The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1914-07-09
MONTANA AND THE WESTERN
FEDERATION.

The recent occurrences in Butte
beginning with the raid on Miners
Union hall, followed by the destruction
of that building and expulsion OF
Meyer and ending with the attempt
to assassinatc Mayor Duncan, have
disclosed situation that Is highly
dscreditable to the city Of Butte and
the state of Montana.
For many years it has been well
known to those familiar with the
Western Federation of Miners and its
methods that an ediet of that union
was the highest law known in Butte
and Silver Bow county, but 1t remain
ed for these occurrences to demon
strate that a mob Is the highest au-
thority known in the state of Mon
tana. While the mob was actually in
control in Butte the mayor frankly
admitted that the police force under
his control had done nothing to pro-
tect life and property, and, so far as
we have seen, during the same time
the governor did nothing except to in
quire of "Muckie" Mcdonald, leader
of the revolving miners, whether he
could act as mediator between the
contending elements.
The mayor of Butte said in sub
stance that he thought it was better
to let the mob have its own way than
to have the regularly constituted au-
thorites perform their duty under the
law and suppress the mob, because by
this course less damage would be
done. In other words, at any time
when lot of lawless men in Butte
desire to wreak vengeance upon those
whom they dislike, this chicken heart
ed mayor would have the policemen
of the city turn their backs and walk
away to save trouble and avoid pos
sble injury
If there is law to be upheld and en-
forced in the state of Montana, If
there is state government Of which
the governor considers himself the
head and which he feels himself bound
to defend or if there is any official
duty that the governor regards HIM
self as bound to perform in maintain
ing order in that state, we have seen
no suggestion of it as coming from
Governor Stewart. So far as we have
observed he has manifested no sense
Of his responsibility as chief executive
Of that state. He has not intimated
to law breakers that he will make any
5ifort whatever to use the power of
he state to maintain order and pro-
ect life and property. This is sit /
lation most humiliating to good ct- /
.ens Of Montana. In no other state !
las mob violence disclosed a governor |
70 weak, In Idaho, in Nevada and in !
Colorado the governors made an eff !
0rt to Impress law breakers with the |
act that there was a state govern
nent whose laws must be respected
nd obeyed. but in Montana, so far as
he governor has indicated, there is
leither state government nor law.
In view of the conduct of these men. i
worn to uphold the law and to see
hat II is faithfully executed and the
ong- time domination of the Western
federation in Butte. it is not strange
nat gathering of Firms in that city
onceived the idea that they had
light to direct the ms tyor to expeI
rom Butte one of their countrymen,
nd, when the mayor refused, that
hey had right to kill him. This is
ne sort Of government those in au-
hority in Montana h.s encouraged,
nd the state is suffer Ing in conse-
uence
u Is case Of sowing the wind anc.
ap4ng The Inevitable hirlwind. Is