The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-14
GEN. FUNSTON
TAKES A MORE
SERIOUS VIEW
Says He Finds Conditions at
GoIdfieId Worse Than He
Had Anticipated.
MAKES SECOND REPORT
TO THE WAR DEPARTMENT
MINE OWNERS WILL CONTINUE
, CARD sYsTEM-MONEY PRO-
VISION IN CONSTITUTION.

Goldheld, New, Dec 13.-After having
met and conferred with many citizens
of Goldfield today. General Funston
stated tonight to the Associated Press
that he is finding conditions here worse
than he had anticipated.
THE possibilities of serious trouble
growing out of the difficulties between
the mine owners and the miners" he
said, ARE greater than my Information
previous to coming to Goldfeld had led
me to believe. | nave just telegraphed
a second report to Washington which
is based on the information I have
gathered today / do not believe the
governor will declare martial law at
once. as no serious disturbance has oc-
Cured. I am satisfied with this and
shall not advise such action until 1t is
= a bsolutelv necessary. As TO the matter
of patrolling the vicinity of the mines
and the streets Of the city with the
regulars. that is a procedure that may
become necessary at any hour.
Troops Will Remain.
The statement of General Funston to-
night settles effectively the question of
the withdrawal of the troops from
Guldheld Neither General Funston nor
Governor Sparks will yield to the pres
sure that has been brought to induce
them to favor the withdrawal of the
troops before the arrival of the labor
commission from Washington.
Tomorrow a delegation of women,
composed of members of the Women's
club of Goldfield, will call on General
Funston and lay before him their side
of the question, which,will be that pre-
vious TO the coming of the troops they
had lived in constant terror, believing
that their homes might be destroyed
and their lives endangered by deeds OF
violence and depredations of desperate
strikers. They win ask that the troops
be kept here until all danger of trouble
is past.
Delegations from the GOldfeld cham
Der of commerce, the Mine Owners as
ISOLATION and the GOldfeld stock ex-
change also win call on General Fun
ston to present the same matter.
Committee of Citizens.
Tonight there is a well authenticated
rumOr that a committee of citizens has
been formed. ostensibly to act as vol
nteer fire and police department in
the residence district, but which will
be more in the nature of vigilance
committee of the early California days
sort.
story Is circulating to the effect
that J. w Finch, formerly manager of
the Consolidated properties, had wit
messed q case of depOTta ton where two
union men had escorted a miner who
had signed the agreement and gone
back to work to a point some three
miles from camp and then brutally
beaten him and started him for Tono-
pah across the desert.
Detective Ramsey of the state police,
and sage Of the Mine Owners associa-
ton. searched all gay for verificatiOn
of the story, which created great ex-
element in the city this afternoon. but
could find no trace of the miner who
was alleged TO have been beaten or of
the two men who are alleged to have
committed the outrage.
Protection Promised.
General Funston was informed of the
matter tonight. He stated emphatical-
" when questioned that the troops here
would endeavor to protect Western
Federation men if any attempts to de-
would protect men who might be set
upon by strikers.
THE troops will try to prevent out
RACES or violence Of any sort, no mat
ter by whom committed" he said.
After an all-day session the Mine
Owners association late this afternoon
decided to continue the card system in
operation, and to require all those who
go 10 work TO sign the agreement re-
all allegiance to the Western
Federation of Miners.
Nevada Money Law.
In support OF their refusal TO accept
scrip in payment for ages. the officers
OF the local union today dug up a sec
ton of the constitution of Nevada
which declares that no bank shall issue
or cause to be circulated any money
other than national currency or bank !
certificates authorized by congress.
The federation miners have main |
tanned a more rigorous picketing of the |
mines in operation today than was
maintained yesterday. and the guards |
IF the Mine Owners association have |
been more active.
1t is said that the Mine Owners asso- |
citation has 200 strike breakers on the !
way here. but strict secrecy is being !
as to the movement of the |
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