Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-10
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LNNFaNAN0nN Gnnfkehs
Much interest has been Attracted 10 the
cases Of Meyer, Haywood and Pettibone,
officers Of the Western Federation Of
Miners, who are now confined in prison
awaiting trial on charges Of conspiracy
In the horrid assassination Of Governor
Steunenherg of Idaho Their trial will
take place at Caldwell, Canyon county,
Idaho, at some time subsequent to May
10Th, to which date proceedings were ad-
iourned by the latest action Of the court.
Il is not denied that Governor Steunen-
berg was ioully murdered by bloody
sssassins, and that the crime was a result
Of the labor troubles by which Idaho has
been distracted for several years. But
the sentiment Of the labor unions. and
particularly Of the socialistic element, has
been 30 excited by the Investigations Of
James McPauland, the famous detective
whose work sent a dozen or so Of the MUIR
derous "Molly Maguires" Of the Pennsyl.
vania anthracite coal district to the gal
lows a score Of years ago, that the charge
Is openly made and desperately main
iained that the work Of Mcfarland,
backed by the mine owners, is Of itself
conspiracy having for its purpose the
sending Of those Federation officials to
lhe gallows, hoping by this sangmnary
example TO break up the organization Of
the miners
A Socialist paper called Appeal to
Reason but which is an appeal to the
Widest kind Of prejudice devotes large
space In it weekly issues to demonstrate
ing the truth OF the contention that these
three Federation officials are to be judi
cially murdered, az deliberate means Of
terronzing the miners organization into
dissolution Il hays down the appalling
details of the alleged dastardly scheme.
A special voniro from which the trial Jury
is 70 bo drawn is TO be packed for the
purpose, so that "conviction may be
secured, regardless Of the evidence. "
They are 10 he Creatures especially
selected for the occasion before whom
the attorneys for the defence "may plead
in vain Alihis and other facts going to
establish the innocence of the accused.
we are solemnly informed "will not affect
that jury one whit The iurymon will
sit as stolidy indifferent to argument and
conditions as did the Car undhis bureau
cracy ON that memorable day in January
1905. The jury win be fixed, and will
have its mind made up before the first
sciutlh of evidence is produced"
Truly. this is a irghtiul picture. II
cowoct it reveals conditions which could
not pcvai in amy other community in
this country But do they really prevail
in Idaho Are the courts of that State
such ,rgilc creature Of corporate wealth
and power that thcy win lend themselves
TO schemes of legalzcd murder for the pur.
pose Of breaking down the right of work
ingmCn 90 organize for their protection
From tie pages of this same Socialist
organ IN fact from the column next Ia
thc on' 10 which tho above mrid pictur,
Of the laws contemplated outrage /.
"ainicd We have answer to the contrary
10 Is tac ciusion of another contributor
hut treaiing of the same subject tn,
alleged con. pimcy 10 break down lahor
organization by iudicially numbering IT,
officers Tie other contributor refer
20 effort by the Mine Owners Association
during the strike in 1908, TO conyic
officers of the Western Federation O
Miners CAN these attempts he saws
"Nere failures. No member Of the West
en Federation has been convicted Of an,
crime since the strikes began. On tn
other hand many detectives in the EN-
ploy Of the Mine Owners Association
have been sent TO prison, convicted @
crimes ranging from larceny 70 homicide.
We know nothing Of the merits Of tn
case against these officers of the miners
organization who have been indicted 70
the horrible crime Of conspiracy whic
resulted in the brutal assassination Of th
governor Of a State That the crime wa
committed, and should be punished wi
not be disputed. And, Judging by tn
evidence thus offered by a reckless orra
Of Socialists, the very courts which
accuses Of lending aid to the awful Grim
OF Judicial murder at the dictation q
capital, have shown themselves capabl
OF administering strict justice by visitin
the stern punishment Of the law upo
agents Of the mine owning corporation
That such courts may be depended upo
70 hold the scales Of justice with uncrriu
eyenness when the officers of the miner
Organization are brought before them e
ial "a not TO be doubted.