The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-03-31
Governor Steunenberg's Vivid
Recital Of the Situation.
PRONOUCED "HELL ON EARTH"
Federal Troops We're Sent Only Os Hh
Earnest Appeal and Kept There Omly
BY the Strenuous Efforts Of the
State Authorities.

WASHINGTON. March 80. -Governor
steunenberg resumed his testimony az
the Occur d'Alene investigation today.
Mr.. suIzer conducted the cross-examl-
nation.
The governor related his various
talks with General Merriam. He first
met him in May last. and went over
the insurrectionary conditions and the
necessity for troops. The governor
said he requested Merriam to order
the troops to shoshone county, and
he did 50. When asked who was in
supreme command in shoshone county.
Merriam or Sinclair. the governor stat
ed that he. himself, was the response
bic head Of affairs, although he did
not exercise any control or command
Of the troops. There was no agree
ment with General Merriam, said the
governor, that labor organizations
were TO be broken up, nor was there
any talk OF supressing them.
The governor again went over bis
trips to Washington, his call on the
president, and. when questioned as 10
what the president said, the governor
replied that the president listened
to brief recital Of the conditions and
the need Of the continued presence Of
the troops, but made no reply. The
governor was also examined as to his
calls on Secretary Root, and said the
latter intended to withdraw the troops
from guard duty on October %. The
governor called to protest against this,
and found that the secretary was quite
determined to Withdraw the troops, an
order 70 shls effect having been is
sued, and nest Of the governors ef-
forts were directed to showing the mill
itary authorities that the troops should
not be withdrawn. The withdrawal
was finally postponed.
The governor denied that there was
any :alk Of politics in connection with
the postponemsnt. He told the secre-
tary there was no militia available.
and not sufficient time to raise a local
guard before the troops were to be
Withdrawn. and these representations
brought about the postponement. At
present The troops were not on guard,
but were in the garrison. Further ques-
toned as to the calls on the presi-
dent, the governor said the president
told one OF the delegation that he
had acted as an official, sending troops
on the governors call, and that any
other course would not have been In
compliance with his sworn duty.
When Mr. Sulzsr referred to the
rein of terror you inaugurated," Gov
ernor Steunenberg answered emphati-
cally, Il did not inaugurate reign
OF terror; it was there before got
there, and has existed for the last
seven years" He said further to Mr..
Lentz Il know that country has been
a hell Oh earth for the last ten years.
Governor Steunenberg's closing state
ment OF the day attracted much atten-
tion for its vivid recital Of the SER
les OF lawless depredations in the
Occur dAlenes, which he said had
spread through the community.
He stated that the house Of the
Judge of the First district, Judge May
hew, had been entered at night by an
armed and masked man who wanted
to know how the ruling of the court
was to be made. On another ocea-
sion an armed mob waited on judge
and told him he had better rule
right"
The governor said that fifty citi-
zens had told him that their lives
would be worth nothing II it became
known that they had disclosed the
acts of lawlessness that had occurred.
The committee adjourned until Mon
day.