The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-16
FEDERATION OF MINERS.
President Boyce Makes n Character
istfc Speech About the Coeur
d'AIene Inquiry.

DENVER, Col, May 15.-At the morn
ing session of the Western Federation
of Miners, Secretary-Treasurer Mahers
report. showing in detail all transactions
during the year, was read. The reading
occupied two hours. President Boyce ap-
pointed committees At the morning ses-
sion of the Western Labor Union Presi-
dent Daniel Mcdonald read his annual
ADDRESS and appointed committees He
spoke of the necessity of organization
and concerted action on the part of The
wage earners to solve the problems of the
day. He said of the Coeur d'Alene in
vestigation at Washington:
'"rhe committees appointed by congress.
to investigate this horrible affair has pen
etrated far enough to establish the truth
of all the tales of deviltry on the part of
the national and state authorities but
as 1t was organized as a whitewash COM
mittee, the general public will never hear
the truth, except tina, which finds its
way into the columns of the reform and
labor papers. We know that since the
affair at Wardner the rich corporations
are more arrogant than ever.
They feel that whenever working men
are disposed to assert their manhood and
resist tyranny, government stands
ready to send hired assassins to coerce
them, and, II necessary to shoot them,
or to imprison them for months without
lawful arrest or impartial trial. We
know this because 1t has been tried at
Wardner and the scheme works 20 n
charm.
The struggle between labor and cap
ftal has begun, and we. the people, the
producers of AL the wealth. must no.
shirk the fight. Liberty. fraternity. equal
ity will come when men cease to obey the
dictates of those whom chance and fraud
have elevated
At the afternoon session of the fedora
ton the- committee to which had
been referred the presidents address
reported approving the address, and
it was ordered printed. The most
important feature of the session was
the presentation by Ed Olsen. of Ouray.
and the discussion by the members gem
orally, OF resolution looking to the ac-
cumulation by the federation by assess
ment of a fund with which to purchase
mines and establish a cooperative union
smelter, the profits of which are to go into
the treasury of the organization The
proposition was very favorably received,
but was referred to the committee on res
olutions, as was also one proposing the
establishment OF a miners home.
The session of the Western Labor Union
developed the fact that the organization
is about to embark upon a campaign OF
education. In response to a resolution by
NJ. =. Haggerty, a committee was ap-
pointed to investigate the feasibility Of the
establishment OF university for the pur-
pose Of instructing the sons and daughters
OF laboring men in political economy. IL
was also decided to arrange for the dis
semnaton OF the writings OF distinguish
ed foreign authors on the subject OF no
ntical economy.
a banquet was given by the local COM
mittee to the delegates to the two con-
ventions at the Enterprise restaurant to-
night. The most notable speech OF the
occasion WAS made by F. G. Robertson, OF
Spokane. wash, one of the attorneys OF
the miners in the Warincr riot case, and
also one Of the prominent witnesses and
attorneys before the congressional in
vestigatlon Mr.. Robertson took occasion
TO grill Gen Merriam. who commanded
the federal troops az wardner He de-
clsred that Gen Merriam was responsible
for an the arbitrary acts ~ the military
regime. He said Gen Merriam's order
Tor tho arrest ~ the miners % adjoining
districts was more dictatorlal than nuv
ever before issued NIr Robertson said
that when Gen. Merriam returned "a
Denver an effort was made 20 get him 70
Washington 80 explain his course IN Ida
no. but he declared ne could not 20. as
he had a smelteT strike on his hands
This, the speaker claimed. was an evi-
dence that the general wished 10 re-euact
the same military despo,ism IN Colorado
as had prevailed IN Idaho.
Speaking Of the congressional investi-
CATION. he claimed that the opponents %
tha Unions took every means possible 70
prevent the truth being brought out
Many times, he said. efforts were made 20
secure the testimony of President Bovce
Of the miners federation. bur the oppo-
sltlon was afraid NJ him and prevented H.
VIII Inspect Navy Iard.
WAsHINGTON May 15.-Adm!ral Hich-
horn chief constructor OF the navy left