Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1900-03-22
Despotlc Federal Rule In Idaho.

Following is a succinct history of the
mining troubles in Idaho, which the
House Committee on Military Affairs
is now investigating:
The trouble at the Occur d. Alene
mines was caused by the refusal of the
company to have anything to do with
organized labor aud the discharge OF
men as fast as it was discovered that
they had joined the miners union.
Finally, on April 20, 1899, lot of
masked miners from other sections
went to Wardner and blew up the
Bunker Hill mine works. They at
once dispersed. 1t is true valuable
property was destroyed. but there was
no rioting, no rebellion and no invasion.
Within three days martial law was de-
clared and all the rights and privileges
of free people were Withdrawn and
the strong rule of the military substi-
tuted.
The very next day after the explo-
sion kilograms from capitalists of the
Pacific coast, of Chicago and New
York, and other large cities, began to
reach the President, urging him to at
once send troops to Wardner. The
Governor OF Idaho joined in the re-
quest. These requests we're needed
and the President promptly put him
self In the hands of the men whom he
visits when he goes to New York and
who contribute so literally to his cam
paign funds.
The appeals of the miners and other
men unfortunate enough to have been
living in Wardner were UNDECIDED.
For months they were confined in the
now notorious bull pen, subjected to
inhuman treatment and cruelty, and
compelled to await the pleasure of the
officials who owned the mines before
the mock justice of the coroner was
dealt out to them.
Editor Stewart of the Mullan Mirror
had the temerity to criticise the whole
sale arrests and the cruelty of the
troops. He was sent to join the rest,
and remained there for weeks. His
wife, plucky woman, got out the
paper three weeks, and exercising that
freedom which the Constitution guar
antees to speech and the press, con-
tinued the criticisms her husband had
commenced. A captain OF the Federal
troops visited her Office and threatened
her with arrest.
You would not dare put me in that
bull pen. I've done nothing for which
l can be arrested" said Mrs. Stewart.
mo, I won't put you in the bull-pen
but l will build another pen for you"
said the officer, describing the pro-
posed pen with vulgar adjective.
Mrs. Stewart was not arrested, but
her printing press was seized and the
private property of her husband con-
fscated.
Four hundred men, when first ar
rested, were put in a two-story frame
building with the thermometer at the
freezing point.
Two hundred were put upstairs and
200 down stairs. They were packed
like cattle. For days they remained
cooped up in prison that daily grew
fouler and fouler, those below more
than those on the second
floor, for the prison filth descended
from above, spreading disease and in
sanity.
Many days elapsed before the COM
monest facilities were provided. while
the negro troops, with instructions to
shoot anyone fleeing from this vile
spot, kept guard without.
The situation in the bull pen horror,
as described to the House COMMITTEES:
In and around Wardner, Idaho, 25,-
900 miners are suffering from the bull
pen iniquities imposed by General
on the orders of the Presi-
dent of the United States indorsing the
declaration of martial law.
Old soldiers. citizens of means, per-
sons who could not have had anything |
to do with the explosion. were thrown
into the bull pen and kept for months,
without legal advice, without trial.
and denied all the rights guaranteed
by the Constitution, which declares
this writ shall not be suspended save
in cases of invasion or rebellion, neith-
er of which conditions existed
Civil authorities were removed from |
office and men appointed as civilians
to succeed them were the puppets of
the Governor and the tools of the MILL
tary.
The mining. company's contract sur
geon, acting as coroner, held court
and committed prisoners. the COM
pany's attorney acting as precutor.
Juries made up of company employees.
The court without authority and a
travesty on Justice.
CAsToRrA.
Bears the 1Iha Kind You Have Always Bought |
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