Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-26
Gov Steuuenberg's Description Of
the Occur d'Alene District
HOLDS ON TO MARTIAL LAW
No Real Labor Unions There, but orr
CARNATIONS dominated BY
Criminals.


Washington. March 26-Goy. Steunen-
enbergs REORGANIZATION continued
today IN the Occur d'Alene inyestga-
ton before the House committee on mil
ltary affairs. Representative sulzer Of
New York directed the cross-examlna-
ton, inquiring how the governor jusu-
fed the continuance OF martial law. The
witness said there had been conunu-
Gus state OF rebellion IN the Occur
d'Alene district. and while It did not
take on the form Of armed resistance,
there was at all times opposition TO the
policy Of the State authorities. an ef-
fort to thwart them and to bring a re-
neWal Of the old condition OF affairs.
Mr.. sulzer pressed for a specification
Of names and events IN this disorder,
but the governor said II was general
In character, and specific outbreaks
We're not likely TO occur while the au-
thorities continued to act with tirmness.
The governor said he was not In favor
Of solitary confinement OF prisoners UNI
less they were guilty Of some infraction
OF prison rules. II such Imprisonment
had occurred ne said he was responsible
for II although he did not favor II eN-
cept on the conditions stated.
When asked II he had conferred with
the Bunker Hin mine officials and 9TH
ers with view to breaking up the la
Dor organizations, the governor said
he had not. He added that in his judy
ment the labor organizations In Sho-
shone existed only In name, their real
policy being dominated by criminals
When asked TO specify the so-called
criminals, the governor said he did not
care TO give names.
Gov Steunenberg was asked why he
did not resort TO the posse cOmtatus,
calling on citizens TO aid The eeI-m In
maintaining order. He said he did not
believe the ordinary civil procedure was
sufficient to deal with the situation.
He was confronted with a crisis, he
said, and he acted TO the best .. his
ability and judgment 10 meet the crisis.
although II was possible, he answered
Mr.. Sulzer. that he might have erred,
Representative Cox OF Tennessee,
asked the governor why he did not call
the citizens Of adjoining counties 10 his
assistance
GOV. Steunenberg replied that he
had a far better way TO secure federal
aid In the absence OF State troops In the
Philippines. Citizens N called out
would have gone 20 the scene In a dis
organized state. He denied that this
was a reflection on the citizens. and
said II was his choice as the best REM
edy available.
When Mr. Cox asked why the gov
ernor did not send the lieutenant gov
ernor TO represent him at Occur
d'Alene instead OF That fellow Sim
clair" Gov. Steunenberg took excep-
tlon to the Characterization Of Sinclair
Cox explained that this was merely an
inslnuation. to which the governor re-
pllen that he was not answering insln-
nations He had not chosen the lieu
tenant governor TO act he said, because
he (the governorl and not the lieuten-
ant governor was the responsible Off
Ger and he chose Sinclair on his own
responsibility.
GOV. Steunenberg said that at pres.
ent there were three troops OF cavalry
about 200 men. IN the Occur d'Alene
district. But on December list last the
troops We're withdrawn from guard
duty and went into garrison. Troops
were no longer az the mines. and there
was no siockade The governor said he
made this explanation In view Of the
persistent representations that the
stockade was stlll In use, with federal
troops on guard.
At noon the committee adjourned
until tomorrow. with Gov Steunenberg
still on the stand