Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-05-15
Idaho Murder Case.

men, mechanics, ,adyenturers,s soldiers
Of fortune, farmers and indolents-
all the elements of civilization, went
to the new west ahes of the rail-
roads, were shaken by the upheavals
of circumstances into classes and
now, a generation later, years Of in
ddstrlal warfare has led through
endless charges of assassination by
Wholesale into courts of Idaho, where
President Meyer, Secretary Haywood,
for the western Federation of Miners,
and Il. A. Pettibone stand accused
of the murder of former Gov. Steun-
enberg.
in the fight for gold in the early
days the fortunate and strong be-
came the employers. The unfor-
tunate or weak became the employees.
Viewing the situation from opposite
standpoints the two forces, which
might have worked together to
build up the west, became divergent
and crystalized in late years into the
Mine Owners association and the
Western Federation of Miners.
Warfare since has been relentless
and bloody. The strike of 1894,
when the sanguinary battle of Bull
HILL in the Cripple Greek district
was fought, the gold and coal miners
strike of 1903 when Gen. Sherman
Beh and Gov. Peabody carried on
he;warfare in the Cripple Greek
and Trinidad districts, the Couer
d'Alenc riots in Idaho and numerous
minor troubles incident to or accom-
paHying these have kept the Rocky
Mountain states in continual bitter
ness.
Fhe fight has spread into all Sec
ticns OF America where labor is en-
played. WIN. Haywood, whose in
valid wife and two little daughters.
await in Denver the return Of hus
band and father, is given peace of
mind by the knowledge that his
comrades at liberty send his salary
regularly the family, dependent
alone upon him for support. The
dominant note of Haywood's private
life is his love for wife and home
Through years when she lay victim
of paralysis, completely helpless,
her brawny miner, husband carried
her up and down the mountain sides
after his work was done, that she
might get fresh air and possibly re-
cover. Husband and nurse he was
to her, and his care in measure re-
stored her health.
Regardless of charges against
him, needless of the anathemas Of
millionaires and statesmen of high
degree, despite the Characterization
by President Roosevelt of VIM.
Haywood is "an undesirable citizen"
Mrs. Haywood is certain of his in
nocence, nobleness and ultimate re-
lease. The wives of Meyer and
Pettibone are in Idaho. permitted to
visit their husbands and cheer their
days in prison.
Meyer, Haywood and Pettibone
are well supplied with attorneys.
Money for every purpose has been
supplied to them by labor organiza-
tions throughout the country. An
appropriation Of $4,000 by the
state legislature and the regular
revenues at the disposal Of the pro-
scouting officers have been met by
contributions from every source.
The general opinion among labor
men is that Meyer, Haywood and
Pettibone are victims of persecution.
There have been scores Of murders,
dozens Of dynamite outrages occur
ing in the Rocky mountains coin
cidental with labor troubles. The
Mine Owners association and the
Western Federation of Miners ac-
cuse each other Of instigating thems
the former to create favorable senti-
ment, the latter to do by force what
they had not the power to do by
other means.
Someone placed the dynamite that
killed thirteen miners at Independ-
cnce, COL, on the backbone Of the
continent. Some one killed Frank
Steunenberg, governor of Idaho, dur
ing the Couer d'Alene troubles. All
the other long list Of crimes were
not upheavals of nature. The state
of Idaho believes it will prove that
the present defendants were re-
sponsible for at least one murder.
Steunenberg was blown up by
dynamite as he entered the gate to
his home at Caldwell, Idaho, Dec.
80, 1905. His body was blown
twenty feet, a portion Of the fence
was wrecked and his house damaged.
Gov. Gooding at once charged the
crime to officials Of the Western
Federation of Miners. In the Feb
ruary following. Harry Orchard, in
the Idaho penitentiary, made a long
confession, so it is charged, to De.
tective JAS. Mcfarland of Denver
AS result of this confession anc
upon other evidence, said to be hele
by the police, steps were taken tc
remove Meyer, Haywood and Petit
bone into the jurisdiction of Idah'
from Colorado.
Warrants were sworn out by Gov
Gooding formally, charging Moyel
Haywood and Pettibone with tn
| murdar Of Sta,,nanharn Tho crov