The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1894-07-12
USE or TROOPS

USE OF TROOPS
Serious Dalesnna That BesSta the WAC Bess
paFanens-Estry Effort Dcsng sssAe Sp
Coaceneyasc Regulars ct Chicago.
wAsHrxsT0x, July ~ Every esg6ae
Of the administrasioi3 III conf Sesarn
with Maj. Gcn. Schnfetsf, 81 being dle
.rectcd 10 arranging for the speedy soas-
{eentrntion OF troopa sc Chicago. The
federal government Will exhaust cvexy !
means in its power to bring abouf =
compliance with the several injune-
Tons Issued by the United States
courts.
/ The president and his legal and mill
tary advisers here have not yet fcie
warranted IN considering tho question
Of insugurnting martial law Ut ehica-
20. but they have fully looked into
their powers In case Il should he neeesr
sary 10 declare martial law.
This could ouiy be done in ease the
state troops should be prevented ~
mob violence from executing the law%
This is such I'M unpleasant and .ecr,.
iugly remote possibility TINT the sd-
minis4ration officials are 10th to give 1t
serious consideration as yet.
There was much talk Friday 1T q
contemplated order Of the fs-icvnE
troops 70 fire on the mob, but It is said
here that this is matter wholly With
in The control of Gen. Miles,. itc will
never order the troops to fire until
every other resource shall hive failed.
The purpose of the government Ia
not 20 attempt to control the inobs en-.
gagged Ia rioting in Chicago and else
where. unless the state authorities fail
in this duty. The government trtnra
and the posses Of United States deputy
msrshals will devote their energies to
protecting government property. TO
preventing interference withinterstasc
commerce, and to securin. the free
transmission Of the mails.
The cabinet meeting Friday resulted
in o general understanding to, carry
out the policy indicated. One imr"r.
sant development Of the meeting was
that the militia organizations of one
state could be called ON to supprcss
disorder in another state where the lo-
cal authorities had failed to enforce
obedience to the law. Atty.-t;cn. nl-
ncy sold Friday afternoon TINT there
was ample constitutional authority fof
such action, and it is not unlikely that
preparations Tor drawing on state mi.
1isia for this purpose will be made.
although there Is no immediate ncceA-
sity for carrying the policy into eff
feet
The proper distribution OF govern
xaent troops is causing serious concern
as the war department. A high official
said that five thousand regulars were
needed to suppress the disorders In the
west, All the companies of infantry,
bstteries Of artillery and troops OF
artillery at western army pests aro
needed where they nrc now stationed.
end are practically resting on thesf
arms.
The army authorities ure apprehcn-
sive that II they are sent TO varions
points where rioting is going On
trouble will follow ut the places from
which the troops are withdrawn.
This is particularly true of Sam Fran.
cisco.
The failure of the California state
militia to preserve order at Sacramento
has caused the government to consider
the advisability of sending regulars
there, nnd the federal officers are
confident that the Fifth Artillery re%i-
uient, now stationed ut the presiln OF
Gan Francisco could restore order vt
Sacramento without difficulty.
Hut just there the difficulty comes in.
It Is not considered gr'd policy TO
withdraw the regiment from the Ere.
sidio ct this time. for the absence III
che troops might prove the opportunity
Tor riotous movements there. :oitis
all over the west. and Maj. ten. Schn-
field is holding his forces in reserve
while he watches every indication uf
disorder that may cali :or action ON
the part of his aoldiers.
Gen. Schofield says he will not order
the Presidio troops from san Francisco
unless on the urgent request Of i'rig.
Gen. Ruger. commanding the depart
ment of California.