The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1907-12-13
CALL FOR SOLDIERS
Explained in Official Correspondence Be
tween Governor Sparks OF Nevada
and President Roosevelt.


and President Roosevelt
A situation of the utmost and i'm
mediate danger at Goldfeld, Nevada,
is revealed in the official correspond.
ence between Governor Sparks of that
state and the president, just made
public. The governors appeal for
troops is construed by the Washing
ton authorities to indicate the imml-
hence of great peril. The governors
appeal to the president, dated at Car
son City, Thursday, follows.
"At Goldfeld, Esmeralda county,
state of Nevada, there does now exist
domestic violence and unlawful com
binations and conspiracies which do
now SC e5struct and continue to SO
obstruct and hinder the execution of
the laws of the state of Nevada, and
now deprives and continue to so de-
prive the people of the said section Of
the rights, privileges, immunities and
protection named in the constitution
of the United States and of the state
of Nevada and which are secured by
the laws for the protection of such
rights, privileges and immunities: and
the constituted authorities of the state
of Nevada are now and continue to
be unable to protect the people in
such rights, and the reason of such
inability and the particulars thereof
are the following, to-wit: Unlawful dy-
namiting of property. commission of
felonies, threats against the lives and
property of law-abiding citizens, the
unlawful possession of arms and am
munition and the confscation of dy-
Mantle with threats of the unlawful
use OF the same by preconcerted &C.
ton.
Therefore, pursuant to article 4,
section 4, Of the constitution of the
United States, and to sections 5297 and
529S Of the revised statutes thereof,
l, John Sparks, governor, do hereby
respectfully request your excellency,
Theodore Roosevelt president, do inn
mediately send to Goldheld, Esmeralda
county, Nevada, two companies OF
troops Of the army of the United States
to suppress unlawful disorder and vi
olence, to protect life and property, to
restore peace and to insure protection
of law to the people OF the state OF
Nevada"
The presidents reply, sent Friday,
was as follows:
ITO Acting Secretary of War: Re-
ferring to the accompanying formal re-
quest Of Governor Sparks of Nevada
for federal troops to restore order at
Goldfeld, please direct General Funs-
ton to send a sufficient number OF
troops to be wholly adequate to meet
any emergency. 1t is far better to
avoid conflict by sending too many
troops than by sending too few to
run the risk of inviting bloodshed.
"(Signed)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
In his dispatch to the adjutant gem.
eraI of the army, General Funston says,
In part:
81 have just conferred with a prom
inent mining operator at Goldheld, now
here, a man thoroughly familiar with
all conditions there He states West
ern Federation of Miners in Goldfeld,
numbers about $780, of whom about L.
900 have rifles and shotguns. Not more
than three hundred of these men might
be considered dangerous, and doubts
If they would resist the regular troops.
Their leaders are some of the men
who made so much trouble In Idaho
and Colorado Danger is that before
troops can arrive they will blow up
mines and kill people Sheriff is a
member Of the federation and in SYM
pathy with them"