The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-12-29
MUST CALL AN EXTRA SESSION If Troops Remain at
 Goldfield. SPARKS WIRES ROOSEVELT The President Names Conditions in
 His Reply. Correspondence Is Made Public at White Hoase--GenersI Funston
 Receives orders to Retain ,
 Troops in Camp.

necetVe8 OIOcHS sV Asrs@s" Troops In Camp.
 Washington. Dec. 2s.-President Roosevelt today indicated by telegram to Governor Sparks of Nevada, that the Federal troops now at Goldheld will be ordered to remain there for further period of three weeks. provided the Governor. within five days. issues call for a specia1 session of the State Legislature.
 The telegram of the President was in l response to one from the Governor, in which he sets forth the need of armed intervention and expresses the doubt that to call the Legislature would result in necessary request from that body for Federal aid. The corre- spondence. which was made public at the White House. follows;
 Carson. New, Dec. 2s. "The President. Washington. D. C.:
 'As Chief Magistrate of the State of Nevada. have. been of the opinion for the past year that conditions bor- deringI on domestic violence and in- surrection have existed fin the Goldheld mining district. There has been an almost constant state of war between the miners union and the mine own
 
 union. During the year 1907 practi- cally one-fourth of the time was oc- cupied in actual strikes and several months in agitation about other strikes.
 Without considering the merit of any of the controversies. 1t Is only necessary to state that the entire dis trict became divided into two hostile camps On the one hand. the miners, with their adherents and sympathizers and on the other hand. the mine owners with their adherents and sympathiz- CTS. The union alone claimed a mem bership of 5000 and fully one-half of the membership was constantly armed Arms and ammunition were purchased and kept bv the union as a body. On the other hand. the mine owners had in their employ large number of watchmen and e~ were con- stantlv armed teton to those opposi .n- unualIy large ,le- naent attracted ling tnsintng camp
 rS atfnder s.Fch Sfstf ~ su- rnorities MAoS ferlerss., They could a ary pet ty offenders at at the first conflict belc~ l armies of the labor and capitaI. sy would have been swept away. These strikes and continued threats of other strikes
 
 more. It was clear to me, therefore. when the last strike was called, in the midst of financial trouble spreading over the country and with a long win ter facing the 10000 people camping on the desert. hundreds of miles from any centers of population. 1t was time to recognize the actual condition of af- fairs and to act accordingly. state of democratic violence and insurrec- tion> arises, in my Judgment. when armed bodies are in existence with power to overcome the civil authorities and continual threats were made of destruction to life and property. This condition has existed in the Goldfield mining district the past year, and ex- ists now. It calls for the presence of the troops to keep the peace. As this condition has been of slow growth. 1t will take time to remove 1t.
 Tn my Judgment. 1t Is proper that troops be kept at Goldfield for an in- finite period of time. They should re- main there until both sides are shown that the district is not Nto remain an armed camp and scene of continual warfare. The communist and anarchist seek new fields. the laboring man should be convinced that peaceful methods are more certain and lasting methods of improving his condition than by dynamite and the shot gun. This can only come about with time. l and for the present. and some time in 1 the future the strong arm of the l militia must be in evidence to convince | all that no other method will be toier- ated.
 Tt is known as a matter of legis- lative history that T. recommended a measure at the last session having for | its object the establishment of state constabulatory along the lines of the | Texas rangers, which was rejected by | that body, the members. thereof st.ll | being in office The assembly of that session, with the vote of all but one. passed a reolut.on denouncing the in- justice done Mover, Haywood and Pet tibone by the denial of a speedy trial. The resolution however, was tabled by the Senate. It Is matter of only a few weeks since called for the | opinions of different representatives and individual considerations of the state generally to the advisability of a special seSsion to act upon a then existing emergency which how ever did not relate to the present situa- ton The expressions received at that time were that ninety five per cent of the people were opposed to such extra session. For geographical reasons and on account of the GUS tomary ten days notice to members. 1t would be impossible to convene and oreanize a special session of the legis lature in less than three weeks, pre- suming on the most expeditious action on the part of the members. For these reasons I deemed 1t impossible to con vene the legislature in special session to meet the present emergency ana stiH think t highly inadvisable. This telegram was in course of preparation on the IT. in reply to your telegram of that date. but I was taken i'll and have only just returned to my office I am now sending 1t In lieu of a letter which I wired you was In course of prepa ration. The delay was not ;nten- tional on my part and no discourtesy mea nt thereby.
 John Sparks
 Governor.