Los Angeles herald., 1907-12-07
SITUATION AT GoLDFIELp is
CRITICAL, BELIEF IN EAST
1sy Associated Press.

strationS OF violence ana unlaWAui cohui'
tions and conspiracies which do now op-
struct and continue TO obstruct and hin
der the execution of the laws of the state
of Nevada and now deprive and continue
10 deprive the people of said section OF
the state of the rights, privileges and
immuuities and protection named In the
constitution Of the United States and OF
the state of Nevada, and which the Sc
cured by the laws for the protection OF
such rights, privileges and immunl-
Ties and the constituted authorl-
ties of the state of Nevada are now and
continue to be unable to protect the peo-
pie in such rights and the reason of such
Inability. and the particulars thereof are,
therefore, to wit:
Dynamiting Alleged
'sUnlawfuI dynamiting of property,
commission of felonies, threats against
the lives and property of law-abiding
citizens, the unlawful possession OF
sarms and ammunition and the conflsca-
1tion OF dynamite with threats of the un-
lawful use of the same by preconcerted
action.
..The lawfully constituted authorities of
ethis state are~unable to apprehend and
Spunish the perpetrators of said crimes
4and to prevent the commission of threat
sened crimes and unless the relief herein
after requested is granted this state and
,the lives and property of large num-
sber of people will be irreparably affect
ed and damaged, contrary to the peace
and dignity of the United States and the
estate of Nevada,
.'Therefore, pursuant to article tx. sec
ton A. of the constitution of the United
states and to sections 52g7 and 529S of the
revised statutes thereof, l, John Sparks,
governor, do hereby respectfully request
that your excellency. Theodore Roosevelt,
president do Immediately send to Gold
field, Esmeralda county. two companies
of troops of the army of the United
States to suppress unlawful disorder and
violence to protect life and property, to
6restore peace and to insure protection of
law to the people of the state of Ne
vada.'
Presidents Reply
The presidents reply, dated today, was
as follows:
ITO the Acting Secretary of War:
Referring TO the accompanying formal
request of Governor Sparks of Nevada for
federal troops to restore order at Gold
field, please direct General Funston to
send a sufficient number of troops to be
wholly adequate to meet any emergency.
1t is far better to avoid conflict by send
4ing too many troops than by sending too
few to run the risk of inviting blood
shed THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
In his dispatch to the adjutant General
Funston says:
''I have Just conferred with a promi-
nent mining operator of Goldfield now
here. a man thoroughly familiar with all
conditions there. He stated that mem
bers of the Western Federation of Miners
in Goldfcld numbered about $780, Of
whom about 1000 have rifles and shot
guns. Not more than 300 of these men
might be considered dangerous and
doubts if they would resist regular
troops Their leaders are some of the
men who made so much trouble in Idaho
and Colorado
Danger l.. that before troops can ar
rive they will blow UP mines and Kill
people. Sheriff is a member of the fed
Grafton and in sympathy with them.
Schedule time of trains is twenty-six
hours. Special could make 1t in eighteen.
feel that / should inform the depart
rnent every morning paper in San Fran
cisco knew that the department had
wired within three hours after receipt
by me of message. Information came
from their Washington correspondents"
Large Force Needed
Acting Secretary of War Oliver today
made public all of the correspondence,
so that the facts impeling the ordering
of troops TO Goldfield might be known.
In addition to Cen Funston's first dis
patch. announcing that he had intended
to send two companies in the first place
to Goldfield came later correspondence
showing that upon inside information as
to the situation in that mining camp, 1T
had become apparent that a small force
would only invite attack or resistance by
the riotous element when an overwhelm-
ing force would insure peace by making
it apparent to the lawless element that
resistance would be hopeless.
UF<IIn n first oh Al rn-
ferred to. Gen. Funston last night tele-
graphed the adjutant general for funds
to hire transportation for his troops in
Goldfield and vicinity. He said:
SHOULD 1t be necessary to send any
there deem 1t inadvisabIe to ship any
wagon transportation with the troops un-
less considerable number should be sent
This was taken to mean that, while the
troops could be transported TO Goldfieid
by rail. some means of transportation
would have to be found on arrival at
that place for the rations. ammunition,
machine grns and other supplies. and
perhaps tentage. that would be sent with
the troops.
Ainsworth Replies
Gem Ainsworth dispatched the follow
ing gfelegram to Gen. FUNSTON: Governor
OF Nevada has called for troops to be
sent to GoIdheld. The president directs
that you immediately send there such
number of troops as you consider neces-
sary to cope with the situation effes !
lively and finally. Go yourself II you
think best.
You are authorized TO hire necessary
Transportation. The president directs
that the troops be sent with the least
possible delay
Then followed Gen. F'unston's dispatch,
stating that he had ordered nine COM