who shall return to peaceful occupation and preserve quiet and order, holding no further correspondence, nor giving aid nor comfort to the heretofore mentioned organizations, will not be disturbed either in person or property, except so far, under the orders of the military district commander, as the exigencies of the public service may render necessary."
This proclamation was really in the nature of a bluff, because even before the issuance of a formal order the county was under the absolute domination of the military. But the allies thought that the miners might possibly be frightened into giving up the struggle when they discovered that the civil authority of the county had been replaced by the arbitrary and tyrannical ordinances of martial law, court martial and articles of war.
The last part of the proclamation is of particular interest, as it was actually addressed to the five hundred union miners working for Mr. James F. Burns of the Portland mine. It implied a threat.
In so many words this part of the proclamation told the Portland miners that if they would cease supporting their striking comrades, they would not be disturbed either in person or property; but that, if they persisted in contributing to the strike fund of the Federation, all the trials and persecutions that usually follow in the wake of martial law would be let loose on their devoted heads.
The union miners working in the Portland mine knew well enough that they might expect the worst if they disobeyed the governor's proclamation; but they
The Pinker roN Labor Spy. 95
remained true to their principles, and kept on working, and contributed their money as regularly as ever to the support of their striking brothers.