The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-02
SPRINGS SENSATION.
Idaho Governor Gives Source of
Startling Information

Washington, April 2.-The chief inter-
est IN Governor Steunenberg's testi-
mony before the Occur d'Alene investi-
cation touay, was in his continuance of
the recital begun at the last session Of
the committee, of the disturbed condi-
lions prior to the uprising of April last.
He had been asked by Representative
Dick, why he refused to disband the mi
litia of the Occur 'Alene district in 1897
as had been requested by the county
commissioner. He said that at that
time the officers OF the Western FEEDER
alton of Miners were advising the arm
ing of the unions and he heard an ad-
dress by one of these officials stating
that every union should have rifle
club and that lin two years we can
hear the inspiring music of $4,000 armed
men in the ranks of labor"
Governor Steunenberg said that fol-
lowing this there were evidences in the
Occur d'AIene district that the advice
was being followed.
A body of armed and masked men he
said, appeared at Mullan and compelled
the delivery of large supply of arms
and ammunition, owned by the state of
Idaho, and stored there pending the or
ganiZation of a military company. He
began correspondence and inquiry and
could get no trace of the arms, or those
who took them. When he applied to the
local sheriff the latter answered in eff
feet Ito mind your own business.
The governor said that about the
same time he received a letter from the
G. A. r. commander at Murray stating
that a number of rifles and ammunition
/ were in danger of being stolen. Threats
had been made to seize them and a no
tification had been served that they
would be taken The G.. A. r. asked to
be relieved of further responsibility,
and the governor said he had the arms
boxed and shipped away. Governor
| Steunenberg said he sent Adjutant
| General French to Occur d'Alene, who
/ reported that a movement was on foot
/ on the disbanding of the militia, for
/ miners to come to Wardner and dyna-
mite the Bunker Hill mill. There were
| repeated threats, the governor said, that
/ the officials of the mine would be muir
dered il they did not escape before the
! Canyon Creek miners came down. He
( said he was shocked to learn that Fred
! erick B. Whitney, Superintendent of the
Frisco mine had been taken from his
room at night by 16 armed and mask
| ed men, marched down the creek and
| shot, dying in a day or two. A stir was
| caused in the committee room when
Governor Steunenberg in answering a
question as to what he knew of a con-
spiracy in connection with the blowing
up of the Bunker Hill mill said
Il learned that Ed BOyce, president Of
| the Western Federation of Miners, wa:
/ in that county ten days before the ex
| ploSion of the Bunker Hill and Sullivan
mill, and at that time he inaugurate(
or perfected this conspiracy by choosing
twenty men from the different organiza
/ tons in that county and swearing them
These twenty men chose one each ant
swore him and the forty each chose
man and the so each chose man ant
swore him In that way there were a
least $50 men in this conspiracy to d
this thing sworn to secrecy
| Representative Hay of Virginia, ques