Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-21
HAS EFFECT OF BLACKLIST
Witness Describes the Permit System 'in the
Occur d'hIene District,
Makes an Oligarchy OF Those I'm Con-
uol-Deterioration of Class OF
Miners Employed.

Washington, March q 1.-THE examina-
ton Of 81 A. F. gill was continued be-
fore the Occur d'Alene investigation
committee today In response to inquiry
by Representative Lentz the witness
told Of visit to the "bullpen.' Al that
time prisoner CHANGED to put his finger
through a hole In the side Of the prison.
Thereupon the witness said a colored
soldier who was on guard on the out
side. showed his bayonet at the protrud-
Ing finger, innictlng a bloody wound.
A copy OF the permit required OF those
seeking work IN the Occur d'Alene dis
trict was introduced 1t recited at length
the facts concerning the holder that he
was not a member OF a union and that
he took an oath to obey the law. The
witness said he had not taken out a
permit, regarding II as a badge OF SER
vltude and un-American TO require an
oath to obey the law.
Representative Jett made the point
that the law presumed that a citizen
obeyed the Law until otherwise proved.
The REORGANIZATION was directed
70 showing that the permi, system was
designed TO secure an orderly force OF
workmen IN the mines. The witness
maintained. however that It's effect was
to blacklist those who did not take out
a permit. and also TO make an "oligar-
chy or aristocracy' OF those In control
Of the permit system. He said the class
OF miners has detenorated under the
system SO that now women did not take
the night trains. as many drunken men
carrying dirks In their belts were on
board.
Representative Lentz produced q form
OF warrant, which the witness identi-
fed as the one In general use. II was
in typewriting with blank spaces for the
insertion OF names, and directed that
the person named be taken and held for
violating the Proclamation OF the COVER
nor Of Idaho. declaring martial law and
the rules and regulations OF the military
district established hereunder
w. r. Shields, a commercial traveller,
testified 10 being at St. Regis Mont,
some distance from the Occur d'Alene
trouble, when a miner named Francis
was placed under arrest By soldiers.
Shields said the townspeople stated that
Francis has worked there for six
months including the time Of the riot,
but he was nevertheless arrested and
taken TO the pen"
The witness also testified TO the harsh
ness OF the soldiers. a recess was then
taken.
When the committee recOnyened Mr..
Lentz asked that Bartlett Sinclair take
the stand. Mr. Sinclair Is the official
appointed by Gov. Steunenberg 10 take
charge Of affairs in the Couer Alene
district and his name has been most
frequently used during the course OF
the investigation.
Chairman Hull said Mr., Sinclair
could not be called at this point as the
committee had heretofore determined
20 hear all witnesses 10 support the
charges. and there were several yet 70
be heard. An animated discussion fol-
lowed Mr.. sulzer declared that the
minority would not proceed further II
the committee insisted on calling Mr.,
Young instead Of Mr. Sinclair al this
time.
Mr. Capron, OF Rhode Island, charac-
tarizad this ms n threat