The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-03-07
Charged With Being Accessories to the
Murder of Governor Steunen-
berg, of Idaho, in 1905.
BULL PEN HORROR RECALLED.

Charles. H. Meyer, president;
William d. Haywood, secretary
treasurer of the Western FEEDER
alton of Miners, and George A.
Pcttihonc, a former member of the
executive board ofthe organization,
Will bc placed on trial this week at
Caldwell, Idaho, on the indict-
ment charging them with being
accessories to the assassination of
former Gov. Frank Steunenberg.
larry Orchard, miner, who is
said to have made confession in
volving the Federation officials in
the crime has told Governor Good
ing that he will plead guilty. This
means that he will probably be
placed OH tue stand by the State.
The alleged confession was made to
James Mcfarland, head of the
Western service of the Pinkertons,
and contains more than 10000
words. Orchard is said to have
confessed that he alone comm tilted
80 murderSvthat he acted as
agent of the federation and was
paid for his crimes.
Meyer, Haywood, Pettibone and
the entire federation assert that if
Orchard made such confession he
is trying to save his own neck by
perjury of the most outrageous
kind.
The miners organization charges
that Meyer, Haywood and Petit
bone are the victims of a conspir-
acy Oh the part Of the Mine-owners'
Association.
The red record in the the mining
states began in the Occur d'Alene
country when the Mine owners
Association was formed to combat
the union and to keep the "open
shop
The first battle between the fac
tons, June IL, 1892, the miners
won-tive union and three non.
union men dead. Scarcely 4 month
passed in which a union or non
union miner was not killed.
For seven years this warfare
kept up, and the union grew strong.
by the aid of guards and detec,
uves, the employers had been able
automatically to keep the open
shop.
Martial law had been declared
after the first fight, and there were
wholesale arrests of union miners.
Among those arrested was Petit
bone. There were no prosecutions,
and an armistice was agreed upon.
Every anniversary OF the first fight
was celebrated by the miners by
parades to the graves of the union
victims. The dead were eulogized
and strong union speeches de-
livered.
On May l, 1899, the Sullivan
and Bunker mine, at Wardner.
which had heretofore been strictly
union, announced that the open
shop policy would prevail. This
vas taken as declaration of war
by the union leaders. A procla
nation was put out declaring that
none but union miners should he
employed in the Sullivan and
bunker. Non-union men under a
heavy guard were put to work in
the mine.
President McKinly was asked tc
send IN troops. A negro regiment.
under the command of General
Merriam, was quickly moved tc
the scene. Bartlett Sinclair, State
Auditor. was sent forward as the
representative of the Governor
Inc subsequent acts of retaliatory
"utlages committed by the militar,
were done with Sinclair's consent,
ne acted without consulting the
Governor and established the ..per.
mt system.' No man could ge,
WORK or apply for work in tn,
district without getting Sinclair's
1 permit.
The permits which applicant.
were requested to sign set fortl
me outrages in Occur d'Alens
were encouraged and fostered b,
8 one miners union and the appli
can't renowned and denounced al
unions. This policy caused spill