The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1907-12-17
REPRESENTATIVES OF THE PRES.
IpENT PROBE CONDITIONS
in NEVADA CAMP.
CITY Is PEACEFUL
Operators Allege That Union Is Trust
and Want Commission to Have
Steps Taken to Prosecute 1t Under
Interstate Commerce Law--Funston
and Sparks to Leave.

Goldfield, Dec 16.-Hhe Goldfield
Mine Owners association submitted a
statement to the committee which
President Roosevelt has sent to Gold
field this forenoon which declares that
the Western Federation of Miners is
combination in restraint of trade,
that it is, in fact, a treasouable or
ganization, and in the statement are
quotations from the preamble and the
constitution and bylaws Of the West
ern Federation of Miners in support
of the contention.
This statement has been officially
received by the commission, and the
consideration of it will be begun at 9
o'clock tomorrow morning. Today was
spent by the commission in making
investigations. All of these We're
made before the members of the COM
mission were in executive session this
morning, and the entire day was con-
sumed in considering it.
General Funston and Governor
Sparks will leave Goldheld on We'd
nesday morning, General Funston to
return to San Francisco and Governor
Sparks to return to his ranch to re-
cuperate.
Tonight President McKinnon of the
Goldfeld Miners union, was called be-
fore the commission and asked to give
his version of the trouble. No intima-
tion of what passed during the session
is given out, but after the meeting it
was learned that President McKinnon
stated to the members Of the commits
sion that the members Of the Western
Federation of Miners have been peace
fully inclined at all times, and was
emphatic in his declaration that no
necessity has existed for the presence
of federal troops. He has promised to
prepare a statement Of the Western
Federation side of the controversy, to
be presented later.
Strike-breakers to the number of 80
we're brought into Go1dfield today, and
tomorrow will go to work in the
mines.
All Is Peace.
No demonstration was made today
when the new men alighted from the
train, and it is known now that the
plan of the association is to bring in
the men in small numbers each day.
Not many OF the members are taking
advantage Of the opportunity to return
to work. The total number to date Is
placed by the mine operators at 100.
The union officials deny that this
number have gone back to work.
Commissioner Charles p. Neil, labor
commissioner; Herbert Knox Smith,
commissioner of corporations, and
Lawrence 0. Murray, assistant secre-
tary Of the department Of commerce
and labor, declined to make any state
ment tonight, but from the mine own
ers' association statement as to the
contemplations embodied in their
statement to the commission was OBJ
tanned.
20 srfng suit.
The mine owners suggest the bring
ing Of a suit against the Western Fed
GRAFTON of Miners by the COVE nment
for a dissolution of that organization
as trust, combination and conspiracy
in restraint Of trade among the states.
Also the bringing of criminal proceed
ings on the same grounds and on the
that the organization is
The retention of the
troops in Goldheld for an indefinite
period is suggested for the protection
OF life and property.
The investigation that will be made
by the commission will require at
least two weeks time, and during that
period the control of affairs, as far as
the government is concerned, will be
practically in the hands OF the c::,n-
mission. An attempt will be made to
START up the Nevada-iyoldfiell conf
Ea.ly's works tomorrow morning. Mao
age- Dowlen says to1ay that he has
sufficient men to operate the plant.
Pickets Of the union are still patrol
ling the mines, but there have been no
reports of interference with the men
at work today or tonight.
General Funston says that he made
no recommendations to the commits
sion, but merely turned over his In
formation to the members and will
leave matters entirely in their hands.
He will send no further reports to
Washington.