USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume I > Part 23
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Fred T. Dubois was then United States marshal, and by virtue of his position as warden of the penitentiary, had Ridgeway in charge, and was greatly interested in the matter. I made an appointment with these three gentlemen to meet with them in Boise in the early Summer of 1885, upon the Ridgeway matter, and together we called upon Governor Bunn to request a pardon in his behalf.
The governor received us in his inner office, failed to ask any of us to take · a seat, but coldly inquired our business. I immediately stated the facts as they had developed. Judge Prickett confirmed these statements, and Mr. Hailey added his testimony to ours upon the matters which he had investigated, while Mr. Dubois gave information as to the uniform good conduct of the prisoner and reasons that prompted him to believe in his innocence.
Each of us requested, in the interest of justice, that an immediate pardon be granted. Governor Bunn heard us through, all of us standing patiently in his presence throughout the time, and at the conclusion of the interview gave a lordly wave of his hand toward the door and said that he would take the matter under advisement.
We immediately took our departure and held a consultation, and an eaves- dropper would have failed to have heard any complimentary allusions to Governor Bunn, who was the subject of our discussion.
As we were all prominent citizens of the territory, who had been actively engaged in the prosecution of Ridgeway, and were simply attempting to see that the injustice done him was cured, we thought our treatment was absolutely unwarranted, especially in view of the fact that Ridgeway hadn't a dollar to help himself, or a friend in the territory.
I believe this incident had much to do with the prompt removal of Governor Bunn by President Cleveland and the appointment of Colonel Stevenson in his ·stead, as all of us bent our energies in that direction, and Mr. Hailey's position as delegate in Congress enabled him quickly to have the change made.
So incensed was Mr. Dubois over the matter, in connection with other real or fancied wrongs to which he had been subjected, that he attempted to force a personal difficulty upon Governor Bunn, which if the latter had not declined, would undoubtedly have resulted in a tragedy that would have been talked of until this day amongst the older residents.
I also felt very unfriendly towards Governor Bunn on account of this incident, as none of us at that time was accustomed to be treated by our officials in such cavalier fashion. This prejudice continued with me for a long time
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and until I ascertained that Governor Bunn had many good qualities for which we had never given him credit, and was very highly regarded by the people of his own state. I think the harsh feelings entertained against him by many of us were probably due to our misunderstanding of his motives and methods, as much as to any intentional discourtesy personally or disregard for his duties on Governor Bunn's part.
It may be of interest to the reader to know the conclusion of the Ridgeway case. Governor Bunn departed for the East a few weeks after this incident and our old friend Secretary Curtis, was left in charge. I immediately came down from Hailey to see the acting governor and called his attention to the Ridgeway matter.
Curtis informed me that Governor Bunn had especially requested him not to issue a pardon to Ridgeway while he was gone. I insisted upon it, however, and had the evidence of his innocence so convincing that Curtis overlooked the instructions of the governor and issued a full pardon, and that evening Ridge- way was released. When he went into the prison he was one of the finest looking men I ever saw in the state, not over thirty years of age, straight as an arrow and with hair dark as an Indian's. At the end of his confinement he was a broken old man apparently, and his hair had turned completely gray.
This was the most notable instance of the miscarriage of justice that ever came under my official notice as a prosecutor and it was for years to me a source of extreme regret that I had been the innocent means of almost sending a man to the gallows through perjured testimony, supplied by personal enemies attempting to secure a conviction.
EDWARD A. STEVENSON
For me to write of Governor Stevenson or of his successor, Governor Shoup, calls up a host of pleasant recollections saddened by the thought that they are no longer with us, assisting in building up the state each loved so well, and the foundations of which each so materially helped to permanently lay.
Coming to Idaho in 1864 from California, where he had long been one of the prominent figures of the state, Stevenson at once took front rank amongst our people and impressed himself in greater degree than any other citizen upon the affairs of Boise County, his place of residence, and of the entire territory ; and when in 1885 President Cleveland announced that the indefensible policy of appointing citizens of the older states as our governing officers should no longer prevail, but there should instead be "Home Rule" in the territories, John Hailey, then our delegate to Congress, so well impressed the practically unanimous wishes of our citizens, regardless of their party feelings, upon the president that Colonel Stevenson was appointed governor.
His rugged honesty, supplementing a deep knowledge of the necessities of the territory, enabled him to successfully meet and fully overcome the many difficulties presented during the crucial time in the History of Idaho extending over his four years' term, and when a change in the national administration necessarily caused a change in the leading officers of the territory, the regrets of the people over Governor Stevenson's retirement were lightened only by the equally high character of the distinguished citizen selected to replace him.
