Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-12-12
President Roosevelt is Deter
mined to Ascertain Exact
Conditions in Strike Ridden
Nevada Mining District,
FEDERAL SOLDIERS
MUST REMAIN NEUTRAL
Commander Instructed That
His Force Is Merely to Uphold
Law; Warned Against TAX
ing Sides in Controversy.

IBy Morning journal sDecial Leased wire.I
Washington. Dec. 11.-Assistant
OF commerce and labor; Charles =.
Neiil. commissioner of labor, and Her
bert Knox smith, commissioner Of
corporations. will leave Washington
this afternoon for Goldfield. New. to
make a thorough investigation OF the
trouble there between the miners and
mine owners
Secretary Murray made this an
nouncement today shortly after
conference with President Roosevelt.
President Roosevelt Is anxious To
ascertain the exact conditions at Gold
field He has given to the commits
sion a letter Of instructions broad In
It's character and Will enable the COM
mission to make any such investiga-
tion into affairs at Goldfield as IL may
determine. The letter is brief. simply
directing the commission to proceed to
Goldfield Immediately and TO make an
inquiry into affairs AS they exist there
and report To him personally. The
letter also directs all civil and mill
tary authorities 20 furnish the COM
HllNrlhn WITH any thta
may have Members OF the commits
sion left this afterpqcn ~ a'44 Crlock.
They have no dfa ai present how
long they may be engaged In the max
ing OF the inquiry hut regard u Az
improbable that they VIII return 10
Washington much under two weeks.
While the president discussed the
matter informally with the members
of the commission he gave them no
~.
contained In his letter, leaving the
method Of the Inquiry to their discre-
tion
The following Instructions were
sent to the commanding officer OF the
troops at Goldfield today by order OF
the president.
THE troops are not sent TO take
the part of either side in a purely in
dustrial dispute. as long as Il Is kept
within the bounds Of law and order.
They are 10 be neither for nor against
the strikers or the employers. They
are to prevent riot violence and dis
order, under and In accordance with
the legislation and the laws of the
land No man Is to be interfered with
as long as he conducts himself In a
peaceful and orderly manner"
statement was made at the war
department that there was no lnten-
ton of Withdrawing the troops from
GOldfield, Notwithstanding the dis
patch of the commission from here.
The troops, according to the depart
ment will be kept at Goldfield so long
as the commanding officer believes
their presence necessary for the
maintenance of order
Further than the official state
ments already given. no declarations
are to be had from any authorized
-. H.. "A "A 81
the administration TO take such ac-
ton as the president did today In re-
lation 10 the Goldneld strike. II is
clearly understood, however, among
the officials OF tine war department
that the purpose u 10 forestall ad-
verse criticism upon the dispatch OF
troops To Goldheld before there had
been any actual riOting. and distinct
that such criticism would
be forthcoming were not lacking In
labor circles. There Is no disposition
In any quarters 10 question the SUI
preme right OF the president to move
,he troops OF the army, Of which he
Is commander-in-chief to one point
or another at his will, and therefore
he sent the troops from California
Into Nevada. But the question -
arise at once as 20 his authority 10
use troops now in Goldheld, should
he decide 10 do 80. FOR congress has
regular army in times OF peace.
only recently in connection with
he balloon races started in st. Louis
q was found that United States troops
lad been Illegally employed there and
he war department officials are now
in their guard 10 prevent the employ
ncnt uf the regular army in any un-
authorized manner. The purpose os
he president. therefore. In sending
ne commission 10 Goldheld Is TO OBJ
ain the facts necessary as a founda
ion Tor any action that the army may
be- called upon 10 take at that place.
In 1875 when party feeling ran
Ugh. congress enacted the famous
iussc act. the purpose OF which was
10 prevent in the first place. the use
II tho United States troops az the
,nlls in the southern states.
THAT act. under heavy penalty,
.rohibited the employment Of any OF
ne army Of the United States as a
'usse comitatus, or otherwise. tor the
purpose of executing the laws. ex-
ept iu such eases and under such cir
tances as such employment OF forces
nav be- expressly authorized by the
unstituuon OF by the act OF con-
.ress
"ln passing upon the 81. Louis
ase. Judge Advocate General Davis
emarked upon the fact that IL j.
ortunate that hv reason Of the skill
hown in their lthe troopsl employ
neut no occasion has thus far arisen,
allinE for an application OF the
tauutc
I'm view of the fact that regular
Continued ON Psgc :. Col. ~