The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-07-19
GOV. ALEXANDER lMPEACHES
LOCAL OFFICERS.

Suppose that Governor Alexander
should call upon the president to send
troops to Idaho for the protection of
life and property, accompanying the
request with the usual statement that
he was unable with the means at his
disposalsto preserve order and enforce
obedience to the law. Instead Of
complying with the request suppose
the president, accompanied by the
secretary of state with the great seal
of the nation In his grip, the secre-
tary of war and other members of his
cabinet, should come to Idaho and
visit the scene OF the alleged disorder,
confer with the leaders of the dis
turbance who would of course be on
their good behavior, inspect the camps
of the outlaws to see that the sani-
tary laws were being observed, and
then through interviews in the press
and In public mass meetings should
announce that he found nothing in the
situation to justify the presence of
federal troops and that he was con-
WINGED that IL the governor would per-
form his duty he was abundantly able
to handle the situation without as
sistance from the soldiers.
Ii the president should do that,
Governor Alexander would resent 1t
as an unwarranted imputation of his
motives, a reflection upon his capac-
ity as governor of the state, and In
effect direct impeachment of his Of
ficial conduct. And he would be full
" justified in so constituting it.
But that is exactly what Governor
Alexander is doing with reference to
the sheriffs and other officers of the
counties in which the /. w. w. has
forced a suspension Of all lumber op-
erations. The local officers know the
situation thoroughly and have per-
formed their duties to the extent of
their ability in the enforcement of the
law, and they are unanimous in the
assertion that federal troops are ne
cessary to sgive security to life and
property and to enable the industries
Of the state to operate without inter- {
ruption. They are in position to {
know. and 1t may be safely assumed !
hat they are actuated by as high c
sense of public duty as Governor S
Alexander. But the governor, after a a
hurried and superficial investigation, a
md with the disturbing element fully t
warned Of his presence, finds that Z
here is nothing in the situation to Il
variant calling for troops, asserts by s
implication at least that the sheriffs p
ave not performed their duty and a
alls upon them to deputize every man {
their respective counties, and If p
his fails in providing protection es
len he will consider calling for fed al
raj troops. In other words, accord Sc
lg to Governor Alexander's .dictum. Ell
lie county officers have not exhaust IN
their power to protect the lumber al
austry until practically all other Ii
lsiness is suspended in order to pro- w
de special deputies. The law does nj
It contemplate any such thing, and an
overnor Alexander knows 1t does ST
It. He is deliberately impeaching We
e official conduct of every peace Of MI
er in the counties affected He Is nc
Fleeing upon the character and
ility of reputable county officers,
d refusing protection to one of the ''N
eat industries of the state, for rea- va
ns that appear to be explainable 'e'
ly on the ground Of gaining per- ''''
nal political advantage. W."