The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1907-07-12

Senator Borah Cross Examines.
Taking up his cross-examination Of
the witness Senator Borah first in
CURED as to where the real power of
the organization, between conven.
tions,~ existed. Meyer said It rested
In the executive board, the president
ard the secretary treasurer. He has
been an active or ex-off1cio member of
the executive board ever since 1899.
Meyer was very deliberate in his
replies. evidently weighing his an
swers carefully over in his mind be-
fore making them. He said he was
living at Deadwood, S. D., during the
Occur d'Alene troubles Of 1899, but
became acquainted with many of the
members from that district at the
Salt Lake convention of that year. He
also learned of Governor Steunen.
berg's part in the strike Jack Simp.
kins was one of the men Meyer met
at the convention. He heard Simp-
kins tell Of the indignities he suffered
in the Idaho "bullpen" and knew what
his feelings were,
Senator Borah questioned the wit.
ness closely as to- the extent of the
rule Of the federation to defend any
Of It's members accused Of crime.
Meyer declared that no man was do
Tended unless the executive board de-
cided his arrest was due to his con.
nection with the Western Federation.
Senator Borah next inquired as to
Petitioners relations to the Western
Federation of Miners. Pettibone was
not an active member. but when his
business permitted would attend the
conventions and would come to head
quarters. He was a good friend Of
the organization. s..,..-.
Orchards Ennoity to steunenberg.
Meyer declared he had never heard
of Orchards enmity toward Governor
Steunenberg until the present trial
started. Senator Borah had the wit
ness tell again Of Orchards activities
In helping the federation officials and
attorneys In the alleged train wreck
Ing case at Cripple Creek.
As to Orchards accompanying him
to Ouray Meyer said he had intended
hiring bodyguard until Orchard hap.
pened to drop in and say that he was
going to Ouray on his way to Silver
ton. The two were on the train to-
gether for a day and night and
talked very generally about their ex-
periences in different mining dis.
tpiota Thoro -xuoe con, - aico,,eeio, 30
Steunenberg, Orchard comparing the
acts Of Idaho's governor to those Of
Governor Peabody of Colorado. Or
chard also told of having had an in
terest in the Hercules mine, but did
not say he had lost that interest be-
cause of Governor steunenberg. He
always said it was because Of ".trou-
bles In the Occur d'Alenes.'
Moyor repeated his statement that
from the time of his arrest in Ouray
Ia April, 1904, until June Is, 1905, he
had not seen Orchard,
Independence Depot Affair.
Meyer said when Orchard went to
dinner with him year later the mat
tor of the independence depot explo-
sion was discussed. Orchard declared
that he had nothing to do with It and
that he and Neville had left the Grip.
pie Creek district before the explosion
occurred.
Meyer declared he knew nothing of
a draft being sent by Haywood to
Jack Simpkins on Dec. 81, 1908. The
first he ever heard Of the draft was in
the evidence produced in court a week
or so ago.
Senator Borah asked Meyer II he
had had any previous communication
with Jack Simpkins prior to receiving
from him Jan. 4, 1906. the telegram
Cannot get lawyer to defend Ho-
gan" He declared he had not. Meyer
said that Simpkins, as the member Of
the executive board Of the district
where the trouble occurred, would be
the man to handle the affairs OF the
Western Federation Of Miners.
Meyer said that at the time the
federation arranged to employ q law
yer for Orchard there had been no In
yestigation to determine the mans
guilt or to learn II Jack simpkins had
been In Caldwell.