The Indianapolis journal., 1894-07-07
Soil of No State Too Sacred to Prevent
the National Government Exercis-
ing Its Legitimate Functions.
REGULAR TROOPS TOO FEW
President May Call Militia to His
Aid if RiOting Continues.
Another Cabinet Meeting-Mr. Cleveland
and His Advisers Determined to Sup
press Disorders Bills.

WASHINGTON. July 6.-At the CABINET
meeting to-day the entire strike situation
was very carefully gone over in the light
OF recent developments and particularly
the correspondence between the President
and Governor Altgeld. AS result it is
believed that there is now strong dispo-
sition to afford the Governor ample oppor-
tunity to make good his claim of entire
ability to cope with the present difficulty
in his State. Not that the regular troops
will be retired from the field for they Will
still continue their guard over the mail
trains and the government property, but
the militia will be given full opportunity
to contend with the disorderly mobs out
side the railroad tracks and government
property and the regulars probably will be
kept in waiting to respond to any call to
aid them.
The War Department officials were some
what concerned at a silly story that came
from Chicago to the effect that General
Miles dare not order his troops TO fire
upon the disorderly mobs without first seek
ing express permission from the President.
Probably this idea arose from the fact
that the troops have so far acted with such
excellent discretion and moderation that ii
has not been felt necessary to go to the
length of shooting any one The concern
felt by the department officials on this
score is not for the troops, but rather for
the deluded rioters, who would be sure to
suffer If they acted on the theory that the
troops will not shoot in case of need. AS
a matter of fact General Miles is clothed
with the widest measure of discretion in
dealings with the disturbance. He has con-
suited fully with the President with Sec
retary Lamont and with General Schofield,
and has full power to act as he sees fit.
He is firm believer in the efficacy of the
cold steel of the Springfield bayonet In
setting a crowd on the run, and so far the
soldiers have not found ii necessary to
so further than that. But If the time
comes when the regulars are placed on the
defensive then it will fare i'll with any
crowd that faces them for the big Spring
field bullets. the Calling projectile and the
deadly bullet-charged shells of the steel
field pieces will doubtless make such havoc
to mark a bloody page in Chicago his
tory. 1t is solely from compassion for the
excited and misled rioters that General
Miles has withheld the fatal word "fire."
The situation in the far West, and es-
pecially on the Pacific coast, is still
matter of grave concern to the executive.
complete blockade at Sacramento, Cal, but
the way is not clear to extend helping
h nst arthe 5 is 70 fnt .asJ proeea r 20 20
tainted by sympathy for the lawless ele-
ment that they are unable 10 perform their
duty. The only available troops are at the
Presidio, San Francisco and the War De-
partment hesltates TO order them away
and leave the valuable government prop
ertv at San Francisco exposed to attack.
1t is hoped that the situation at Los An
geles will show such signs Of amelioration
released, in which case they will be speedily
transferred to Sacramento.
Attorney.general Olney. late this after
acting Governor of Utah: the judge of the
Supreme Court and the United States mar
shal stating that the situation had be-
come very serious there The railroads
were in the hands of the strikers and the
United States marshal was unable to Sc
cure sufficient number of deputies to en-
force the laws. They call on the government
for troops.
10 show in startling manner the inad-
equacy of the United States regular army
on d eeeh o men 10 are to
police the whole country. The Northwest
ern posts are depleted to small handfuls of
General Schofield has been obliged to ex-
ercise the most subtle ingenuity in disposing
efficient as ten, and to-day it would be
difficult to transfer a single command in
the West without exposing the great trans
terruption. The General says il would re-
quire an army of 400 900 men to quell the
blockades at the many points where they
exist, and that is Why. he is obliged to at
tack them in detail, always an unsatisfac-
tory military procedure.
Officials at the Postoffice Department take
cheerful view Of the situation. "The
backbone of the strike will be broken to-
morrow night despite to-day's develop
ments in and about Chicago" said General
Superintendent White, of the railway mail
service. The force has not been suffi-
cient but with the increase of deputies OF
policemen and of troops. both national and
State, there will be tomorrow adequate
force for quelling the disturbance at Chi
caSo and maintaining order. That done
the strike will be practically over, as Chi
cago is, of course. the storm center of the
movement. / don't mean, however that
the strikers will return to their places