Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1904-04-13
Military Authorities of Colorado
Refuse to Obey Order Issued
by Court.
OFFICERS ARE IN CONTEMPT
Judge Holds That Gov. Peabody and Ma
tlonal Guard Are in Insurrec-
ton Against State.
SCORES REIGN OF DEspoTIsM.

Ouray, Colo, April IA very grave
question is presented as to whether the
striking miners, or the governor of Colo
RADIO and the national guard, are in in
surrection against the state of Colorado"
declared Judge Stevens of the district
court in a severe criticism of Gov Pea
body's course in the miners strike He
ordered the arrest of Gen. Sherman NJ
Bell and Capt. Buckley Wells, charging
them with contempt of court in not COM
plying with the writ of habeas corpus
commanding them to take before the
court Charles Fl. Meyer, president of the
western Federation of Miners. whom the
military authorities are holding at Tellu-
ride.
Ihe return to the writ. made by Gen.
Bell through Assistant District Attorney
David Howe of Telluride, excused his
failure to produce Meyer on the ground
that he deemed it unsafe to bring Meyer
TO Ouray or to reduce the military force
IN San Miguel county by so doing, and
that the governor had ordered him to dis
regard the writ.
Reign of Despotism.
THE people of Ouray will rightly re-
sent the imputation that Gen. Bell or
Capt. Wells could not come alone and in
safety with President Meyer before this
court. 1t there is to be a reign of mill
Tary despotism in this state, and civil au-
thorlty is to have no jurisdiction the lat
ter might as well go out Of business"
Judge Stevens refused to permit the
ming of the return of the writ, ordered
that Meyer be discharged from custody.
ordered the arrest of Gen. Bell and Cant
Wells assessed fine of $500 against
each and expressed regret that the gov
ernor was not before the court as he
considered him equally guilty with Gen.
Bell and Capt. Wells.
Gen. Bell Threatens.
Telluride, Colo, April 12.-When Gen.
Sherman NJ. Bell was informed that
Judge Stevens had ordered him and Capt
Wells arrested and confined in the Ouray
county jail on the charge of contempt he
said:
If Sheriff Corbett takes us to Ouray
1t will have to be over the dead bodies of
all the soldiers under my command in
this county. Meyer never will be pro-
fduced in court until Gov. Peabody or
5ders me to do so.''
Peabody Will Defy the Civil Courts.
Denver, Colo, April 12-When Gov
Peabody was informed of the action of
Judge Stevens of Ouray, ordering the ar
rest of Gen. Bell and Capt. Wells for
contempt of court in not complying with
the writ of habeas corpus in the Meyer
case, he said:
I'VE will not recognize the writ of
attachment and the military authorities
Will not appear in court. Neither will
we give UP Meyer. We will claim that
the courts have no right to enjoin or ar
rest the officers or members Of the mill
tary while they are on duty. They are
not subject to attachment or Injunction
at this time. If the district court OF
Ouray is to be allowed to interfere in the
carrying out of the plans of the military
under martial law there is no reason
why a justice of the peace might not,
with equal authority, intervene and rem
der the military absolutely powerless and
1mpotent. The court made known it's
wishes III the matter and we have stated
our position. 1t is now up to the court
TO make the next move in the matter
What that will be / am unable to say"
Not having heard from Attorney Gen
eral Miller, who is representing the mill
fary IN the habeas corpus proceedings at
Ouray, the governor could not say what
course the attorney general would pur-
sue, since Judge Stevens refused to allow
his answer to be filed in court.
Take Matter to Supreme Court.
Denver, Colo, April 12-Secretary
Haywood Of the Western Federation of
Miners, in speaking of the habeas corpus
case of President Meyer, now held by
the military authorities at Telluride on
the charge OF desecratlng the flag, said
that in all probability the next move on
the part of the federation would be an
original application for a writ of habeas
corpus before the supreme court OF Colo
RADIO
THE federation, he said, has tried
a number of times to get the matter Of
the governors right 20 declare martial
law and suspend the writ of habeas cor
pus before supreme court for decision.
but each time Gov. Peabody. has check
mated us. The action of Judge Stevens
of Ouray, in ordering Gen. Bell to bring
President Meyer into court, places Gov.
Peabody in q position to prove that he
is for law and order. Let him show it
by directing Gen. Bell to obey the man
dates Of the court"