Governor Stevenson's life was almost a romance, so filled was it with stirring
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incidents. Of a prominent New York family, his adventurous spirit lured him to the "Golden West" shortly after the treasures of California came to the knowl- edge of the world, and there he at once became one of the notable figures.
One of the saddest incidents in the history of that state happened when Colonel Stevenson, as he was always called until his selection as governor, was in charge of an Indian reservation in Northern California. Called away to the county seat on official business, leaving wife and children at their agency home without thought of possible danger, there not having been the slightest indication of unfriendly feeling upon the part of the Indians, he was hastily summoned back in less than forty-eight hours to find his dear ones and every employe of the reservation foully murdered and their mutilated bodies partially consumed in the agency building, which had been fired by the red fiends as part of their dastardly work.
One employe, fatally wounded, had managed to escape the burning building and lived long enough after help came to inform his horrified listeners of the details of the tragedy and showed that a young Indian, who had been partly raised and implicitly trusted by Colonel Stevenson, had been a leader in the outbreak and was responsible mainly for the death of his family.
Overwhelmed as he was with grief, stern determination, always his chief characteristic, at once asserted itself, and he divided the men, who had flocked to the scene of disaster, into two parties to pursue the Indians, who had already fled to the mountain fastness, himself taking charge of one and giving positive orders to the other to bring in alive the young savage mentioned.
Fearful vengeance was taken, by the party Stevenson led, upon the Indians they overtook, and when satisfied no others of the murderers remained in their direction, the party returned to the county seat. There they found the other party had returned and, in compliance with the order given, had brought in, as the only prisoner taken, the young Indian referred to, and that an examination was being held before a justice as a preliminary to his trial in the proper court.
Colonel Stevenson walked into the court room and confronted the prisoner. All present, recognizing that primitive justice was about to be done, gazed silently on. Even the officers seemed paralyzed by the ensuing events, the machinery of the court ceased to move, and none interrupted the proceedings, of which Colonel Stevenson had become the central figure.
Sternly questioning the trembling criminal, Stevenson soon drew out a con- fession that the information given by the dying man was correct, and then ordering the Indian to precede him from the court room to a live oak tree standing in the street of that little California town, and refusing help from the many willing hands anxious to assist, himself adjusted the rope, hastily taken from his saddle, and unaided swung the murderer of his dear ones into eternity.
Unlawful this act may have been, but it was a fitting sequel to the awful events that had preceded, and even the enemies of Colonel Stevenson never charged him with lack of justification for his part in the tragedy.
Such in substance was the story as related to me by Governor Stevenson himself, one night in 1895, as we traveled to Pocatello, the sole occupants of the smoking compartment of our car. In a reminiscent mood, various subjects having been discussed, he detailed the tragedy and the recollection agitated him to a degree never before observed by me.
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I had heard before of this dark shadow cast upon his life when comparatively a young man, but although on most intimate terms with him for many years, never before had I heard him refer to it, nor did I afterwards. Its relation made an impression upon me that I will never forget, and being made a sharer in his great sorrow intensified the high regard I entertained toward him.
The great esteem in which Governor Stevenson was held by the people of every community in which he lived was shared by all the citizens of the state, and is fully evidenced by the fact that three successive times he was elected by the Masons of Idaho as grand master of that great fraternity.
Actively engaged in many important business enterprises in various sections of the state, he maintained his leadership in public affairs and in 1895 was nominated by the democratic party, of which he always had been a member, as its candidate for governor. He was defeated, after a stirring campaign, by Hon. W. J. McConnell, and the hardships of the campaign seemingly affected his health to such an extent that the succeeding year he died, leaving a host of mourning personal friends, and bearing throughout his life the veneration and respect of all the people of Idaho.
He had married a second time after the tragedy to which I referred before, and one son, Charles C. Stevenson, who served as city attorney for Boise in 1893 and 1894, resulted from the union. His estimable wife, and his son also, died shortly after the governor had passed away and I know of no relative now remaining.
A curious coincidence of Governor Stevenson's life was that during his term as governor of Idaho Territory, his brother, Charles P. Stevenson, was governor of the State of Nevada, and many older residents of Boise will remember the visit of the latter to Boise in 1887, where he remained for some days, the two governor brothers, constantly in each other's company, welcoming the many friends calling upon them.
