The Grit-advocate., 1906-03-16
IMPARTIAL TRIAL
GUARANTEED WESTERN Fedora
TIoN OFFICIALS
BY the GOVERNOR OF IDAHO
Letter Of Governor Gooding to Evans
vile, Indiana, Labor Unions -
Prosecution Solely by the State
and Not by Corporations.

Prosecution Solely by the State
and Not by Corporations.
Boise. Idaho.-Governor Gooding has
received numerous communications
from labor organizations and other as
sociatiOns throughout the country re-
specting the prosecution OF Charles II.
Mover, president of the Western Fed
Grafton OF Miners; William d. Hay
wood, secretary, and George A. Pet
tibone.
One of these is from Evansville, In
diana. written by Secretary Jaynes of
the Central Labor body. The commit
tees resolutions are moderate in tone.
but in some measure reflect the idea
SO widely disseminated that the pros
ecutiOn of these men is in pursuance
of conspiracy.
The governor and Mr.. Hawley are
asked 10 weigh the confessions care
fully and to use their efforts to secure
fair and impartial trial for the ac-
cused. They ask that the men be
gwen full opportunity to prove the con-
fessions ''are trumped up evidence, so,
licited by rich corporations for the sole
purpose OF disrupting unionism in the
western states and probably put to
death two American citizens that had
not done anything but act as officials
of the Western Federation of Miners
In his reply, Governor Gooding says:
Your letter, with resolutions Of
Central Labor Union of Evansville. In
diana, under date of March 5, 1906.
was received this morning. ] was very
glad to know that the sentiment of
your union was not in favor of an
archy. ! have read the resolutions
with much interest and think it very
probable you have been misled by lack
of reliable information.
IL cannot believe that you or your
union favor the assassination of all
unofrending fellow citizen at his own
home and in the presence of his wife
and children. The man so foully mur
dered was a member of a labor union
and had been a member from early
manhood.
Believing that your motives are
pure, and that you are believers in fair
play, am writing you In full explana
tion of the activity of the state in the
prosecution Of Meyer, Haywood, Simp
kins, Pettibone, Orchard, Adams and
St. John.
that no mine owners, no association
Of mine owners, or no corporation OF
a private nature, wealthy or otherwise,
has at any time had anything to do
with the work of securing evidence
against any of these men, that they
had nothing to do with securing the
services of detectives and that the de-
tective under whose control. the evi-
.f ,,,l, ,t.b
the men were indicted was up to the
time of the confession of Orchard a
staunch believer in the innocence of
Meyer, Haywood and others Of the
crime charged against them in Colo
rado. such as the explosion at the In
dependence depot.
"Ex-Gov. Frank Steunenberg, a
union printer for twenty-five years and
always an advocate in hi.- speeches
and writings OF union principles, was
destroyed by a bomb at his own home
on the night Of December Both.
Through. citizens committee evi-
dence was secured that implicated a
man who gave his name at T. II. Ho-
gan. The suspect later admitted that
his name was Harry Orchard. A great
deal of evidence was secured further
duplicating Orchard and there was
every prospect that he and J. l.. Simp-
kins could be convicted of the murder
on the evidence SO secured. SimpkinS
meantime disappeared and has not
been apprehcnded. although am offer
ing a reward of $1,000 for information
leading to his arrest and eXtradition.
Owing to the fact that the county
Jail at Caldwell, where the assassina-
tion occurred, was small, crowded and
in disrepair, the sheriff of that county
asked permission OF the state to lodge
his prisoners in the State Penitentiary
here.
BY this time Mr. James Mcfarland
had been employed by the state to
gather evidence relative TO the guilty
parties.
There was not at that time and
there has never since been any sug-
gestiOn that an assault should be
made on the Western Federation OF
Miners, Or against labor unions.
NO reward is offered, nor will Mr.
MCFARLAND get any unusual reward for
success, nor will the compensation
either in amount Or degree depend
upon his success in securing evidence
or acQuitting any man Or
set of men.
His employment was and is to Sc
cure the truth relative to the cruel
murder of Ex-Governor Steunenberg-
The punishment of his assassins will
be attended to by the state of Idaho.
As to the confession secured from
Orchard, the letter states that McPar-
land 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 governor expresses his BELIEF
in unionism, saying he knows the con-
ditions and reward Of labor have been
improved through the In
Of labor organizations.
Further he expresses the opinion
that labor organizations should be the
first to condemn wrong.
Closing, he says:
Il want to assure your union that
the accused men shall have fair and
impartial trial. The fairness OF spirit
in which you addressed me has IN
duced this lengthy epistle."
Honored by New York Senate.