Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-06
Wants Exact
Justice Done.


dence is submitted to him showing
that there has been 4 miscarriage 81
Justice for or against Meyer and Hay
wood, awaiting trial at Boise. Idaho
charged with the murder of Former
Gov. Stcuncnbcrg, he will bring such
evidence to the attention of tn" at
torncy general for such action. II any
as it may he In the hover ~ the fed
cral authorities to TAX.
TIL" communicates was the formal
reply Of the President To the union
committee which recently called Upon
Mr. Roos"vclt in Washington ami -
uursted linn to set forth in general his
attitude toward tho accused men and
specifically why he had referred tol
them as undesirable citizens"
lin making his report today tho
chairman. John 5. Henry. said the
committee had spent more than an
hour with the President at which
time the matter i'm hand was thorough
~ discussed. The President signiticd
his intention Of formally replying in
the letter which the chairman read.
Following the reading Their" an ami
mated discussion in which the chair
=
member of the committee" stoutly
championrd the attitude of the Chief
Executive. 1t was finally voted 70 send
q copy Of the letter to counsel for
MOycr and Haywood.
In his reply the President quotes at
length from a letter written by him
more than year ago to the attorney
general i'm which he said that our
duty is Gf it should ever happen that
We had any power in the mattcrl to
soc that exact justice is done these
mcn.
The Presidents letter follows:
The White House
"WashinGton. May ). 1907.
My Dear Mr.. Hcnry-When you. in
company with Messrs. Coakley and
Brown called upon nc this morning l
read your letter I had written to the
attorney general on March % 1906. At
your request | gladly send you the fol-
lowing extract from that letter:
"''Our duty il Gf it should ever hap
pCn that we had any power in the mat
tArl to see that exact justice is done
those men. Their must he no condo
nItiGn of laWlcSSness on our part. even
if the laWleSSncSS takes the form OF an
effort to avtnge the wrongs committed
by the llwlesSncSS Of others. The sole
Question as regards Haywood and
Meyer. must be the question whether
or not they can show to be guilty of
t|is particular act and their legal
rights mast BE- carefully Safcguardcd as
tj.oYc of any other men. 1t il alleged
that I'll, V were cXtraditcd from Colora-
It" in y manner that amounted to q be-
t!uyai Of their legal rights.
"'! should like to have the district
attur,"v OF Colorado ana if necessary
the district attorney Of Idaho. give inc
S,I"u information as they can on this
point | should like to get from the
district attorney Of Idaho any mforma
tiuu that he can obtain as to whether
~ Mt there had been the slightest dis
position shown by the authorities in
Idaho t. act toward these men in an
rnr":r or improper manner, or to deny
hr'N tEcir legal rights. ON tho other
hand 7 should like to know whether
th"rc Il any symptoms Of Il miscarriage
of Justice in their favor. 3" The
Incorporate VIGILANCE with which the
Socialist or labor papers. like that Of
DcbS and | am sorry {" say some labor
organizations. have insisted without
arv knowledge Of tho facts upon treat
ing these men as mIrtNrs Ia the cause
of labor has unqu"StiunahlY resulted in
trrm"ndouS pressure being brought To-
bear upon the authorities nc Idaho, a.
discharge or acquit them whether
guilty. Gr innocent " p" 50 far as
the unions are anxious only To see that
exact justice is done these men: that
they are given their full legal rights
and not condemned unless proved
guilt Of this specific act, thcy are en-
titled to the cordial corporation Of all
just ana fair-minded citizens.
80 far as by any action or Ivy muir
derous and reasonable language such as
that quoted above from Dcbs Clnd 9TH
ers) they tend to bring pressure to bear
upon the state authorities and the courts,
to obs;ruct the course of Justice aud to
render It difficult to convict the mer if
guilty. They are equally with stint to he
condemned and anything that the federal
authorities can do. in either event. to
further the cause Of justice is to b" done.
In response to your question ii i. !
trust. needless for me to say that il al
any time you or anyone else can submit
TO me any evidence showing that there
has been 4 miscarriage of justic" for or
against Mcs%IS. Mover or Haywood
which you believe it is in my power 10
remedy. will at once bring such cvidencn
to the attention Of the attorney general
to have him give it the fullest consid' IA
ton and TO take thereon such action. if
any as it may he in the power OF the
federal authorities to take.
Sincerely yours,
"THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
afr. John s. Henry, 123o Third Ave,
New York
In the discussion that followed mo-
ton to accept the committees report. a |
delegate charged that the President had
evaded The issue. This called forth a rc
Spouse from Delegate Coaklny. The lat
ter said that the committee considered
the interview satisfactory and that it was
mot up to the President to prove that |
there had been a miscarriage of justice |
but to those defending Meyer and Hay
wood
After several delegates had been heard |
il was decided to forward a ropv IF tho |