The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-05-06
Wants Evidence Of Alleged Mis-
carriage Of Justice
LETTER TO CENTRAL UNION
Sent to Counsel for Miners Charges
with the Murder of Govern1
Steunenberg-Rep is Now
Expected.

New York May 5.--In a letter read t
day before the Central Federated unio.
President Roosevelt states if evidence
submitted to him showing that there ha
been a miscarriage of justice for OF
against Meyer and Haywood awaiting
trial at Boise, Idaho. charged with the
murder of former Governor Steunenberg,
he will bring such evidence to the atten-
tom of the attorney general for such ac-
tion, if any, as it may be in the power
of the federal authorities to take.
The communication was the formal re-
ply of the president to the committee
of miners who recently called upon the
president in Washington and requested
him to set forth in general his attitude
toward the accused men. and specifically
why he had referred to Meyer and Hay
wood as undesirable citizens"
In making his report today the chair
man. John Henry, said that the commit
tee had spent more than an hour with
the president at which time the matter
in hand was thoroughly discussed. The
president signiied his intention of formal-
ly replying in the letter which the chair
man then read. Following the reading
there was an animated discussion. during
which the chairman and William coakley,
a member of the committee, stouty de-
Tended the attitude of the chief execu-
tive. 1t was finally voted to send copy
of the letter to counsel for Meyer and
Haywood.
Quotes Letter.
In his reply the president quotes az
length from letter written by him more
than year ago to the attorney general,
in which he says that "our duty Is df it
should happen that we had any power in
the matter) to see that exact Justice is
done these mon" sf8As = 20 y,
The presidents letter foflows
when you, in company with Messrs
Coal<ley and Brown, called upon ME this
morning, ! read the letter which | had
written to the attorney general on March
8, 1906. At your request | gladly send
you the following extract from that let
ter:
"Our duty is df it should happen that
we had any power in the matter) to see
that exact justice is done these men.
There must be no condonation of lawless-
ness ON our part, even If the lawlessness
takes the form of an effort to avenge
the wrongs committed by the lawlessness
of others. The sole question as regards
Haywood and Moyer must be the question
whether or not they can be shown to be
guilty of this particular act and their
legal rights must be as carefully safe
guarded as those of any other men. 1t
is alleged that they were extradited from
Colorado in a manner that amounted to
betrayal of their legal rights.
Il should like to have the district attor-
ney of Colorado, and If necessary the dis
trlct attorney of Idaho, give me such in
formation as they can on this point. L
should like to get from the district at
torney of Idaho any information that he
can obtain as to whether or not there
has been the slightest disposition shown
by the authorities In Idaho to act toward
these men in an unfair or improper man.
ner, or to deny them their legal rights.
On the other hand / should like to know
whether there is any sympathy of mis-
carriage of justice in their favor. The i'm
temperance with which the socialistic or
labor papers, like that of Debs, | am
sorry to say, and some labor organiza-
tions, have insisted without any knowl-
edge of facts In treating these men as
martyrs to the cause of labor. has un-
questionably resulted In tremendous pres
sure being brought to bear upon the au-
thorities of Idaho to discharge or acuuit
them whether guilty or innocent. SO far
as the unions are concerned they arc
anxious only to see that exact justice Is
done these men. that they are given their
fun legal rights and not condemned un-
less proved guilty of this specific act.
they are entitled to the cordial co-opera-
tion of all just and fair-minded citi-
zens. So far as by any action or by
and reasonable language. such
as that quoted from Debs (and others),
they tend to bring pressure to bear upon
the state authorities and the courts to
obstruct the course of justice and to rem
der ii difficult to convict the men, if
guilty they equally without stint to
be condemned and anything that the fed
eral authorities can do, in either event.
to further the cause of justice, Is to be
done.
I'm response to your question. II Is.
trust. needless for me to say that If at
any time you or anyone else can submit
to me any evidence showing that there
has been a miscarriage of justice for or
against Meyer or Haywood, which you
believe it Is in my power 10 remedy, I will
at once bring such evidence to the at
tention of the attorney general to have
him give it the fullest consideration and Z
TO take thereon such actlon as 1t may
be in the power of the federal authors
ties to take. Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Evades Issue.
In the discussion which followed dele
gate charged that the President had eyad-
ed the issue This called forth response
from Delegate Coakely. The latter said
that the committee considered the inter-
view satisfactory. and that 1t was not
up to the President to prove there had
been a miscarriage of justice, but to
those defending Meyer and Haywood
After the several delegates had been
heard 1t was decided to forward a copy
of the letter to counsel for the indicted
labor leaders and let them submit to
President Roosevelt any evidence they
might have that there had been mis-
carriage of Justice in he extradition of
Meyer. Haywood and Pettibonn from
Colorado to Idaho.