Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1912-06-14

Caldwell, Idaho, June 10.-EditoI
Statesman: / cannot feel that
would be true to the name OF
Steunenberg if | remained silent
and permitted John T. Morrison to
continue his candidacy for govern
OF without voicing my earnest pro-
test. / feel that The Statesman
= Will forgive me if | transgress on
its space in explaining why, in
my opinion, Morrison should not
be considered favorably as pos
sible occupant of this high office
or of any other honor at the hands
of the people of Idaho.
Motives Behind Brokers' Action.
NY brother, Frank Steuennberg,
while governor of Idaho, acting
from the purest motives of patri-
otism, took decided stand for law
and order. He thereby incurred
enmities that after several years
resulted in his assinatlon.
Men who | believe were his muir
derers were arrested and brought
to trial. Their instrument, Harry
Orchard, made confession of his
own and their part il this vile
conspiracy.
Corroboralion this confession
was secured through the sworn
statements of Steve Adams. and
the state thus obtained evidence
that would inevitably have resulted
in the conviction of Meyer, Hay
wood and Pettibone.
How Morrison Tirwarted the State,
John T. Morrison, who had been
governor of Idaho for two years, !
and for many years had lived a |
neighbor to my brother, had en- |
joyed his confidence and claimed |
to esteem his friendship, knew as
we'll as any man in the state the
importance attached to Adams tes-
timony in the states case against
the murderers of the man he
claimed as neighbor and friend.
Apparently he was unable TO re-
sist the opportunity of taking a
fee, and by securing the fleeing of
this important witness, render use
less the efforts of the state to
bring to justice these slayers of
his friend.
Declares He betrayed His State.
/ recognize the right of an attor-
ney to sell his services to a client,
but Mr. Morrison was something
more than a lawyer. He had been
chief executive of the state. He
had applauded my brothers efforts
on behalf of right and justice. and
by means of which the dignity and I
good name of the state had been ]
upheld. Those familiar with Dar- {
rows methods know that Morri- {
sons employment was not because /
of his standing as an attorney, but |
solely on account of his having {
formerly been governor of Idaho. !
He had stood somewhat in the {
position of an heir of the good 9
name that had been won by the h
acts of Frank Steunenberg for the t
state of Idaho. i
If there was anywhere any man ;
who owed to his neighbOr and
his friend a debt of gratitude, that
man was John I. Morrison and
the debt was due to Frank Steunen |
berg. But he could not resist the
fempting clink of the greasy thirty
pieces of silver, for which Judas
betrayed the Master.
John L. Morrison asks the peo-
pie of this state to make hIm gov
ernor. ask in what position =
would he be ii he were elecied Il
governor. and Jack Simpllins, the '
accompIice and companion OF Har- {
~ Orchrd i'm Caldwell, Immediately t
before the assinatiOn, and who is b
sill under indictment in this state q
and a fugitive from justice, were
apprehended and placed on trial {
fo,. this foul murder. Could the {
people expect that this man would [
see Justice done on this Simpkins? [
L believe that all the Stesmen- {
beras feel that Morrison's nomn- r
alton and election would be a dis a
Grace. a reputation of the acts :
of our brother and a Justification g
of his murder. o
want to thank The Statesman a
for the splendid courage 1t dis :
played throughout the trials of the a
assassins. No agency could have, T
done more for the state than it 5
did. | feel confident that it will J.
give this protest of mine space In q
its columns, and that it will again 4
explain to the people of Idaho the r
Morrison in the hour of the states c
greatest trial. L