The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-03-22
RESTS ITS CASE
Prosecution in the Wardner
Riot Case Closes.
Gov. Steunenberg, First Wit
ness For Defense,
TELLS A LONG STORY.
Declares That Civil Authorities
We're POWerless,
And the Militia Was All in the
Philippines.

Washington, March 22.-Unusual in
terest attached to the Occur D'Alene in
vestigation today, as the prosecution
after presenting testimony almost I'M
interrupted for five weeks closed it's
case and gave way to the defense. Gov
ernor Stenenberg of Idaho, was the first
witness called to refute the charges.
He is a type of the sturdy far west,
of massive build, and his indifference
to conventionalities is shown by re-
fusal to wear a necktie. AS he took
the stand, he spread before him several
hundred telegraph dispatches. The ex-
animation was conducted by J. c. Che
ney, one of the counsel for the defense.
Governor Steunenberg said he was
elected governor of Idaho in 1896 on the
People's-Democrat ticket, having ac-
cepted the Nomination of the Democrat
ic convention. He read number of
kilograms dater several days prior to
the blowing up of the Bunker Hill mill
on April 20, and leading up to that
event. On April 26, Frederick Burbridge
of the Bunker Hill mine telegraphed
that an armed mob had stopped the
Bunker Hill men from working and
calling for protection to the property
interests. He also read many kilograms
to and from the sheriff and others
showing the steps taken to maintain
order.
The governor suggested arbitration
but in answer Mr.. Burbridge stated
there was nothing to arbitrate and
again called for protection. On April
70, the day of the blowing up of the
mil, Gov. Steuneneberg said he receiv-
cd at 1u:3l a. M, a dispatch from Bur-
bridge stating that all the miners of
Canyon Creek had laid off and were
coming to Wardner to menace the
Bunker Hill men. This was accompa-
nv
At the same time dispatches were re-
ce1Ved from A. L. Mohler of the O. R &.
n. r. r. stating that an armed force
had taken possession of the railway
tracks at Wardner. and the nat 4 o. m
stating that the rioters had set fire to
the mill, that they had placed dynamite
under the mill, and that it would be
blown up Sheriff Young also telegraph
ed him from Wardner that the mill was
blown up and giving the gravity of the
situation. AT p. m. the governor said
ne sent a dispatch to the president call
ing for federal aid, as the Idaho troops
We're absent in the Philippines
The governor said he had been i'll nri-
or TO the Occur D'Alene excitement and
BENG unable to go in person he sent a
representative, Bartlett Sinclair, to the
seat OF the disorder. On April 80, Sin
cIalr telegraphed urging that the presi-
dent be advised to rush troops from the
nearest post. He also telegraphed that
ne mad thoroughly investigated the need
OF martial law; that the local admins
tration of the law was a farce and
amounted to NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. thar
people were afraid to testify and that
masked men were proWling about the
town terrifying people,
Many like kilograms showing the ex-
cltlng developments from day to day.
the armlng of the citizens, the making
OF arrests, etc, were read by the COVER
nor. On this information the governor
said, and from his own knowIedee of
afIalrS Tor six
OutfaSeS with apparently no effort TO
apprehend the guilty parties he Dro-
claimed that a state of Instruction and
rebellion existed at the scene of dis
turbance.
Governor Steunenberg said he eau
tloned sinclair not to align himself with
either side, employers or employees.
Sinclair had made speeches in New
York for Henry George. so that the GOV
ernor said he regarded him as qualified
TO give fair consideration to the labor
situation.
Representative Lentz objected at This
point to the line of inquiry by Mr.
Cheney and questioned the propriety of
having private counsel direct the inyes-
LEGATION.
Chairman Hull replied that the prose-
cutlon had selected Nj. Lentz to direct
its side, Mr. Robinson, an attorney for
the miners, had assisted and the de-
Tense was entitled to have counsel. The
committee voted to permit the question
It. AS there were frequent objections to
questions committee agreed to a mo-
ton by Mr. Sulzer that the governor be
allowed to tell his story in his own wav
without interruption.
Governor Steunenberg then related in
detail the steps taken to carry out the
proclamation. The arrests were made.
he said, of those reasona bly s11snected
of completely in the disturbance
The governor said he took such pre-
cautions as were possible to look after
the prisoners. But the conditions of in
surrection We're most unusual and "a
every point the authorities were en-
barraSSed by the unruly element. He
said he talked with the prisoners, who
told him that the bread was too light
but everything else was all right The
chief commiSsary of the state informed
him that parties who were furnishing
the bread had been waited upon by a
committee and warned that they must
not continue the supply. A bakery was
thereafter built by the authorities, and
good bread supplied.
Governor Steunenberg was asked
where the insurfection had its inception
ana what mining camps engaged in it.
he said that in his opinion the mining
district of ShoShone county had been in
a state of insurrection since 1892 The
lnsurrectiOn of April %, he said started
at Burke, where a meeting was held in
the hall of the western federation of
miners. The participants proceeded to
arem themselves adm went by train to
Wardner. At Gem, he said, a similar
meeting at a similar hall was held and
arms and masks were distributed He
described the gradual concentration of
the men at Wardner, where he said they
waited in a. disorganized state until a
single engine arrived from Wallace.
Then systematic orders were given the
first being ''Wardner to the front" A
party secured dynamite, which was
placed under the mill and fired. Firing
began Unfortunately and one of the
invading party was killed. Some of the
Bunker Hill employees were taken pris-
oners by the masked men. The COVER
nors description was extended and cir
cumstantial, and brought out frequent
objections from Mr.. LTntz, on the
c-..- d - : IL.