Montana news. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-191?, 1907-09-26

Rathdrum to hold a couple of meetings.
Rathdrum is about thirty miles east
of Spokane and is the county seat Of
Kootenai county. The prosecution in
the Steve Adams case asked for a
change of venue from Wallace, the
principal town in the Occur d'Alenes
district, because, as they alleged, the
Western Federation was so srtong
there that it was impossible to obtain
an unprejudiced jury. This was rather
remarkable admission on the part of
the mine owners side, as il has been
their boast since the Occur d'Alenes
bull.pen days that the Western Fed
Grafton was completely crushed out.
But while the redouptable st. John
was in disguise in Burke under the
name of John Vincent, keeping out of
the way of the Telluride vultures that
were thirsting for his blood, as presi-
dent Of the union there he was doing
as he always does, organizing every
thing in sight, and to-day the union is
strong again in that capital cursed part
of the earth-much stronger than the
employers have any idea of, as every
thing has to be done elandestinely in
this' land of the Free"
The mine owners failed utterly to
convict Adams at his first trial, which
was held in Wallace, the jury disagree
ing. And a couple of business men on
the jury who voted for conviction were
boycotted by the miners and their bu-
siness utterly ruined. So on the mo-
tion of the prosecution Adams was re-
moved from Wallace and brought over
to Rathdrum, in the midst of a quiet
farming community, to be tried again
for the alleged murder of Tyler, a
claim jumper.
It is amazing what trumped up
charges have been brought in to play
to rid the Western Federation of its
most active and self-sacrifcing mem
bers in the interest of the organiza
tion of the working class against the
oppressive measures of the employing
class The evidence was so fiimsy dur
ing the first trial that it has been q
matter of general surprise that sec
ond attempt was going to be made
to convict Adams on the meager show
ing that the prosecution could make
against him.
Clarence Darrow and his wife will
President Meyer and Mrs. Adams cam,
to Rathdrum with Steve. Darrow an,
Meyer were looking up every possible
detail of the situation to see that ther,
were no heavy odds ready to be inter
posed against his federation man whom
the mine owners will next strive /,
make the victim Of their murderou
designs.
Adams is confined in the county iai
at Rathdrum. SO close is the watc
on him, that he is not even allowed L
cut wood for exercise, privilege tha
is granted to all the other prisoners
The Jail is surrounded by great stack
of wood which the prisoners have cu'
many of them even without guard
stationed over them; and they are eve
taken out to saw the wood of the eli
izens in the town for which they rc
ceive pay. But Adams is allowed non
of these privileges.
Mrs. Adams has taken q small pal
TALLY furnished house in Rathdrun
Being a small country town, IL wa
impossible to find desirable livin
quarters. She took the only house sh
could find that had even a pretence O
being furnished, and il had such met
ger accommodations and was so filth
dirty that she was discouraged. Bein
a practical and energetic young WI
man, however, she went to work wit
soap, water, lye and brushes and eve
paint to make the place habitable, an
even then was feeling down.hearte
over the outcome.
Mr.. Meyer had told me in Spokau
that / must go and see her ns she wa
feeling very lonely. As soon as ] e
there she hunted every hotel and room
ing house for me. But was with OF
good comrades, Mr., and Mrs Won Ho
steen, and there she finally found m
1 spent one afternoon with her and 81
urged me to lie over several days an
stay with her, and / should have dor
so had i not been dated ahead.
Mrs. Adams is the daughter Of M
Dimon of Telluride, Col, Her fri
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