GEORGE L. SHOUP
Of all the men with whom I have been acquainted to my mind, the two best examples of the true western type were George L. Shoup and the late Gov. John Sparks of Nevada. I first met Colonel Shoup in 1869. He was then a resident of Lemhi County, having removed from Colorado, where he had established an enviable reputation as a brave soldier and efficient officer in the Indian wars succeeding the War of the Rebellion. From the start he took a lead- ing part in all the affairs of his section and through his efforts, more than from all other causes combined, were the settlement and continuous prosperity of Lemhi and Custer counties due.
In 1875 I commenced attending the terms of court in Lemhi County, riding across the mountains from my residence in Boise County, and continued so to do until 1882, and my constant association with Colonel Shoup attached me to him as a true friend and gave me an ever-increasing admiration for him as a man.
Hospitable almost to a fault; ever ready to listen to the cry of distress and relieve the wants of the needy; as brave a man as ever trod the sod of this or any other state; foremost in all matters tending to the improvement of his county or his state; with keen business acumen that soon secured him a
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competence, he not only became the leader in his own county in all things, but his reputation spread throughout Idaho as well.
It was only natural when Mr. Cleveland was defeated by Benjamin Harrison and a change in the governorship of Idaho became a certainty, that all eyes were turned to Colonel Shoup as a worthy successor of Governor Stevenson; and President Harrison, following the "Home Rule" theory of President Cleveland, listened to the universal request of the people of Idaho and appointed him governor.
He filled the position so acceptably and retained the confidence of the people so completely that, when in 1891 statehood became an accomplished fact, he was overwhelmingly elected as the first governor of the state, a position which he left, when a few months later he was transferred to the United States Senate, where for two terms he honored both state and nation by his valuable services.
By the death of Governor Shoup in 1904, Idaho lost her foremost citizen and our people were all mourners. His high character and invaluable services have not been permitted to pass without the fullest recognition, and in statuary hall of the national capitol at Washington, amongst those other great men who have honored their several states, stands a most notable statue, placed there by the grateful people of Idaho, as a continual reminder of the great services he performed for both the nation and state.
I have referred to all of the territorial governors to a greater or less extent. What I have written will serve to arouse memories of almost for- gotten days in the minds of the oldtimers of Idaho. It will also show the present generation the disadvantages under which the pioneers labored at a time when not only were they without the privilege of electing their own chief officers, but had them selected from strangers in distant states as equally un- acquainted with our own people as our needs were unknown to them. Thank God, this condition was happily ended when Idaho took her place in the galaxy of states and so insured the selection of her officers from those who would assist their fellow citizens in building up the great commonwealth, which bids fair soon to take the proudest position amongst the ever advancing communities of the Northwest.
CHAPTER XIII
STATE GOVERNMENT INAUGURATED
FIRST NOMINATING CONVENTIONS-FIRST STATE ELECTION-OFFICERS CHOSEN- SHOUP'S ADMINISTRATION-HIS FIRST PROCLAMATION-FIRST STATE LEGISLA- TURE-LIST OF MEMBERS-SHOUP'S MESSAGE-ELECTION OF UNITED STATES SENATORS-WILLEY'S ADMINISTRATION-THE STATE SEAL-POLITICAL CAM- PAIGN OF 1892-MCCONNELL'S ADMINISTRATION-SECOND LEGISLATURE- COLUMBIAN EXPOSITION-POLITICAL CAMPAIGN OF 1894-THIRD LEGISLATURE -POLITICAL CAMPAIGN OF 1896-WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
Section 8, Article XXI, of the state constitution adopted by the people of Idaho in November, 1889, provides that : "Immediately upon the admission of the territory as a state, the governor of the territory, or in case of his absence or failure to act, the secretary of the territory, or in case of his absence or failure to act, the president of this convention, shall issue a proclamation, which shall be published and a copy thereof mailed to the chairman of the board of county commissioners of each county, calling an election of the people of all state, district, county, township and other officers, creative and made elective by this constitution, and fixing the day for such election, which shall not be less than forty days after the date of such proclamation, nor more than ninety days after the admission of the territory as a state."
In harmony with this section and the provisions of the Idaho Admission Act, Governor George L. Shoup issued his proclamation on July 18, 1890, calling an election for Wednesday, the first day of October following, at which the officers provided for in the constitution and a representative in Congress for the remainder of the Fifty-first Congress, which expired on March 4, 1891, and the full term of the Fifty-second.
