The evening times., 1900-03-22
IDAHO'S GOVERNOR HEARD
He Begins His Testimony in the
COeur d'Alene Enquiry.
The Defence submits n Statement &c
the House Military Affairs Com
nittee-WhRt It Expects TO show
Mr.. SteuRenberE Describes the
Conditions In the Mining Region.

morning appeared before the House Com
mittee on Military Affairs having under in
yestigation the Occur d'Alene labor trou-
bles. 1t was the formal opening Of the de-
fence.
Directly before Governor Steunenberg
who was the first witness. went upon the
stand J. c. CLANCY. counsel for the defence
submitted to the committee statement
which in part follows:
1t is deemed important by us to show:
'First-That the Governor Of Idaho had
just cause for prOelalming the county Of
Shoshone to be in state Of insurrcction
and rebellion in May. 1883.
'SecOnd-That the Governor properly
called upon the President OF the United
States for military assistance in establish
ing and maintaining peace and order in
said county az that time
''Third-That the President properly
sent the troops OF the United States 10
| that locality.
'Fourth-That the United States troops
! under General Merriam. acted in cOnjuuc-
| tion with and in support Of the Governor
/ and lis legally constituted agents IN pro-
tectiug life and property.
Governors Testimony Essential
ITO establish the first proposition Il is
necessary 10 put the Governor OF Idaho
upon the witness stand and have him de-
tail the Information Of the critical situa-
tiOn Of the matters in Shoshonc county.
Idaho. upCl which he based his action in
DTCcla.ming that county IN a state Of in
sun sctiOn and rebellion. This evidence
should be followed by evidence Of persons
competent 10 testify 10 the actual condi-
tlons upon which the Governor based his
opinion. Every man who was on the
ground Immediately before. at the time.
snd Immediately following the blowing mp
or the Bunker Hin and Sullivan Mine
April %, 1893, should be examined.
As TO the second proposition above. il
is purely a question OF law. and the testi-
mony responding 70 the first proposition
viii be sufficient upon which 10 base the
conclusions OF law.
Tine third proposition above is also a
question Of Law TO be decided upon the
testimony given in support Of the first
As 10 the fourth proposition. ghere
should be detailed by the witnesses. Cen
ersl Merriam and his subordinates. Just
what they did in aid OF the State authOrI-
ties. and how they conducted themselves
IN the performance Of the duties which de-
Voived upon them al that time
In this connection, every act and thing
said and done by the military in connec-
tion with the State authorities. which
looked To the establishment and maiuten-
ance Of law and order IN that community
and the protection Of life and property
therein. should be detailed. We must
carefully avoid the questions which purely
concern the disputes between the mine
operators and the miners. unions or nine
employees. for the reason that this inves-
tgation Is not a question Of settlement Of
the troubles between mine operators and
employees.
If the permit system established by he
state authorities. ard supported by The
United States troops was thing used for
the purpose OF protecting life and prop
erty and establishing and maintaining
peace and quietude ia the community. then
the permit system should be presented and
its methods explained.
Concerning the Bull Pen.
In furJherance Of the fourth PROPOSE
tion, the care and coniuct 0. he barn ami
prison in which the arrested men were
confined. should be explained and the de
tails Of the care and conduct Of the pris-
oners. and particularly the part the
United States troops took therein. should
be detailed before the committee FOR the
purpose Of showing that everything that
WAS done was done for the purpose %
properly OBTAINING said prisoners and Sc
curing the ultimate end OF finding out WHO
the perpetrators Of the outrage committed
on April %, 1899. we're and 10 pre-
serve the peace and quieude Of the CON-
muuity while such efforts were being made
1t should be shown il X Is The fact
that only such things were done as would
secure the preservation Of Deace: that no
rPrs0n was imposed upon oy the United
States troops and that only such discipline
in the prison was enforced as would Sc.
cure the proper conduct thereof and in
sure the lives. health, aud safety Of the
men there held"
When Governor Steunenherg had been
sworn he produced and read copies OF the
dispatches from the mine officers on which
he rested his action in proclaiming that in
surrection existed in Shoshene county. ana
on which he based his cali for Federal
troops. the State National Guard being in
service in the Philippines.
How many State troops were absent on
foreign service >" asked Mr. CLANCY.
Three battalions OF four companies
each''
Il was thought by some OF the spectators
that this answer was somewhat misleading
in that it had been previously shown that
Of the three companies of the National
Guard in Shoshone county. only eighteen
men had been passed by the United States ]
mastering officers. while a large majority
of the volunteers from that county were
not guardsmen.
The witness told Of what he termed the
terrible conditions in the Coeur d'AIene re-
giou as pictured TO him by the mine own
ers and their representatives. He-admit-
ted that he had received telegram from
the sheriff OF ShOshone couaty. saying that
he could continue the situation there and
that he believed that Federal troops were
unnecessary and that their presence would
provoke disturbance