The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-02-08

or kindred societies crime. Surely,
history furnishes argument sufficient III
favor OF such course. l am forced to
believe that the only way to quell these
disturbances is by aid of martial law
a one-man powef--where gun shall be
met with gun and dynamite with dyna-
mite" > a.@..s
(Do you hear this, you farmers and
laborers throughout the country? Do
you feel which way the wind is blow
ing? Or are you unable to wake up
from your slumber and use your
senses, and to comprehend with j, full
consciousness the dangers that surround
and threaten you and your posterity
from the powers that be" in this coun-
try at the close of the Nineteenth CEN
turyO
Governor Steunenbergs right-hand
man and principal representative in this
affair was one Bartlett Sinclair, state
auditor of Idaho.
Now, few more details to show the
treatment these imprisoned miners and
others were subjected to at the hand
of the federal and state authorities.
They were crowded together like cattle
In pen-the institution in which they
were kept has commonly been called
the Bull Pen''-the food and sanitary
conditions were poor beyond descrip-
ton. Many were taken sick; a few died
from the effect of this treatment. Fur
thermore, the prisoners were not allow
ed to see their wives and children, nor
to consult with counsel or to read
friendly papers. They were not permit
ted to get outside the stockade or fence
for exercise; in short, they were sub
jected to most brutal treatment. Some
were kept there for shorter time and
then released; hundreds, however. were
still there when the present session of
congress opened, or about seven months
after their Imprisonment. By that time
the Bull Pen" was closed, but martial
law still holds forth in the district.
Congress is expected to give the matter
a thorough investigation and Senator
of Idaho, and Carter, of Mon
tana, have agreed to act as the cham
plons of the miners. But when? g
Now what about these imprisoned
rights as citizens. or in
habitants of the United States and the
state of Idaho?
why. they were simply robbed of all
rights, not only as citizens, but as hui
man beings. Only 10 of those hundreds
OF men were given trial before a court
or before jury of their peers, and of
those Is several are now serving terms
in the penitentiary ranging from a few
months TON one case-17 years. Whv?
For blowing up that mill or damaging
the interests Of the mine owners? Oh.
no; for interfering with the United
States mails. when the miners on that
memorable 18th day of April came to
Wardner on railroad train they prac-
-lcally took possession Of the train and
'an it to suit themselves and not ac-
,ording to schedules; the train was de-
aged; it was mail train, and the fed
eral authorities got after some of the
;ulprlts, tried them before the federal
court at Moscow and number of them
we're convicted and sentenced under the
ederal laws for thus having interfered
With the United States mails, but that. |
# course, is a different thing and has |
eally nothing to 30 with the subject of |
his article, the Wal dner Bull Pen" !
candal
AS said before. those hundreds of i'm
'risoned workingmen were never given |
| trial. President Ed Boyce, of the
Western Federation of Miners. visited
Vardner last fall in order to investigate
he matter and try to do something to-
Yards helping the prisoners to a better
treatment, and he did all he could to
ecure their release. Let us hear what
re said, in an Interview with the Dem
er, Colorado, News, shortly after that
lSit> He said, among other things:
The conditions there are almost be-
ond belief in the cruel treatment of the
NO men imprisoned in the Bull PEN
hey are held there under guard by the
etsral troops and we have failed to
o anything to secure their release. So
n as We know there is no charge
saSnSt them, and legal process to Sc
are their release is therefore beyond US.
Gov, Frank Steunenherg. of Idaho.
nd Judge Stewart not long since made
se statement in Salt Lake city tina, the
len were being held as examples. The
ovsrnor has declared that he intends
maintain martial law in the district
NIL his term expires. Jan. /. 1901. Tn
Pr these conditions it appears to me
at the men will be held until the gov
'aaf releases them. or until the end of
IS term of office.
'On Sept. the men thought they
ould have trial in the district court.
'esided over by Judge Stewart. The |
ate attorney informed our LAWYERS I
at there was no charge against the I
en- and therefore they could not be l
led. Upon referring the matter to the
nited States attorney that officer said
had no jurisdiction. In that matter q