martial law or guarding prisoners
and the prison has been torn down. The
troops are now in garrison in Osborne,
eight miles from the scene of the riot. They
are there at the official request of the gov
ernor of Idaho. supported by a petition
signed by 1910 citizens of that community
None of the charges preferred against
the United States army and ITS oincers IN
Ioaho as set forth in the various para
graphs Of the resolution, have been Sus-
tanned by the testimony.
The military force in Shoshone county
under command of Gen. Merriam was use"
strictly in aid Of the civil authorities Inc
sheriff and other county officials were II
collusion with the rioters. and therefore
civil authority could not he enforced. Some
Of the county officials were afterward Gu.E
removed from office by judicial process be
cause OF sad colluSion ana iatt4iedSallce n
office.
The United States army and its officers
acted strictly within their instructions and
the law.
..Tresdent Mckinley and the War De
partment exercised every precauiion that
the military act solely within the Ccnstltu-
ton. and not encroach in the dlstlhct sphere
of the civil authorities. The fresiatnt eX-
hibited his deep interest and so.icitude in
the cause of la bor by his instruction that
the military must have nothing whatever 10
do with enforcing rules for the government
of miners or miners unions
Rights of the People Not Withheld.
The report declares that the right OF free
speech. free press and peaceable as
semhIages'' were not denied to the peace
able citizens of that community by the use
of the military power.
The so-calied permit system is an eX-
tre!ne measure, devised and administered
by the state authorities alone, ana which
they justified by the necessities of martial
law 1t was not directed against organized
labor according to the report, but against
the criminal members OF certain organlza-
tions masquerading under the cloak of or
gan!zcd labor, who, il is claimed, have Tor
wears conducted a reign of terror and law
lessness in the Occur d Alene district OF
that county.
The prisoners confined in the temporary
prison III ShOshOne county were civil prIS-
oners under guard of military forces The
military commander was authorized to en-
force prison discipline against prisoners
violating prisor. rules. The purishmAnts
inflicted. il is asserted were rot excessive
and the treatment of the prisoners by the
soldiers was humane and considerate
Lieut.. Lyons, L. s. A, ii is declared. did
not force citizens to work in the Tiger
Poorman mine. bur did secure for some Of
them the privilege of working after they
had been forced out by certain so-called
labor leaders