. The republican party opened the campaign by holding a state convention at Boise on August 20, 1890, at which the following ticket was nominated : George L. Shoup governor; Norman B. Willey, lieutenant-governor; A. J. Pinkham, secretary of state; George Robethan, state auditor; Frank R. ,Coffin, state treasurer; George H. Roberts, attorney-general; Joseph E. Harroun, superin- tendent of public instruction ; Isaac N. Sullivan, John T. Morgan and Joseph W. Huston, justices of the Supreme Court. For representative in Congress Willis Sweet received the nomination for both the short and long terms.
On August 26th the democratic state convention met at Boise. Alexander E.
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Mayhew was nominated for both the long and short terms in Congress; Ben- jamin Wilson was nominated for governor; Samuel F. Taylor, lieutenant-gov- ernor; E. A. Sherwin, secretary of state; J. H. Wickersham, state auditor ; T. A. Regan, state treasurer; Richard Z. Johnson, attorney-general; Milton A. Kelly, superintendent of public instruction ; Francis E. Ensign, I. N. Max- well and Hugh W. Weir, justices of the Supreme Court.
Before the election George Robethan withdrew from the republican ticket as the candidate for state auditor, and the vacancy was filled by the selection of Silas W. Moody. The vote was canvassed on the last day of October, in accordance with the method prescribed by the constitution, by George L. Shoup, governor ; Edward J. Curtis, secretary ; J. H. Wickersham, comptroller ; Rich- ard Z. Johnson, attorney-general; and W. H. Clagett, president of the con- stitutional convention. The entire republican ticket was elected by majorities ranging from 1,500 to 2,314. The highest number of votes cast was 18,210 for governor, of which Mr. Shoup received 10,262 and Mr. Wilson, 7,948.
SHOUP'S ADMINISTRATION
George Laird Shoup, the last territorial and the first state governor of Idaho, was born at Kittanning, Penn., June 15, 1836, was educated in the public schools of his native state and when about sixteen years of age went to Illinois, locating on a farm near Galesburg, where for the next seven years he was employed by a farmer and stock raiser. In 1859 he went to Colorado and was there engaged in mining and merchandising until the beginning of the Civil war. In September, 1861, he enlisted in a company of scouts which served in Colorado and New Mexico for several months, when the company was made a part of the First Colorado Cavalry. Later he was commissioned colonel of the Third Colorado Cavalry. He was a member of the Colorado constitutional convention in 1864, but the state was not at that time admitted. Two years later he took a stock of goods to Virginia City, Mont., and opened a store, and the following year he established a store at Salmon City, Idaho, of which place he was one of the founders. He was appointed one of the commissioners to organize Lemhi County in 1869; was elected to the lower House of the Legislature in 1874; was a member of the Council in the Legislature of 1878-79; and on April 1, 1889, he was appointed governor of the territory by President Harrison. He was elected first governor of the state after its admission to the Union, but resigned on December 19, 1890, to enter the United States Senate, to which he had been elected. At the expiration of his senatorial term in 1895, he was re-elected to the Senate and continued a member of that body until March 4, 1901. He died in 1904, universally mourned by the citizens of Idaho.
Colonel Shoup, as he was called before his election as governor, was undoubt- edly the best loved man in Idaho for many years. In him the people had the utmost confidence, both as an officer and as a business man. After his death it was deemed a well deserved compliment to his career to place his statue in Statuary Hall in the capitol at Washington, where it will always remain as a testimony to the worth of one who for many years was lovingly regarded as the first citizen of Idaho.
One of the first official acts of Governor Shoup, acting as territorial gov- ernor, and after he had been elected as chief executive of the state, was to issue
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a proclamation convening the Legislature and designating, as he had authority to do under the constitution of the state, Monday, the 8th day of December, 1890, as the time upon which the first Legislature of the state should convene.
FIRST STATE LEGISLATURE
Pursuant to the governor's proclamation the first State Legislature of Idaho met at Boise, December 8, 1890. The Senate was composed of eighteen members apportioned to the several counties and districts as follows: Ada, H. C. Bran- stetter and John S. Gray; Alturas, James Gunn; Bear Lake, Bingham and Oneida, J. L. Underwood; Bannock, George B. Rogers; Boise, Stephen Demp- sey; Cassia and Owyhee, J. R. DeLamar; Custer, James M. Shoup; Elmore, Greene White; Idaho and Nez Perce, I. S. Weller; Latah, J. W. Brigham; Latah and Nez Perce, William Wing; Latah and Kootenai, J. M. Wells; Lemhi, W. M. McPherson; Logan, Edward C. Smith; Shoshone, John A. Finch and J. S. Langrishe ; Washington, Edward S. Jewell. Norman B. Willey, by virtue of his office of lieutenant-governor, was president of the Senate. Politically, the Senate was composed of four democrats and fourteen republicans. The organization of the upper House was completed by the election of M. C. Athey, secretary; Robert Larimer, assistant secretary; George W. Hunter, sergeant- at-arms; E. F. Calahan, doorkeeper.
