The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-04
The Occur d'Alene Conspiracy.

Gov. Steunenberg, of Idaho, was ex-
cused Monday from giving further testi-
mony in the Occur d'Alene investigation.
having been on the witness stand for
twelve days. His story of the disturb
ances in that region, which was told in
a plain and straightforward way show
ed that for a series of years the condi-
tons prevailing were little better than
anarchy. Shoshone county was prac-
tically at the mercy of mob law, and the
final catastrophe in April, 1899. when
the Bunker Hill mill was blown up, was
only the natural outcome of a reign OF
semi-terror. Men little better than out
ing district as they saw fit, and peace
able people had been oyerawed into sub
hitting 10 their violence and intimida-
ton. Blowing up 100000 worth of prl-
vate property was a mere incident In
the plan Of bringing all the people and
all the property under the orders OF the
bandits.
Sympathizers with the Occur 'Alene
miners, among them James r. Sover-
eign. who for some years has been liv-
ing In the Occur d'Alenes and preaching
disorder have for nearly year been
protesting against the use of federal sol
diers in the troubled district and heap
Ing reproaches and insult upon national
and state authorities for calling upon
the military to bring about the restora-
tlon Of order. Facts have been distort-
ed and the whole situation misrepresent-
cd with the idea of making out Gov.
steunenberg y tyrant and President Nc
Kinley a willing accompllce. They are
charged with being merciless despots,
cent workingmen. and so vigorous and
reckless has been their denunciatlon far
and wide that demag0gues In all parts
OF the country have seen a. 70 take up
the cry and make 80 tar as possible. a
political matter out u u.
steunenbergs testimony. which was
given fully ana fcarlessly. IA spite II
an attempt az brow beating by some Of
the members OF the investigating COM
the work Of a gigantic conspiracy which
had existed for long time and Anafiy
became perfected just prior 20 the out
RACES 81 last year. pa Royce president
of the Western Federation ~ Miners "a
sincere anarchist az heart. and there
fore an agitator with no respect Tor law
and o. leader willing 90 80 10 extremes
jnaugarstcd movement through which
men sworn 10 secrecy were enlisted for
work that would result IN damage "a
the property - concerns employing nom
( uui9n labor. GOV SteauenbtrS says he
learned ot these plans from James X.
Sovereign through mutual friend. aud
having the information from an author
ity 60 closely IN taueA with The lsviess
slsmeu, # ,he district. there was every
warrant Ter bt'irtlHS II and taking legal
means tsr thwaruns the dcsgn ot tAe
v7usFiratrrs.
That the information given the states
executive was eergecy WAS demonstrated
"a few days later. when several hundred
men wearing masks and armed Vl,h
rifles assembled from the different
camps. seiE5d a train, proceeded t.
wartner and RACED the Bunker HU
property with dynamite. SO resistance
/ was offered. Tor the local authoriu s
/ were IN sympathy with them. aud the
order loving people "a no had been intim-
/ dated for years dared not interpose. The
| work Of the consplrstors was carried out
y - ...SSs,,., -.-.s -. xusu I.Iuruei To