The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1894-07-14

Serious Dilemma That Bcsets the War De-
partmcnt- Every Effort Being Made -
Concentrate Regulars at Chicago.


WASHINGTON, July EVERY effort
Of the administration, in conjunction
with Mai. Gen. Schofield, is being di-
rected to arranging for the speedy con-
centration of troops at Chicago. The
federal government will exhaust every
means in it's power to bring about
compliance with the severa! iniunc-
tions issued by the United States
courts.
The president and his legal and mill
tary advisers here have not yet felt
warranted in considering the question
of inaugurating martial law at Chica-
go, but they have fully looked into
their powers in case it should be neccs-
sary to declare martial law.
This could only be done in case the
state troops should be prevented by
mob violence from executing the laws.
This is such an unpleasant and SEEM
ingly remote possibility that the ad-
ministration officials are 10th to give it
serious reconsideration as yet.
There was much talk Friday of .
contemplated order of the Federal
troops to fire on the mob, but it is said
here that this is matter wholly with
in the control of Gen. Miles. He will
never order the troops to fire until
every other resource shall have failed.
The purpose of the government is
not to attempt to control the mobs en-
gagged in rioting in Chicago and else
where, unless the state authorities fail
in this duty. The government troops
and the posses of United States deputy
marshals will devote their energies to
protecting government property, to
preventing interference with interstate
commerce, and to securing the free
transmission of the mails.
The cabinet meeting Friday resulted
in general understanding to carry
out the policy indicated. One impor-
tant development of the meeting was
that the militia organizations of one
state could be called on to suppress
disorder in another state where the To-
cal authorities had failed to enforce
obedience to the law. Atty.-Gen. OIL.
ney said Friday afternoon that there
was ample constitutional authority for
such action, and it is not unlikely that
preparations for drawing on state mi
litia for this purpose will be made,
although there is no immediate neces.
sity for carrying the policy into eff
feet.
The proper distribution of govern.
ment troops is causing serious concern
at 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
batteries of artillery and troops Of
artillery at western army posts are
needed where they are now stationed
and are practically resting on thei,
arms.
The army authorities are apprehen
sive that if they are sent to variou.
points where rioting is going or
| trouble will follow at the places from
which the troops are withdrawn
This is particularly true of San Fran
cisco.
The failure of the California state
militia to preserve order at Sacramento
has caused the government to conside,
the advisability of sending regular.
there, and the federal officers ar.
confident that the Fifth Artillery regi
ment, now stationed at the Preside o.
San Francisco could restore order al
Sacramento without difficulty.
But just there the difficulty comes in
1t is not considered good policy t.
withdraw the regiment from the Pre-
sidio at this time, for the absence o.
the troops might prove the opportunity
for riotous movements there. So it i.
all over the west, and Maj. Gen. Scho
field is holding his forces in reserve
while he watches every indication o
disorder that may call for action OF
the part Of his soldiers.
Gen. Schofield says he will not orde,
the Presidio troops from San Francisco
unless on the urgent request of Brig
Gen. Ruger. commanding the depart
ment of California.