The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-14
STEPHENS TO take A HAND.
He VIII Use Soldiers to Crush tn,
81. Louis Strikers.

ST. Louis Strikers.
St Louis, May Ex-Governor Lon. v
Stephens, accompanied by Attorney Gen
eral Grow, came down from Jefferson City
ans evening and made the Planters
hotel his headquarters The governor
gave out communication that he had
sent to the president of the board of po-
lice commissioners and the chief of DO.
lice 1t is dated at jefferson City, Mo-,
May 10, and is as follows.
Dear Sirls: THE conditions that now
and for several days have existed in St.
Louis must be terminated,
Il shall not hesitate, If deem il neces-
sary, to use promptly the full power OF
the State to restore and preserve order
and peace in st. Louis.
Differences or controversies between
citizens must not be allowed TO produce
disorder and destroy the public peace.
Ana IL those on either side of contro-
Versy or persons in sympathy with either
side or lawless individuals for whom
neither side to dispute is, perhaps. re-
sponsibie, take advantage of what they
deem an opportunity to violate the law.
II Is, In any event the duty of officers
TO promptly arrest all offenders using
Whatever power Is needed to enforce re-
spect for and obedience to the law.
1T is not my duty, nor yours, to Of
hcialy pass OH the merits of the CON
tfoVersy which has produced the existing
CONDITION OF affairs in St, Louis. The
parties 10 the existing dispute in ST. Louis
must ADJUST or settle their differences
WITHOUT endangering the safety or disturb
ing the good order of the community.
believe the law has clothed Won
with complete official power TO accomniisb
tnis result. II your regular police force
- not sufncient in your Judgment. the
law gives you authority TO add sufficient
i neh 10 meet any emergency | require
promptly, - '''
Each side to the dispute which ba.
caused the existing conditions claims tha,
II IS not violating the law, but that others
are responsible for the disorder. But
50 lar as you are concerned in the ner-
Iurhahce OF your duties il matters NOT
VINO Is responsible; the acts creating pub-
nc disorder must be stopped at once.
therefore 20 the end that the public
peace aud order may be restored and
rissulalned you are directed to use i'm
lheeiateiy the full power given YOU nv law
anu your power Is inadequate (Which
~ bNl4NNtlt nOkltN 4
VIII exercise my full authority 20 onu as
sist YOU Very truly.
Lon " stephens.
co,,.n Governor"
Governor stephens was asked n ~.
s sea! mem IN his communication to the et.
nv ~ Snat ne would use the full power Of
me state to restore and preserya oraor
meant mean that he would call out The militia HiHi
ne ne uecllned to make ~ explanation Of
Itself ''ns II spoke for
a., ohlei OF Police Campbell, at the close Of
me conference with Governor stepbens
lowing: ''s"eu the tol-
".ANlhp-25oo able-bodied men 10 serve
ss emergency police. Ex-police ofT,cers
ana men having experience in nnItns
Norh preferred. Those men wbo bave
sppilcstie',s on file In the police Senart
Lnenl Tor positions are instructed ~ ro
Port for duty to GIL these positions
unlcers will be in charge az fbi+
Sa. ohice until the requisite num-
osr OF men are employed