The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-03-13
IDAHO ALONE
IS RESPONSIBLE
Gov. GOOding Asked for Arrest
of Meyer, Haywood and
PettibOne.
EXECUTIVE WRITES LETTER
TO INDIANA LABOR UNION
Guilt or Innocence of Men, He
Says, Has No Bearing OH
Union Labor.

BOISE, Ida, March 12-Gov. Gooding
has received numerous communications
from labor organizations and other asso-
Citations throughout the country in re-
spect 10 the arrest and prosecution OF
Charles H Meyer. president of the West
ern Federation OF Miners: William d
Haywood. secretary, and George a Pet
ueonc. One OF these Is sent by a COM
mittee of the Central Labor union OF
Evansville. Ind. of which W. T. Jams is
secretary. This committee sent the reso-
lutions on behalf OF the union.
What Committee States.
The committee states that they are sub
mltted FOR the purpose OF disabusing your
mind that 'unionism' is anarchism." =" The
resolutions are moderate In tone. but In
some measure reflect the idea so widely
disseminated that the prosecution OF these
men Is in pursuance OF conspiracy.
Fair Trial Is Asked For.
The Governor and Mr. Hawlcy are asked
TO weigh the confessions carefully and to
use their hest efforts TO secure fair and
impartial trial for the accused They ask
that the men be given full opportunity to
prove that the confessions are trumped
up evidence. solicited by rich corpora
tions for the sole purpose OF disrupting
unionism in the Western States. and prob
ABBY put to death TWO American citizens
that had not done anything but act as
officials Of the Western Federation OF
Miners" In view OF misconception of the
attitude OF the State that seems TO be so
widely prevalent among laboring men.
Gov. Gooding Replies.
The Governor has sent a reply to the
Evansville resolutions, in which he has set
forth the purpose OF the State very care
fully and fully. The Governor sets forth
the belief that the members OF the Evans,
ville union have been misinformed. for
he cannot belleye that they would coun
tenance assassination. Proceeding, he
states that no mine-owners. no associa-
tion OF mlne-ownerS, or any corporation
Of private nature. wealthy or other
wise, has had anything to do with the
work of securing evidence against any OF
these men, Nobody but the State en-
poyed detectives in the
Facts Are Presented.
The facts OF tho murder of Frank
Steunenberg. former Governor, are given
briefly and the arrest OF Harry Orchard
the fact OF the employment Of James No
Parland, the detective manager, is given
and the statement made that he is not
to receive any other reward than his
employed solely to get at the truth.
As to the Confession.
AS to the confession secured from Or
chard. the letter states MCFARLAND visited
him, informed him who he was and asked
him to tell the truth about the matter
No promise of any character was made.
Orchard fully expects to pay the penalty
for the crime which he has confessed
The letter continues:
What Orchard Detailed.
'He told a story of conspiracy and mut>
der against eX-qov. Steunenberg 30 re-
voting In every detail as to be almost
other crimes in which he has been in
terested or OF which he had heard, and
from these descriptions and from other
been enabled to Gull n mass of evidence
so strong that / was compelled by my
oath OF Office and by my feelings as
and oxtradition OF Meyer. Haywood and
Pettibone
No Hope Of Immunity
1t is further stated that the confession
from Adams was secured In the same
manner, no hope OF immunity being held
out to him These men confess against
themselves as well against others the
Governor points out and without prom
lscs of clcmency. They tell what appears
to be the blunt truth indicating that the
men accused were implicated in consph-
acy TO commit murder The letter con-
tinuess
If Stories Are True.
'If these stories arc true, YOU and the
members OF your union will certainly agree
with me that no punishment under the
law is too severe to be meted out 10 tho
guilty men. Their guilt or their limo.
ccnce cannot be said TO have any bear
Ing upon the rights or privileges OF union
labor Labor organizations arc vitaly
interested In this case.
Can Depend on State.
III the men now accused arc guilty
of murder they should be condemned by
any labor organization In the world III
they arc innocent the State of Idaho.
their accuser. viii do Its duty In righting
the wrong done
Believes in UDionism.
The Governor expresses his belief In
unionism saying he knows the conditions
and rewards of labor have been wonder
fully improved through the Instrumental
ity OF labor organizations. Further. ne
expresses tho opinion that labor orSaniza-
tions should be the first 10 condemn
wrong.
Closing. he says: II want 10 assure
your union that the accused men shall
have a fair and impartial trial The fair
ness of spirit I'm which you addressed Inc
has induced this lengthy epistle