Stunenberg, Frank

Frank Stunenberg was born on August 8, 1861 in the city of Keokuk, Iowa, in a family of immigrants from the Netherlands ^[1] . At 16, he dropped out of school and went to work as an apprentice in Knoxville newspaper. Stunenberg later studied for 2 years at the Iowa College of Agriculture (now Iowa State University ), after which he and his brother worked on the Caldwell Tribune newspaper .

Stunenberg's political career began in 1889 with his entry into the ranks of membersIdaho Constitutional Convention . The following year, he was elected for one term as a member of the Idaho House of Representatives , as well as chairman of Caldwell Municipality . In 1896, Stünenberg triumphed in the democratic primaries in Idaho and, with broad trade union support, won the gubernatorial election. In 1899, he was re-elected for a second term.

During his tenure, several new institutions and posts were introduced, including: the Arbitration Commission on Labor Unrest, the Commission of Forensic Medical Experts, fish rangers and foresters , the Commissioner for Immigration , Labor and Statistics .

During his reign, waves of strikes swept through the state among the miners of the Western Miners' Federation . The primary requirements of the workers were an increase in wages and a reduction in working hours. However, Stünenberg took a tough stance, declared martial law and requested the introduction of federal troops . This caused a sharp discontent of the trade unions, whose expectations were deceived. Hundreds of Federation supporters were jailed without a trial .

On January 7, 1901, Stünenberg resigned from his governorship and subsequently returned to the newspaper business. On December 30, 1905 , when he returned home, a bomb went off in his yard. Half an hour later, Frank Stunenberg passed away. On suspicion of committing a murder, Harry Orchard, a guest at a local hotel who was found dynamite and related equipment, was detained. Investigators on the side of the mine owners forced Orchard to testify against union activists: Bill Heywood , Charles Moyer and George Pettibon , but a year later the charge against them fell apart for lack of evidence. Stunenberg was married and had three children. He was buried at Canyon Hill Cemetery in Caldwell, in front of the state capitol, a monument was erected in his honor ^{[2] [3]} .

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