The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-07-07
Cabinet Considering How 1t
May Be Put Down.
PLENTY OF WORK FOR AlrGELo.
All His Militia Will Be Needed, and
Still More.
The Regular Army Too Small l-western
Pests Must BE Garrisoned. In Spite
OF Chicaxo's Peril - The President
May Call for Militia

wasHISeTos CRY. July at the cab
met meeting today the situation was care
fully gone over in the light of recent deyel-
opments. and particularly the corre-
spondence between the president and
Gov. Altgeld. As result it is believed
there is now strong disposition
to afford the governor ample oppor-
portunity 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 mali trains and gov
ernment property. but the militia will be
given full opportunity TO contend with
disorderly mobs outside Of the railroad
tracks and guard property, and the regu-
lars probably will be kept in waiting to re-
spond TO any call TO aid them.
The situation in the far West. and
especially on the Pacific coast, is still q
matter of grave consideration TO the ex-
ecutive. Appeals have been received
from California, but as yet the
government has not been able TO
send troops. The militia have proven
almost worthless, tainted by SYM
pathy for the lawless element that stops
them from the performance of their duty.
The only available troops are at the Presi-
dio. San Francisco, and the war depart
ment hestates 10 order them away and
leave the valuable government property at
San Francisco exposed to attack. 1t is
hoped that the situation at Los Angeles
will ameliorate in q day or so, and the
troops there can be released and trans
ferred to Sacramento.
One result of the big strike has been to
show in a startling manner the made
quacy of the United States regular army.
which has been reduced TO a mere skele-
ton. At present 10000 men are expected
to police the whole country. Gen. Scho-
field has been obliged 10 exercise great in
genuity in disposing of his small forces.
and today il would be difficult to transfer
a single command in the West without ex-
posing the great transcontinentai lines to
indefinite interruption.
Officials at the postoffice department
take cheerful view of the situation. THE
backbone OF the strike viii be broken to-
morrow night, despite today's develop
ments in and about Chicago. sad General
Superintendent White. of the railway mail
service.
The watchfulness of the officers of the
army is undated tonight. Another
communication vas received from Gov.
Altgeld shortly after 9 o'clock, and
II was Immediately taken to the
president. Ii can be stated with
certainty that the administration
is sure of its course aud that the Federal
troops will not be recalled until such
order is established as will allow Its mails
to go through without interruption, and
permit perfect administration Of govern
ment business.
1t was nearly midnight when the fol-
lowing was given out by the president
"Hon. j. p. AhgeId. Governor of Illinois
While | am still persuaded that I have not
transcribed my authority or duty in the
emergency that confronts us, IL see ms to
me that in this hour of danger and public
distress discussion may we'll give way TO
active effort on the part of all authority
TO restore obedience to the laws.
GROVER CLEVELAND"
sPRIsGFIELD. July 6.-Gov. Altgeld has
dispatched a lengthy reply to Presi-
dent Cleveland on the subject of
oraering Federal troops into the state
of Illinois. He says that if the
presidents assumption that. he has
the right to order Federal troops into a
community. without regard 10 the ques-
ton whether the community is able
to enforce the law itself, ia
correct, then the principle of
selfgovernment never existed in
this country. or il has been DESTROYED.
Gov. Altgeid says that the country may be
doing Mr.. olney an injustice, but the i'm
preston is that he is the specisi represen-
tatiya Of guanonalias and truzfs