Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1906-03-26
Will GET FAIR trial
governor GOODING OF IDAHO TO
LABOR UNIONS.
The Governor of Idaho to the Labor
Unions of the United States, AS
Suring Them That the Alleged
r1urdererS Will Get Square Deal.
Issued No Proclamation.

Boise, Idaho, March 24.-The follow.
ing proclamation was sent to the Denver
press from here YESTERDAY, which is
denied today by the governor:
ITO the Labor Unions of the United
States:
"There has been considerable said in
connection with the arrest of officers of
the Western Federation Of Miners and
the confession made by Harry Orchard.
who has declared, in sworn confession,
that he, in response to arrangements
with the accused officers Of the Western
Federation OF Miners, did murder the
late Governor Steunenberg of this state.
The discussion has involved certain allie.
cations, the manner of the arrest and
subsequent proceedings.
II desire to say to the labor unions of
the country that if by some arrangement
the various unions will arrange to send
delegation to this city, will be pleased
to allow that delegation to meet Harry
Orchard personally and to hear him go
over the story told the states attorney
and the detectives. They can remain
with him in my chambe and hear him
tell over again what he has already told
US. l will also present to them Steve
Adams, who has also made confession
"Further than this. want to assure
every person, whether he be union man
or non-union man, that the state of
Idaho will give the accused men a fair
chance to defend themselves, and as fai,
a trial as was ever held will be given.
Men, you need have no fear OF a mis-
trial. Upon conviction, If the unions be.
lieve that an unfair or biased trial was
given, then. you can remember that
still have the po ser as the governor OF
this state to hear your grievance and
prevent miscarriage Of justice.
ssrA4ssThe state of Idaho has 1 fair name to
preserve, and as governor will do all in
my power to do it,"
In denying the foregoing, Governor
Gooding said, in part:
81 have issued no such proclamation
and no such statement was ever made by
me. What did say was that | regretted
very much that some of the labor unions
had decided to pass such radical resolu.
tions, copies OF which had been sent me.
81 stated to the correspondent, as |
have to many others, that in my opinion
1,l< -
were vitality Interested in this matter
that Idaho guaranteed to the accused
men, as we'll as to all others charged with
crime, a fair trial, and that if they would
appoint Il committee to come here and
investigate they would find as high a
standard OF citizenship as in any other
place in the United S ates; that an at
tempt on the part OF any one 10 prevent
fair trial would be met by indignant
and effective opposition on the part OF the
state government and of the people at
large.
81 stated that if committee of labor
ing men was sent here to meet the state
authorities, and they came in spirit OF
fairness and of honesty, seeking only the
truth, that | would 90 so far as to ar
range for them to meet Orchard and
Adams in my presence and in the pres.
ence of their attorneys and let them hear
from Orchards and Adams own lips that
they had made confession duplicating
Mover, Haywood, Pettibone. Simpkins
and st. John in number OF murders,
and that no promise OF reward or of
clemency had been made them by any
one."