Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-11-11
MAN
MAY WORK
Governor OterO Promises Pro-
lection to Coal Miners Who
Wish to Remain in
the Mines
P R 0C | AM A 7 | O N
The Military ofthe Territory and
the Federal Troops, II Neces-
sary Will BE CaIleA To Pre-
serve Order.

Governor NJ A. otero has issued
the following instructions TO the sher.
lifi and peace officers Of the counties
" Goltax, Rio Arriba, Santa Fe, Nc.
kiuiey, Lincoln and Socorro.
Territory Of New Mexico, Once Of the
Executive, Santa Fe, N NJ, Novem-
ber .. 1903.
TO the Sheriffs and Other Peace OF.
ticers Of the counties Of Colfax, Rio
Arriba, Santa Fe. Mckinley Lincoln
and Socorro:
The undersigned. governor Of New
Mexico, has authentic information
that certain non-residents Of this ter
ritory have ordered certain citizens
and residents Of New Mexico. who
are engaged In developing one OF the
largest natural resources Of the ter
ritory, |. e., the mining of coal In
the counties above named, to cease
work and refrain from any labor in
which they are now engaged In min
ing such coal, and that such resi-.
dents and coal miners are about to
and in some instances have obeyed
such orders. thus depriving the ter.
ritory Of the product Of the mines
10 the great injury and inconvenience
Of the people; and whereas expert.
ence has shown that such action In the
past has caused riots, bloodshed and
the destruction Of much valuable prop.
erty in other parts Of our country:
Therefore the executive Of this ter.
ritory is determined that Its fair name
shall not be disgraced and the lives
and property OF its citizens placed
in jeopardy by the actions or CON-
mands OF foreigners who have abso-
lutely no authority or interests in
the territory, nor does he propose to
delay until some great calamity has
taken place before taking action cal.
culated to prevent such serious con-
sequences.
call your attention to the enforce
ment Of the territorial statues, par
ticularly sections 1918 to 1926 In,
elusive, as affecting all persons who
violate any Of The provisions there.
Of, or those who engage In disor.
derly, violent. unlawful or riotous con.
duct. While the executive recognizes
the right OF any person to cease labor
for any individual or corporation when
ii does not interfere with contract OBJ.
legations, yet, 1t Is his sworn duty
to enforce the laws and see that they
are obeyed. The laws OF God. as well
as Of this territory, demand that every
able bodied person, shall, II oppor
tunity is offered. labor at some use
fu occupation or employment, Ex.
perience has shown that voluntary
idleness speedily begets vice and
crime.
In addition TO the aDUye statuten
you will take notice OF those regard
ing assaults, threats, intimidation,
riots and unlawful assemblies, and
that no acts Of that character will be
tolerated.
also call your particular atten
tion to chapter 5 of the session laws
of New Mexico. 1901. IAN act q
amend section 73s of the compiled
laws Of 1897 and urge that you en-
ploy every means possible under> that
law, ana II after doing 90, you find
your self still unable TO cope with
any organized attempts at intimida.
tion. assault or other violence upon
persons desiring TO work In any coal
mines In your county. you will promp
tly report the fact to this Office, and
II the facts justify such action, the
military Of the territory will be or.
derei to your assistance, and In case
IL should prove Intellectual the govern
ment Of the United States will be ask
ed by me to preserve order and pro
tect the lives and property Of those
who are willing to labor.
] do not believe that this extreme
step will be necessary, but this let
ter Is written to give fair warning
to those persons who may contem.