In the House there were six democrats and thirty republicans. The repre- sentation by counties and districts was as follows: Ada, J. M. Ballentine, W. H. Smith and Frank Steunenberg; Ada and Elmore, B. B. Ethel; Alturas, George E. Mills and Lyttleton Price; Alturas, Logan and Bingham, D. R. Mon- roe ; Bear Lake, James Lyon; Bingham, B. J. Briggs, R. A. Caldwell and E. S. Merrill; Boise, E. W. Jones and B. H. Smith; Cassia, F. C. Ramsey; Custer, George W. Emery and S. A. Swauger; Elmore, Martin King; Idaho, Frank A. Fenn; Idaho and Nez Perce, J. L. Goodnight; Kootenai, H. M. Casey ; Kootenai and Latah, A. J. Green; Latah, K. O. Skattaboe and J. C. Martin ; Lemhi, Thomas Pyeatt and Eli Suydam; Logan, Henry Armstrong and John Q. Dryden ; Nez Perce, J. S. Sperry ; Oneida, Peter Frederickson ; Owyhee, Joseph Hawkins; Shoshone, J. F. Cameron, John Hanley, C. D. Porter and A. L. Sco- field; Washington, C. M. Hixon and Charles Irwin.
Frank A. Fenn, of Idaho County, was elected speaker; Charles H. Reed, chief clerk; Carrie Sweet, assistant clerk; John Hunter, sergeant-at-arms, and the House was ready for business. In his message, Governor Shoup made a statement of the territorial indebtedness, which was assumed by the new state, to wit :
Outstanding bonds (issue of 1877) $ 46,715.06
Capitol building bonds (issue of 1885) 80,000.00
Insane asylum bonds (issue of 1885) 20,000.00
Wagon road bonds (issue of 1889) 11,000.00
Outstanding warrants 105,571.52
Total
$263,286.58
Less cash in capitol building fund 27,116.58
Total net indebtedness $236,170.00
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He estimated that when the territorial taxes were paid in a month later, the indebtedness could be reduced to $169,560.00. For the purpose of funding this debt, an act was passed authorizing the issue of 6 per cent bonds, redeemable on December 1, 1911, or at any time after December 1, 1900, at the option of the state.
The governor recommended a liberal appropriation for the display of a col- lection of Idaho's products at the Columbian Exposition to be held in Chicago in 1893; a memorial to Congress asking for an appropriation for a survey of the public lands in the state; the establishment of a state board of health; an appropriation to rebuild the insane asylum at Blackfoot, which had been de- stroyed by fire in November, 1889; and the passage of an act authorizing the state board of education to care for the deaf and dumb by contracts with other states having institutions for the education of such unfortunates.
ELECTION OF SENATORS
One of the duties that devolved upon this first Legislature was the election of two persons to represent Idaho in the United States Senate. On December 18, 1890, the two houses in joint session elected Governor George L. Shoup for the term ending on March 4, 1895, and William J. McConnell for the remainder of the Fifty-first Congress, his term ending on March 4, 1891. At the same time Frederick T. Dubois, Idaho's last delegate in Congress, was elected for a full term of six years as Mr. McConnell's successor. The election of Dubois was by joint ballot of the two houses, without each having previously taken a vote separately, as required by law. Some of Mr. Dubois' republican op- ponents took advantage of this technicality and by combining with the dem- ocrats succeeded in securing the passage of a resolution declaring the election of Dubois illegal. The resolution also directed each house to vote separately for a senator on February 10, 1891, in his place. On the 1.Ith the two houses again met in joint session and proceeded to elect William H. Clagett, by a vote of twenty-eight to four. Seventeen republicans were present and refused to vote, and five members were absent. The twenty-eight votes cast for Mr. Clagett constituted a majority of the two houses, however, and Governor Willey signed his certificate. A. J. Pinkham, secretary of state, re- fused to countersign it or affix the seal of state. The contest was then carried to the United States Senate, which decided that Dubois was legally elected and permitted him to take his seat.
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