Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1907-12-26
iE.ARs BL00OSHED
GOVERNOR tPAHH5 TE?.75 re-
: CALL or TROOPS a CLuNO-R
RIOT LIKELY AT kl!l TIME
Situation Extremely Strained De.
clares General Funston Agreed
on this Point.

Reno, New, Dec. 22.-From his bed
yesterday Governor Sparks, who is.
very i'll, made the following state
ment in explanation of his part in ask
ing President Roosevelt to send
troops to Goldfeld:
Throughout this whole controversy
1 have acted according to my best
judgment. / believed from advices
received from confidential agents In
Goldfield that there was trouble im-
minent in the mining camps. l know
that dynamite had been stolen from
the mines, that the miners are armed
and prepared for trouble, and the
picketing of mines and preventing
men from working was damaging
property.
Il was also advised that the sheriff
and other civil authorities were I'M
able to cope with the situation. l
made these facts known to the presi-
dent and in the absence of any state
ment advised that troops be sent to,
prevent trouble. thought no good
could be had from calling special
session of the legislature.
while I was In Goldfield l investi-
gated personally the conditions that
prevailed. / found that the business
men were afraid of violence and that.
the women were in terror Dozens
of women have left the camp because
they have feared trouble. found
that there was an organized band OF
oh ORC No hot oh nr;f t,
absolutely unable to secure convic-
ton of any ore thieves. I learned
that there are over 1000 rifles in the
possession of the miners and that the
spirit Of many of the men is such as
to warrant me believing that those
rifles would be used upon small pre-
text.
while General Funston was there
/ conferred with him frequently.
After he had made a thorough in
vestigation seeking information from
all sources, he told me that it was his
opinion that the troops had arrived
none to soon. / think he considered
the situation grave and he gave me to
understand that he Endorsed my action
in requesting that the troops be sent.
He practically stated that portion OF
the troops would remain in Goldfeld
until winter had passed
president Roosevelt has evidently
acted upon advice of the commission
which he sent to investigate. They
were there short time and their in
vestigations were perforce much more
incomplete than those conducted by
General Funston. | have always had
high regard for the president, but /
believe he has made a serious mistake.
l hope that no blood will stain the
streets of Goldfeld, but, l fear before
many days have passed some violent
outbreak will prove the unwisdom OF
his act
II have given no thought to issuing
special call for the legislature. II I
thought l could accomplish anything
by so doing / would not hesitate a
second. shall do all in my power to
maintain order. however"
Washington, d. c., Dec. 23-It was
stated at the White house last night
that Geographic appeals sent by civic
bodies, mine owners and individuals
of Goldfeld to President Roosevelt
urging upon him the necessity for re-
tanning portion of the federal troops
at Goldfield indefinitely had been re-
ceived, but that no action had been
decided upon.
Adjutant General Ainsworth stated
last night that the order signed by
Secretary Taft yesterday directing
that General Funston withdraw all
the federal troops at Goldfeld Dec.
90 was forwarded yesterday.