The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1907-06-05
MOVERS EARLY LIFE.
Miner on Trial For Steunenberg
Crime a Deep Thinker.
WELL LIKED BY NEWSBoYS.

Charles Henry Meyer, president OF
the Western Federation of Miners,
known to Boone Qa) friends as
"Charlie" Meyer, was born In Boone
county thirty years ago, says
Boone Qa) correspondent of the New
York Herald. The family lived at
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 as he saw
fit. 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 as a
cowboy, studying the country and peo-
pie. 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 it 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 Den
yer and then organizer and ultimately
president Of the federation. He has
been elected to this Office time after
time. The rules Of the federation are
that no one shall be elected to Office
who is not present in person. But two
years ago, when Meyer was In the bull
pen at Telluride, he was reelected by
acclamatlon, as he was a year ago,
when he was in Jail in Boise City, Ida.
At the last meeting his picture was
placed in the presidents chair and was
greeted with cheers.
Meyer has always been known as
man Of wonderful courage and at times
when youngster would often display
a viii of his own. He was deep
thinker and often would sit in deepest
thought as if trying to solve some
pcpleXng problem Then he would
brighten up and start whisting, happy
I'm the success of his meditation.
Mrs. Payne, his sister-in-law, tells Of
a 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
Greek, a wealthy woman from Chica-
go who was visiting i'm 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 i'm upon him.
lOrgnette at eye. She said, 81 have
been told that you are one of the sights,
so have come TO see you"
Mr.. Meyer gently replied: Il am will
Ing any one should look at me who
wishes TO do so. am sorry | am in
the center Of the stage, but l 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. Il did not think
1
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, S. f. Meyer of
Boone, and his sister, Mrs. Willard
Foster. While there he renewed old
acquaintances and spent several days
in Boone. He was suffering much
from asthma and was then in a critical
condition from the disease. 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 justice which
the constitution guarantees to every
American citizen. We will show the
people Of this country that the West
ern Federation Of Miners is not the
barbarous organization that they have
been led to believe"