Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-17
The Trial in Idaho.

attracting so much attention through
out the country. Three men, Hayward,
Meyer and Pettibone, are on trial for
the murder of former Governor FRANK
Stunenberg which occurred December
Goth. 1905. They are being tried
separateIy, and it is for the trial of
Hayward that attempts to secure an
impartial and unprejudiced jury have
been going on for the past week. All
three Of the men have been prominent
officials of the Western Federation OF
Miners and it is their connection with
a great labor organization and the fact
that this organization has recon-
mended Socialism to it's members as
their political tenet, which makes the
trial Of unusual interest.
1t is true that the great labor
organizations of the East have no con-
nection with this Western Federation
of Miners and no sympathy with the
violent methods which its leaders have
frequently employed, but Socialism,
rather then organized labor, in this
country and throughout the world is
specially aggressive on behalf of .ne
prisoners and is watching with keen
suspicion every revolution of the
wheels of Idaho's judicial machinery.
The defiant attitude of the friends of
the defendants was well illustrated by
which brought out his famous and
much applauded utterance regarding
undesirable citizens"
The authorities of Idaho contend
that they are not making any war upon
Socialism or upon organized labor, but
that the state is simply placing ON
trial the alleged murdererS of her
governor, a martyr in the cause of law
and order. The state itself, rather
than the county where the crime was
committed, is bearing the expense of
the prosecution, partly because the
county could not stand the expense and
partly because the evidence shows that
Stuncnberg's death, although not TAX
ing place for several years after he
had vacated the governors chair, was
in deliberate revenge for his faithful
ness to his trust as governor. Stunen-
berg was killed by a bomb 50 placed
ana arranged as To explode when he
opened his Eat" on returning home
from his office one evening. Harry
Orchard Was arrested for the crime
aud made Il fun confession that h"
manufactured the bomb and put it in
place. but he implicated Hayward,
Meyer ana Ptttibone as the men who
formed the conspiracy ana paid him 10
10 the job.
Back Of the assassination lies the
unhappy story Of dozen years Of
labor troubles in northern Idaho.
There in the Occur IL Alene region,
where a great wealth of lead is stored
in the mountain sides the warfare be-
tween the miners ana the mine owners
began as early as 1892, when the
Western Federation Of Miners was
honest grievances, but unfortunately
for all concerned hot headed and
| Irresponsible radicals were in control
i of their organization and from small
| beginning the troubles soon became
very serious and far-reaching. FoI
years there was a tragic reign OF
violence i'll that whole section. Pitch
| ed battles We're fought between the
| miners ana the officers Of the law anC
| the non-union men whom the mine
| owners imported. Mines and mine
buildings were openly blown up by
| dynamite by mobs composed Of uninl
men, and scores of innocent citizens
| were bIutally murdered or driven GU
| Of the section ut the muZZlcs Of th'
| rifles
Conditions became 50 bad after the
| riots Of 1899 that United States troops
| were sent to that region and an iron
| reign Of military rule followed. NJ
| doubt Il large majority of the miner
| were law abiding citizens but thug
| and criminals got control of thei
| organization and used the union as
| fearful weapon of anarchy. Then
| when the mine owners with the aid 0
| the troops finally got control of TIL
situation it is not to be denied tina
| they pursued a harsh course and use'
the law not simply for justice but 70
| retaliation. Neither side was who'll
in the right at any time after tn
troubles began. Both the miners am
the authorities went to excuses whicl
| cannot be excused.
Since 1899 peace and order hav
reigned in the Occur a Alene regior
Western Federation miners and non
union miners have worked side by sid