The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-10-04

NJ w "a AVN ' tASt VI A'oA'St s'sssS
W. labor commissioner, who
" spent several weeks in nor
thern Idaho investigating
labor conditions as the personal repre-
sentative of Governor Alexander, has
submitted his report to the governor
Mr.. McNety was here two weeks ago
and attended the meeting of the mine
managers when the question of recog-
nizing the miners union was under
discussion. The meeting was also
attended by G. Y. Harry, of the de-
partment of labor, who was also here
to make an official investigation of
the labor situation. His report to the
secretary of labor is also embodied in
Mr.. McVety's report to the governor
His report is here given in full:
Situation at Lewiston.
| To His Excellency, Governor Moses
Alexander of Idaho: Acting upon
your Instructions ! left Boise Septem-
ber Z for Lewiston, from which place
information had come of the arrests
by United States soldiers of the union
labor men for seditious utterances. In
vestigation showed that alleged state
ments of arrested men had been more
or less distorted. Perhaps the men
| had been indscreet under great ex-
citement, but their intention has al
ways been loyal to our government,
and they We're willing to sign affiday-
it's to that effect. Considerable local
feeling had been stirred, and when six
or eight men received printed notices
through the mails, "A copy of which fol-
lows: Warning, to all 'slackers' and I
Won't Works: Get busy or leave at
once-No room for you here. Vigil
ance Committee" which of course did
not tend to allay the feeling but arous
ed antagonism.
The local carpenters organization
had split and those who were out
wanted in, and those WHO were out
a gave evidence to federal agents-then
followed the arrests by soldiers. From
admissions made by local civil and
county authorities the facts are that
the arrests would not have been made
had the soldiers not been there ex
cept that iii one case, that of Philip
j. Pearl, he having been previously
warned by local authorities to desist
in his strong talk against recent gov
ernment measures, and the getting OF
reasonable printed matter through
the mails. Captain Morse was active,
H. ;,, ~ pa n OF
the accused and others. Said he was
a United States marshal; and that the
state had no jurisdiction in his affairs.
Other men were warned to keep
their faces closed or they would be
arrested. Bail was fixed at $4,000 to
$500, which, in my judgment, Is ex-
tremely high. Since leaving Lewis
ton, one of the men, Victor j. McCone,
has been released on bonds. Effort
was made to allay local prejudices and
| believe was successful. 1t appeared
to me that the civil authorities were
too anxious to have the soldiers make
the arrests.
Proceeding from Lewiston, l went to
Wallace, arriving there on the 18th,
where | met Mr.. G. Y. Harry, u. 8.
commissioner of coniliation, who had
been sent to that district by Secretary
of Labor Wilson, to investigate the
same complaint as sent to you by the
Wallace Miners union, and as his re-
port to Secretary Wilson is most COM
plete, l would incorporate and make
it also my report of the matters Incl
dent to my going to Wallace.
Invite Managers to Confer.
Wallace, Idaho, September IA, 1917
Dear Sir: | am asking that you meet
Mr. w. j. A. McVety, personal repre-
sentative of the governor of Idaho, Mr..
c. O. Young, representing the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor and myself
In a conference in room 81, Samuels
= hotel, on Sunday, the 10th.
| am extending this invitation to the
other mine managers in the district
i and am asking this meeting for the
y purpose of talking over the industrial
- situation with a view of insuring con
tinued peace In the mining industry
y Yours very truly,
G. Y. HARRY,
Commissioner of Cancellation
Report of G. Y. Harry.
Wallace, Idaho, September II, 1917