The San Juan County index. (Aztec, N.M.) 1890-19??, 1900-06-29

Since February 10 Of this year the
committee on military affairs OF the
lower house OF congress has conducted
an investigation OF the troubles in the
Occur d'Alene mining district Of
northern Idaho, which began May B.,
1893, and continue to the present
time. From the testimony brought
out in this Investigation and from the
statements OF reliable eye witnesses
who have not yet testified. the fol-
lowing information has been obtained:
The Occur d'Alene mining district Of
Idaho Is one Of the greatest lead and
silver producing districts in the world.
II employs upwards Of 5000 miners.
All the great mining industries Of the
district have paid a uniform rate OF
wages to their employees except the
Bunker Hill & Sullivan Company, en-
ploying about 400 miners at Wardner.
Long before the beginning Of the
troubles this company paid from 90
cents to one dollar per day less than
was paid in any other part Of the dis
trict. 1t persistently maintained a
non-union force, refused to recognize
organized labor, and in this particular
openly violated the statutes of Idaho,
which make 1t a penal offense for en-
ployers to discriminate against organ
lied labor in the employment or dis
charge of employees.
Early in April, 1899, the great in
crease in the price Of lead and silver
induced the employees of this company
to demand an increase of wages equiv
alent to the current rate paid in the
district. Other mine operators, as well
as miners, Joined in the plea to unity
the conditions, realizing that such uni
hcation would have a good effect upon
the industries and would insure the
entire district against turbulent condi-
tions characteristic Of labor troubles;
but the Bunker Hill Company stub
bornly refused to grant the requested
increase or even confer with the COM
mittee's representatives. Simultane-
ously with the demand for an increase
Of wages in the Bunker Hill mine, or
very soon thereafter, a large number
Of the employees of the mine Joined the
miners union, and when the company
fatty refused to grant any concession
its employees struck. The company for
years prior to this time had made it
a practice to discharge any person in
its employ as 500 as it discovered
that he belonged to a union or other
labor organizations, and on or about
April 26 the company was required by
the e~xigencies Of conditions to grant
an increase in wages nearly equal to
the union rates; but much to the r
prise of every one it refused to re-
employ any of it's old faithful en-
ployes who had Joined the miners
union. This action on the part of the
company exasperated the working peo-
pie in the entire district, and matters
from that time grew from bad to
worse, the company fatty refusing to
arbitrate the differences.
On April 20 an armed mob was
formed at the adjacent mines at, Null
len, Gem and Burke, which, accom-
panied by a large number Of curiosity
seekers, took possession Of a train Of
cars. procured a large quantity of
dynamite and made an attack on the
Bunker Hill concentration. The mill
was blown to atoms, and in the riot
two men were killed. How or by
whom this riot was organized has re-
NAMED a matter Of speculation. It
has been charged to the miners union,
but no evidence has ever been offered
to sustain this accusation. The min
ers themselves were indignant over
this outrage, and citizens generally Of
feTed their services to aid in appre-
hending and furnishing the rioters.
Frank Steunenberg, governor of
Idaho, daclared the entire county
(shoshone) to be in a state Of insur-
rection and rebellion, declared the dis
trict under martial law, suspended the
habeas corpus act, called on the presi-
dent for United States troops, and pro-
ceeded to redress the grievances of the
mine operators.
A drag net was thrown over the
county and the people were arrested
by communities, and to the present
time nearly LOO persons have suf-
fered Imprisonment, ranging in time
from ten days to ten months. All were
arrested without warrant, criminal
charge, indictment or examination.
The people arrested we're imprisoned
FIRST In a large barn with a mud floor,
and the stories told of their sufferings
are almost beyond belief. Miners com
ing from the mines, their clothing sat
urated with water, were not allowed
to dry themselves, but were crowded
into the barn, or bull pen, compelled
to sleep on the dirt floor without bed
ding and with insufficient food. Later
a regular prison was built, which be-.
came the historical bull pen. It was
a large building built around an open
court, constructed roughly of green
lumber and without windows. The
roof leaked and the cold winds Of
night blew through the cracks between
the boards.
The soldiers furnished by the presi-
dent were negroes, and, II the sworn
evidence Of good citizens can be be-
lieved, their conduct was not only Of
fensive but brutal towards their pris-
oners. The language they used in ad-
dressing them was too profane and
filthy to be repeated. and their threats
to shoot and stab were constant and
emphatically uttered.
An order was issued f~orbidding men
from working In the district without
procuring a permit from the governor.
Men were arrested for working on
their own claims, and wen profession
al men were forbidden to practice their
professions without the governors
permission. The sheriff Of the county
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