Omaha daily bee., 1907-12-22
ANSWER OF SPARKS
Governor of Nevada Gives Reasons for
Asking for Troops.
INTENDED TO PREVENT VIOLENCE
Dynamitr Had Been Stolen and Miners
Had 1000 Rifles.
GENERAL FUNSTON Is QUOTED
He Says Army officer Says Soldiers
Came None Too Some.
GENERAL FUNSTON is QUOTED
STILL IN FEAR OF OUTBREAK
Hope Expressed that withdrawal Of
Regulars VIII Not he Followed
by IsIoOdsh hed---speciaI ses-
sion Not Considered.

RENO. New. Dec. 2t.-From his bed to-
day, Governor Sparks, who is very sick,
made the following statement in explana-
tion of his act in asking President Roose-
welt TO send troops to Goidheld:
Throughout this whole controversy ]
have acted according to my best judg-
ment. l believed from advices received
from confidential agents in Goldheld that
trouble was imminent in the mining camps.
I know that dynamite had been stolen from
the mines that the miners were armed
and prepared for trouble, and the picketing
of mines and preventing men from work
ing was damaging property. ] was also
advised that the sheriff and other civil
authorities were unable TO cope with the
situation I made the facts clear to the
president, and in the absence Of any state
militia / asked that troops be sent to pre-
vent trouble. / thought there was no
necessity and that no good could be accom-
plished by calling special session of the
legislature
Troops Prevent Violence.
1T is true that since the arrival of the
troops there has been no violence. And
tia is why we asked for troops l believed
that so long as there were regular soldiers
on the ground there wcdld be no out
Dfeak, pul IebIeO hIG ndQ TfbSon 50 W
fear that unless such action we're taken
Immediately there would be riot and blood
shed.
while I was in Goldheld investigated
personally the conditions that prevailed 1
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 feared trouble l found
that there WAS an organized band of high
graders and that the sheriff is absolutely
unable to secure conviction of any ore
thieves. ] learned that there are over 1,O00
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 preteNt.
General Funston Quoted.
while General Funston was there con-
ferred with him frequently. After hs had
made thorough investigation, seeking in-
formation from all sources, he told me
that IL was his opinion that the troops had
arrive none too soon. think he consid-
cred the situation grave and he gave me
to understand that he endorsed my action
I'm regard to the troops. He practically
stated that a portion of the troops would
remain in Goldfieid until winter had passed.
President Roosevelt has evidently acted
upon the advice OF the commission Wmch
he sent to investigate. They were there a
short time and their Investigations were
perGorce much more incomplete than those
conducted by General Funston. have al
ways had high regard for the president,
| but I believe he has made serious mis-
takey ! hope that no blood win stain the
streets of Goldfield because OF. his error,
but l fear before many days have passed
some violent outbreak will prove the un-
wisdom of lis act.
81 have given no thought to issuing a
speciai call for the Legislature. II thought
could accomplish anything by so doing
would not hesitate a second ] shall do
all in my power TO maintain order, how
ever"