The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-03-23
TELLS WHY MARTIAL
Law Was PROCL1IM
Governor Steunenberg Gives His Version Of the
Trouble in the Occur TAIene Country.
Declares That Filming District Has Been in State Of nSur
rectiOn Since 1892.

I point 10 the line Of inquiry by Mr. Che
ney and questioned the propriety OF
having counsel direct the Investigation
Chairman Hull replied that the pros
ecutiOn had selected Mr.. Lentz 20 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
10 stand as the attorney propOunded il.
AS there were frequent objections 70
questions the committee agreed 10
motion by Mr.. Sulzer that the governor
be allowed to tell his story in his own
way without interruption.
Governor Steunenberg then related in
detail the steps taken TO carry out the
proclamation. Arrests We're made Of
those reasonably suspected Of compile
Ity 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 were most unusual and at
every point the authorities were em5ar-
raised by the insurrectiOnaTy element.
He visited the barn and the stockade
occupied by the prisoners. and sought
to have the stOckade or permanent
quarters completed. He said he talked
with the prisoners. who told him that
the bread was too light, but everything
else was all right. The chief commits
sary Of the state informed him that thu
parties who furnished bread had been
waited upon by committee and
warned that they must not continue the
supply. A bakery was thereafter built
by the authorities and good bread sup
piled.
Inception Of the Trouble.
Governor SteuGenberg was asked
49,
ton and what mining camps engaged
in it. He said that in his opinion the
mining district Of Shoshone county had
been in a state Of instruction since
1892.
The Instruction Of April "a. he said.
started at Burke where a meeting was
held in the hail Of the Western Fede-
ration OF Miners. The participants pro-
ceeded TO arm themselves and went bv
train to Wardner. At Gem he said q
similar meeting at a similar hall was
held and arms and masks were dis
tributed. He described the gradual con.
centration OF the men at Wardner
where, he said they waited in a disor-
gained state until a single engine ar
rived from Wallace. Then systematic
orders were given, the first being
~Waracer 70 the 1ront''
4 party secured dynamite, which was
began indiscriminateIy and one of the
invading party was killed. Some Of the
Bunker Hill employees were taken pris-
oners by the masked men.
The governors description was ex-
tended and circUmstantial. and broughB
out frequent objections from AR. Lent8
on the ground that it was hearsa-
Governor Steunenberg was asked
what part the United States trOOps
took in the arrest and detention OF i'm
prlsoned miners. He said the position
they occupied was the same as thar
which the state militia would have oc-
cupied if they had been available.
Troops Were Well Behaved.
The governor said the course of 4bs
United States troops as coming under
his observation and investigation was
at all times proper and considerable of
the men they had in charge. and in
obedience to their superior officers. He
said ne did not see any abuse of prison
ers, although he had mingled freely
among them, and while complaints
were made on other matters there was
no complaint as to the conduct of The
/ troops. He had investigated a report
that Grand Army man-AIill er-was
prOdGed by a bayOnet when arrested
and was told by Niller's brother. who
IS member Of the legislature. that
Lhe pfOddlng did not occur, although
| there was a controversy.
The cross examination Of Governor
Steunenberg was conducted by Mr.
/ Robinson, attorney for the miners The
governor stated that he considered his
proclamation as to an insurrectiOn
equivalent to a declaration of martial
I law He was asked by what right ar
rests were made without warrant prior
I to May 3, when the proclamation was
| issued 1t was done, he said. under thu
general requirement of the governor to
protect life and property.
| Mr. Robinson, also asked If This
would permit arrests without warrant
/ The governor said he was not aware
/ that any such arrests had occurred
/ When the governor stated that he
wrote the proclamation, Mr.. Robinson
read from the testimony of Mr. Sin
/ clair before the Industrial commission
that he had prepared a proclamation
/ and a permit
| Inc governor explained that there
were two proclamatiOns. The governor
wrote the one proclaiming an ins1rrac-
ton, while later one as to the nern,it
system was that referred to bv Mr.
Sinclair's testimony.