Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-07
MR. SOVEREIGN TESTlFlES
His Experience in Idaho During Labor
Troubles.
Regarded the Attitude of the Troops
as Unnecessarily
Severe.

James r. Sovereign, former master
workman of the Knights of Labor, was
heard at the afternoon session Of the
House committee investigating the Occur
d'Alene mining troubles yesterday after
noon. He said he operated a fruit farm
in Arkansas and was engaged in mining
in Idaho and Montana. Personally he was
opposed to strikes, and his participation
in them had been as an advisory official
He was in the Occur 'Alene district dur
ing the demonstration against the Bunker
Hill mines and was in charge of a news
paper at Wallace, Idaho.
He had no connection with the miners
organization, except as editor Of their Of
ficial organ. On April % he attended a
labor 6., meeting at Gem, Idaho.
This was the night before the blowing
up of the mill. There was much discus
sion Of the trouble with the Bunker Hill
mine, but nothing as to any demonstra-
ton. Later that night he attended meet
ing at Wallace, but there was no talk
OF blowing up the MILL Mr. Sovereign
said he had never heard that any demon
stiation was contemplated against the
mining property. The next morning-the
day on which the mill was blown up-Mr.
Sovereign heard that $50 miners on the
Canyon Creek mines were out of work,
the mines having shut down. While stand
ing IN front OF his office a man on horse
back rode by and said: Sovereign they're
coming"
Shooting and Explosions.
He asked who were coming, and the
horseman answered 1.-The Canyon creek
ers -
He saw a train with number of men
aboard going down to Wardner. There were
conflicting rumors of what would occur at
Wardner- We went down on the noon train
and reached Wardner in time to hear the
three explosions when the mill was blown
up. He saw many men, some with Win
cheSters. and there was considerable firing.
To avoid the confusion he stepped on an
engine. While on the engine a man with
revolver boarded the cab and demanded
that the train be brought to a stop. and this
was done Meantime, there was some shoot
ing into the flume of the mining company.
The train then proceeded to Wallace There
was no excitement there. The same quiet
prevailed at Warirer, Kellogg and other
points.
Mr.. Sovereign told of his appea rance be-
fore the coroner. when many soldiers and
several lawyers identified with the mining
interests We're present. AS the military
We're in control, MIR. Sovereign applied to
military headquarters for pass The wit
ness said he told the major in command
that he was president of Montana mining
company. Thereupon the officer showed
excessive affability, and said the military
forces proposed to take care of the mine
operators" He heard he was to be ar
rested. but this never occurred
Mr.. Sovereign said he had advised that
the soidiery be used to assist the local au-
thorities. but not to enforce martial law
Instead OF that martial law was enforced
with extreme severity. The conditions were
far less acute. he said, than at Chicago dur
ing the great strike, and yet the military
system adopted was far more rigid.
At the Bull Pen.
Mr. Sovereign described scenes at the
bull pen" He said he heard negro SOL
diers use obscene language against the i'm
prisoned miners. When the men were ar
rested they wore light clothing, such as
Is used in deep mines, and although the
weather was very cold they received no
additional clothing
The witness stated that while one of the
miners was in the bull PEN a deputy at
tempted TO force an entrance to the room
of the miners wife. The man committing
the offense was arrested by a local consta-
BILE. but afterward released by the soldiers
When asked who was the responsible Off
cial in charge of affairs Mr.. Sovereign said
there was no difference between Governor
Steunenberg, General Merriam, Captain Ed
wards and Auditor Sinclair.
They all had Krag-Jorgensens behind
them" he declared
He added that one of the mine officials
had given the order to fire" at the time
the demented miner johnson was shot