Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-11-23
GOVERNOR CALLED ON.
Sheriff Wilcox Reports Unable to
Cope With Situation.

Gov. Wells received Geographic word
from Sheriff Hyrum Wilcox of Carbon
county Saturday evening, asking for
help as he was unable to cope with the
difficulties of the situation in the coal
camps. The message was as follows:
Castle Gate, Utah, Nov a. 1903. Hon.
Heber NJ. Wells, governor of the State
of Utah, Salt Lake, am just in receipt
of your letter of Nov, IL, addressed to
me at Price which was forwarded to
me at Sunnyslde and from there here.
l am investigating complaint YOU refer
10 abount interference having occurred
near Sunnyside and will make a full
report of the facts. | was called from
Sunnyslde here on account of disturb
ances and have arrested and have had
fines assessed against several parties
here who We're discharging firearms for
the purpose of intimidating men who
wished to work, and since coming here
| have received reports of men being
assaulted at Sunnysde.
| am just in receipt OF telegram
from Scoheld that last night working
men We're held up, robbed and assault
ed and threatened with death II they
persisted In working against the strike
agitators,
This county has a large area and em-
braces the principal coal mines OF the
state, employing upwards of 1000 men,
of which two-thirds are foreigners
principally Italians, not speaking the
English language, and OF which number
not to exceed IS per cent are naturali2-
ed. | have made every effort to pre-
serve the peace in this county and in
answer to the last paragraph of your
letter reply that the local police au-
thoritles and deputy sheriffs are not
sufficient and powerless to cope with
the lawlessness and protect life and
property, and maintain law and order
My resources are exhausted and there
fore believe II my duty to call upon you
as governor Of the state for aid and
assistance at ScOfied. Castle Gate and
Sunnyside. HYRUM WILCOX,
Sheriff OF Carbon County.
have read the above telegram signed
by the sheriff Of Carbon county and |
fully endorse his advice therein con-
tanned, w. II. FRYE
County Attorney, Carbon County.
12id y. m
Gov, Wells promptly wired the fol-
| lowing reply:
Mr.. Hyrum Wilcox, Sheriff Carbon
County, Castle Gate Utah-Your tele-
gram received. Gen, John Q. Cannon,
commanding the national guard OF
| Utah. will leave on No. 6 Sunday morn
ing to investigate conditions and report
upon necessity for ordering troops to
| your county. Please meet him az Col
| ton and afford him every opportunity to
| make complete investigation,
tiEBER NJ WELLS, Governor.
state Coal Mine Inspector Conner
| Thomas also on Saturday afternoon
made his report To the governor as 10
the strike conditions IN the various coal
camps The report is as follows;
Salt Lake city, Utah. Nov 81, 1903
To the Hon, Heber NJ. Wells, Governor
OF Utah, Salt Lake City.
My Dear Slr-ln accordance with
your request | visited the Suunyside
mine on Nov co. at once called on
| the leaders OF the Mine Workers union
| and asked them to explain the cause of
| the strike. In nswer, Mr.. Crawford
said that they We're called out by the
| United Mine Workers OF America, he
also stated that they had presented "A
| number pf grievances 10 the Utah Fuel
company and that all of their COM
| plants were granted but two, which