The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-04-27
INTERESTING HAPPENINGS EVERYWHERE

During the past few days many la
Tor organizations have passed resO
buttons denouncing President ROOse
velt for calling Meyer and Haywood
officers of the Western Federation
OF Miners, undesirable citizens
Other organizations have sent letters
70 the president inquiring into the
authenticity of the quotation attri'
buted to him, or protesting against
his words. President Roosevelt has
now replied, reiterating his former
statement and explaining clearly his
attitude toward both financlers and
luhor leaders, whose methods no dis
approves.
Washington, April 23.-In q let
ter addressed to Honore Jackson OF
Chicago, chairman of the Cook coun-
ty Haywood conference, made
public today. President Roosevelt re-
plies to the criticisms of his recent
letter In which he referred to Meyer
and Haywood, officers of the Western
Federation of Miners, charged with
completely in the murder of former
Governor Steunenberg of Idaho, as
undesirable citizens" The presi-
dent SAYS he regrets that any body OF
men should so far forget their duty
10 their country as to, by formation
Df societies or In other ways, endea-
vor 10 influence and coercc court or
iurp; that they, not he, are trying
10 influence justice. and he condem9
what he calls their Migrant impro-
priety in the matter. He says that
he indicated no opinion as to their
guilt Of the Steunenberg murder,
but that il was simply absnrdlty TO
suppose that because man Is on
trial he is free from criticism as to
his manner of life. He says he might
AS we'll be accused of trying to innn-
ence the suits against Hartman,
some of whose friends had also criti-
cised him He said that Meyer anu
Haywood stand as representatives OIL
those who habitually appear as
guilty of Indictment to or apology for
bloodshed and violence. He added
that he was profoundly Indifferent
to the condemnation of him for his
criticisms of the undesirable types OF
citizens, regardless of the power o.
either labor or capital.
Presidents Letter.
The presidents letter to Jackson
follows:
April %, 1907. Dear Sir |
have received your letter of the 18TH
instant. in which you enclose the
draft of formal letter which is to
follow. have been notified That
several delegations bearing similar
REQUESTS are on the way hither. In
tbo letter Won. on behalf of the Cook
County r-Haywood conference,
protest against certain language
used In a recent letter. which you
assert 20 be designed to influence the
course of justice in the case OF the
trial for murder of Messrs Meyer
and HAYWOOD | entirely agree with
YOU that il is improper to endeavor
TO influence the course OF Justice'
whether by threats or In any similar
mannef. For this reason | have re-
GREETED most deeply the action OF
such organizations as your own IL
undertaking to accomplish this very
result In the very case OF when yoh
sneak. For instance, your letter rs
headed Cook County Moyer-Hdy-
wood-Pettibone Conference. with
the headlines Death cannot. Will
NOT and shall not claim our brothers.
This shows that you and your asso-
ciates are not demanding a fair trial
or working for a fair trial, but are
announcing in advance that the YER
diet shall only be one way. and that
YOU will not tolerate any other YER
diet. Such action is fragrant In It's
improperly. and / join heartily In
condemning 1t.
but 1t is a simple absurdity 10
supposo that because any man Is on
trial for given offense he Is there
fore 10 be freed from all criticisms
unon his general conduct and man
ner of life. In my letter to which
YOU object I referred to a certain
prominent flnancier, Mr.. Hartman
on the che hand, and to Messrs. Mog-
or. HAYWOOD and Debs on the other,
as being equally undesirable citizens.
II is MS foolish To assert that this
WIS designed to influence the trlai
Of Mover and Haywood as TO assert
that 1t was designed TO influence the
eui;s that have been brought against
Ny Hartman. | neither expressed
nor Indicated any opinion as 10
whether Messrs. Meyer and Haywood
were guilty of the murder of Cover
nor Steunenberg. If they are guilty
they certainly ought 10 be punished
If thcv are not guilty they certainly
oueht not to be punished.
Firm In His Opinion.
"But no possible outcome, either
Of the trial or ofthe suits, can AFFECT
my Judgment as to the undesirability