Hellraisers Journal: “Treason and Sedition” of Editor Stewart Leads to Suppression in Idaho of the Mullen Mirror

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Quote Mother Jones, Powers of Privilege, Ab Chp III———-

Hellraisers Journal – Sunday July 16, 1899
“Treasonous and Seditious” Speech Sends Editor Stewart to Wardner Bullpen

From the Duluth Labor World of July 15, 1899:

Free Speech Mullen Mirror Editor Stewart, LW p1, July 15, 1899

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Writing of the imprisonment of Editor Stewart of the Mullen (Idaho) Mirror and the suppression of his paper on the charge of treason and sedition, J. J. Noll says in the People’s Paper:

His criticism was an honest objection, honestly expressed, to Gen. Merriam’s shutting men up in box cars and cattle pens, and imposing such indignities and sufferings on them that four of them died outright and a number are on the verge of the grave. Is this governor and this general made of such stuff that one may not voice an objection to their methods of treating human beings. Can it be that a uniform and a majority vote converts ordinary mortals into gods?

Here is some of the treason and sedition uttered by Editor Stewart:

The “authorities” are declaring that they are handling the affair at Wardner as expeditiously as possible. That may be true. They say that the men are being examined as fast as they can be reached. That may be true. But what compensation will be made to the hundreds of men who have been falsely imprisoned in box cars and a vile filthy barn for from five days to four weeks, herded like sheep in a pen; taken from their work in the mines and mills with no chance to change their wet, heavy mine and mill garments for dry ones? How will the state compensates these men arrested at the bayonet point, while in the peaceful pursuit of their daily toil, given no chance to show whether or not there was any reason why they should be arrested at all? What excuse or compensation will the state make to those men who are released after being subjected for weeks to indignities, insults and abuses such as are said to be accorded political prisoners in Russian Siberia.

* * *

But why were they imprisoned at all? and why treated as convicts before they were given a hearing? The governor may be a hero in the dollar blinded eyes of the Spokane Review, and in “American official life” heroes are scarce, but heroes of the Review stripe are easily procurable for money—and the Standard Oil company has lots of money. Steunenburg has acted the paltroon in the matter from the start. He sent a fool to spy out the situation and bind the state to the oil company and hasn’t the courage to break the fetters that bind him.

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Hellraisers Journal: Four Part Series from San Francisco Examiner: Edward H. Hamilton on Tyranny in Idaho, Part II

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Hellraisers Journal – Thursday June 29, 1899
Edward H. Hamilton Reports from the Coeur d’Alene Country, Part II of IV

From the San Francisco Examiner of June 27, 1899:

Note: Sadly, it was thought necessary by The Examiner to specify that the soldiers committing acts of terror against the miners in the bullpen are “Blacks” or “Negro troopers,” but whenever white soldiers and/or deputized company gunthugs commit acts of terror against strikers, the race of those perpetrators of despotism is never mentioned.

ID Bullpen, Edward H Hamilton, SF Exmr p1, June 27, 1899

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Hellraisers Journal: “Military Stop A Paper At Mullan and Arrest Editor” – Wilbur H. Stewart Taken to Bullpen

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Quote Ed Boyce re Manly Blood per Gaboury 1967———-

Hellraisers Journal – Monday May 29, 1899
Mullan, Idaho – Editor Wilbur H. Stewart Arrested

From The Seattle Post-Intelligencer of May 26, 1899:

ALL THE SALOONS CLOSED
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MILITARY STOP A PAPER AT MULLAN AND ARREST EDITOR.
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Before the Coroner’s Jury at Wardner the Books of
the Miners’ Union Were Produced,
Showing Lists of Men to Be Run Out
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New Bull Pen of 1899, Class War in ID by Harriman, 1900

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WARDNER, Idaho, May 25.-All saloons in Mullan, Gem and Burke were closed today, the publication of the Mullan Mirror stopped and its editor, W. H. Stewart [Wilbur H. Stewart], arrested on a charge of publishing seditious matter. Four hundred and seventy-seven permits for employment have been issued in Wardner. The Last Chance mine started up with a small force this morning. None of the mines above Wallace have started, but many men are coming in and they win soon start.

Gen. Merriam left today for Denver, leaving Maj. Smith in command of the United States forces in the Coeur d’ Alenes.

There are now 225 men accused of rioting, confined in the new prison [bullpen] just completed here.

The coroner’s investigation into the cause of the death of two men during the riot of May 9 [April 29-The Battle of Bunker Hill, near Wardner] is still in session, and will probably last a week longer. Three hundred witnesses have been examined, and some very damaging evidence is said to have been secured against the alleged rioters. Examination of the records of the miners’ unions which were seised by the military authorities, show lists of the men who were to be run out of the country.

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Hellraisers Journal: 1000 Miners & Allies Herded into Bullpen at Wardner, Idaho; Includes Sheriff & Commissioner

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Hellraisers Journal – Monday May 8, 1899
Wardner, Idaho – Bullpen Now Holds 1000 Men of Couer d’Alenes

From the San Francisco Examiner of May 7, 1899:

SHOSHONE’S SHERIFF IS HERDED IN
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Young Is Washing Dishes for
His Fellow-Prisoners.
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With Him in the Pen Is County
Commissioner Boyle.
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OFFICIALS TO BE IMPEACHED
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Nearly a Thousand Prisoners Gathered In
by the Troops at Wardner.
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WFM, Wardner Bull Pen of May 1899, Hutton photo 1, 1900
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WARDNER, May 6.-Bartlett Sinclair, the Governor’s representative, to-day called upon Sheriff Young and County Commissioner Boyles to tender their resignations, and when they refused, were placed under arrest and turned into the bull-pen with the hundreds of other prisoners. They protested vigorously against this proceeding, but to show them that they were no better than the rioters, both were assigned to the culinary department of the prisoner’s pen and made to wash dishes.

Impeachment proceedings will be brought against Young and Boyles on Monday before Judge Mayhew of the First Judicial District, to remove them from office.

Prosecuting Attorney Samuels will also be taken into custody should he show up at Wardner. He is not considered of sufficient importance by General Merriam to be sent after.

The inquest is proceeding slowly behind closed doors, and is more in the nature of a Grand Jury investigation than an inquest. From a reliable source it is learned that evidence of a most satisfactory nature is being obtained. Judge Lindley is conducting the prosecution, assisted by Attorney Beale.

[The Bullpen at Wardner.]

Considerable sickness has broken out among the prisoners. This is due to the fact that many were arrested at the mines, as they came out from under ground in their wet clothes, which they had no opportunity to change. Besides, the accommodations of the bull-pen requires herding the prisoners closely. More sanitary quarters will be provided as soon as possible.

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