The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-08
IDAHO'S Mine TROUBLES
Congress Asked to Put an End t
Martial Law in the State.
Resolutions Adopted mt = Meeting
Under the Auspices of the Anti
Trust League and knights of Labor
Severely CondemninE the Presi-
dent and Governor Sieunenbcrg.

AT mass meeting held last night at
Odd Fellows Hall, under the auspices
of the Antitrust League and Dis
trict Assembly No. 66. Knights of
Labor. the action OF President Mckinley
and Governor Steurerberg, of Idaho, in
establishing and maintaining martial law
| in Shoshone County. Idaho the scene of
the Coeur d'Alene mining troubles, was
/ denounced in unmeasured terms. The
conditions which exist there, it was de-
| clared, are shameful. and disgrace 10
the nation, and ths t steps should be taken
! to bring them to a c.ose immediately.
The hall was crowded with the members
! of organized labor and people who are not
affiliated with labor unions. and all were
of one accord in their endorsement of the
sentiments expressed by the speakers Who
discussed the subject.
The meeting was called to order by
| Charles w. Slater, who presided, and in
troiuced the speakers. With him ON the
stage were Representatives Slayden, Sui
zer. Lentz: F. c. Roberts, counsel for the
| mining engineer from the Coeur D'Alene
district; Thomas Henry. of Idaho; a. j.
O'Keefe. member Of the general executive
| board OF the knights of Labor; Cotter T.
| Bride, Capt ]. H. Collins, ]. H. O'Meara,
| and J. T. Doyle, members of District As
sembly, No. 6S. knight of Labor; II. sB.
Martin. National Secretary of the Anti
Trust League. and H. J. Schulteis, Secre-
| tary of the Washington Antitrust League.
While the meeting was in progress the
members of Painters Assembly. No. 1898;
| Carpenters Assembly, No. f74S. and
local No 26, OF Electrical Workers, enter
ed the hall in a body. There was a fair
| sprinkling OF ladies' throughout the au-
| dience.
the sending of troops to Idaho by rresi-
dent Mckinley during the mining troubles
was an infamous act, and that 1t was a
duty We eve 10 ourselves and our God
TO see to il that such condition does not
continue.
The next speaker was Mr.. Roberts, who
gave a brief history of the trouble in the
mining districts of Idaho, telling the
causes which led to them and the forces
used to carry out the wishes OF the mine
operators. Taking it all in all. he said
in his opinion the most brutal and in
human act Of all was the refusal of one
of the officers in charge Of the troops to
allow a dying man TO see priest.
Representative Sulzer told of his connec-
tion with the investigation of the CoeIr
D'Alene mining troubles, and said that the
! testimony offered before the committee
is the most severe Indictment ever brought
against the Government. The condition
which exists in Idaho, he said which is
wholly due to the actions of President
Mckinley, is worse than any which c, er
existed in Siberia. He argued that it was
not TO the interest of the miners who were
earning a living at the mines TO blow up
| and thus destroy the mill, but that in fact
it was to the interests OF the mine opera
tors to do so. for it would give them an
opportunity to bring about the conditions
which now exist. In concluding. he said
that the working people have the power to
right the wrongs which confront them,
and he ad, sed that if they lost the op-
portunity to do so that they would event
ually lose their rights. If they stood
quietly by now and did not endeavor to
redress the wrongs they are made to
suffer the Idaho bull pen. he said, will
always haunt them as a living picture to
condemn them for their neglect of duty.
Representative LentZ. who spoke next,
said the country is on the threshold OF
military despctism. and stated that he
would rather live under a despotisn like
that in Russia than under a military
President. The worst government the
people ever had 10 bear, he said, was that
thrust upon them during. the last year
The question which -eonfroBts the people,
he said, is not one of political parties. but
whether or not troops will be allowed to
oppress union labor This must not be,
he said. for union labor is the bone of
the Republic. President Mckinley ard
Governor Steunenberg, Mr. LentZ said, aJ'e
both opposed to union labor and he warn
ed his hearers that when union labor had
no one to speak for ii the members will be
driven by capital like the herds in Incl
4. F. Gill also made a brief address. IN
which he told of his experiences in The
Ccuer D'Alene mining district
The following resolutions. which were
adopted by rising vote, were offered by
B. II. Martin.
Resolved That II is I, e sense of this meeting Of
the citizens OF Washington that the outrages
mitted against the union miners and citizens OF
Shoshunc County, Idaho. by the troops OF the
United States, acting under the order OF President
Mckinley and Governor SteuHenhcFg desery-
ing of the severest condemnation by all good citi
zeus.
Resolved That we demand of the Congress Of
the United States that it shall al take steps
to out end to the shameful and infolerablc
martial tyranny which has been endured for
over year by the oppressed people of the Occur
D'Alenes
Resolved That it is The sense Of this meeting
| that liberty regulated by law. aud the ri.:ht to
work without permit natural rights Sc
cured by law TO the humblest citizen; that the
rule OF martial law, overriding the civil law can
not exist in free government, a permanent
government, or when, is shown by the tcsti-
mony before the Military Conmittce tn civil
courts are in the unobsiructed exercise OF their
jurisdiction; that We demand that the Federal
troops be forthwith Withdrawn. martial law
and the permit system be abolished.
Resolved, That express our most cordial
communication for Attorney T. {. Robertson Tor
! Is rave arr rillant legal defence Of the i'm
prsoned miners, and We express cur hgh appTc-
citation Of the noble public service that has been
performed in this c5s@ by Representatives Lentz
Of Ohio. Suzer Of New YORK. Silyden Of rexas
Hay of Virginia, lett Of Illinois. Cox Of Fences
see. and Broussard Of Louisiana. members Of the
Military Committee of -he House Of Representa-
tiycs.
BOTH FIGHTERS IN TRIM.
In