Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1907-06-13
MOVERS EARLY LIFE,
Miner on Trial For Steunenberg
Crime a Deep Thinker.
WELL LIKED BY NEWsBoYs.

Incident at Denver That Showed HE
Popularity Among Thorn - Wealthy
Woman's Tribute to Him When Told
That He Was One Of the Sishts.
Charles Henry Meyer, president Of
the Western Federation of Miners.
known to Boone QaD friends a.
Charlie Meyer, was born In Boone
county thirty-seven years aga, says
Boone Ua) correspondent of the New
York Herald. The family lived ct
Quincy two years and then moved to
a farm Of $50 acres on the Boone Story
line, where they lived for many years.
AT the age of two years Charles
Meyer, who Is charged with completely
in the murder OF Ex-Governor Steu-
nenberg of Idaho, was left motherless.
He was the youngest Of seven children,
and the others cared for him during
his early life.
Mr.. Meyer during boyhood was not
healthy His father never insisted
that he do much Of the farm work.
The boy was allowed to read or spend
the time about the home AZ he saw
ut. During these years he was al
ways reading, especially news or
stories Of the western country. He
entered the employ Of Clark Luther
at the age Of fourteen years, riding his
pony in going about his work. After
quitting the employ OF Mr.. Luther and
when fifteen years of age he worked
for Fred Mills, who lived near Boone.
His health did not improve greatly,
and he went west, first to Wyoming,
then into the Dakotas, and for some
time roamed over the northwest a.
cowboy, studying the country and peo-
Pile. He was between sixteen and
eighteen years of age, but evinced In
terest in things that generally occupy
the minds Of older persons. firing Of
this life, he went to Chicago, but did
not like the city and within a short
time returned to the western country.
Here he began mining and continued
at 1t many years. His first employ
ment was In the Homestead mine, In
Lead City. s. d. Here he remained
some time. when he was made the
president of the miners union which
was organized there
He was afterward delegate to the
Western Federation of Miners in Dem
yer and then organizer and ultimately
president of the federation. He has
been elected to this ONCE time after
time The rules Of the federation are
that no one shall be elected to ONCE
who Is not present in person. But two
years ago. when Meyer was In the bull
pen at Telluride, he was reelected by
acclamation, as he was a year ago,
when he was in Jail in Boise City, Ida.
At the last meeting bis picture was
placed In the presidents chair and was
greeted with cheers.
Meyer has always been known as q
man Of wonderful courage and at times
when youngster would often display
will of his own. He was a deep
thinker and often would sit in deepest
thought, as II trying to solve some
perplexing problem. Then he would
brighten up and start whistling, happy
In the success Of his meditation,
Mrs. Payne, his sister-in-law, tells of
little Incident that occurred In Den
yer which showed the popularity of
Meyer among the newsboys. Mr.. and
Mrs. Meyer and Mrs. Payne were at
one of the large theaters of that city
one evening. The gallery was crowded
with newsboys. Soon after Mr.. Meyer
entered he was spied by one Of the
youngsters, who cried out, What Is
the matter with MoyerT' Instantly
scores Of boys took up the yell, and
Meyer became the cynosure of all eyes.
When he was In prison In Cripple
Creek, wealthy woman from Chica-
go who was visiting In the west went
to the Jail. having been told that he
was one OF the sights Of Colorado.
The cell door was opened, and this
woman stood and looked In upon him,
lOrgnette at eye. She said, II have
been told that you are one Of the sights,
SO have come to see YOU"
Mr.. Meyer gently replied: II am will
ing any one should look at me who
wishes to do 20. l am sorry am In
the center Of the stage, but cannot
help myself"
The woman was so impressed by his
gentlemanly manner and appearance
that she apologized several times, ex-
pressing herself as covered with shame
and saying she would never again be
guilty of such an act. 81 did not think
you were such q man rs you are I
thought Of you as sort OF wild beast
am sure some mistake has been made
and you are not guilty of the things Of
which you are accused"
Two weeks before he was arrested
and taken out of Colorado for the al
legged murder Of Governor Steunenberg
he visited his brother. 8. f. Meyer of
Boone, and his sister. Mrs. Willard
Foster, While there he renewed old
acquaintance and spent several days
Ia Boone. He was suffering much
from asthma and was then In critical
condition from the disease. A news
paper man In interviewing him at that
time was impressed with his sincerity.
I'VE are right, and we will win our
fight with the aid Of that juA.ics which
the constitution guarantees = every
American citizen. We will show the
people Of this country that the West
ern Federation OF Miners II not the