The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-12-20
TO Get THE FACTS
The President Sends a Commission
to Goldfield to Make Thorough
Investigation of Conditions.
TO USE TROOPS WITH CARE
Officers Are Instructed That Soidiers
Are Not to Take the Part of
Either Side But Are to
Prevent Violence.

Washington, Dec 12.-Assistans
Secretary Murray Of the department
of commerce and labor, Charles p
Neill, commissioner of labor and Her
bert Knox Smith, commissioner OF
corporations left Washington at
o'clock Wednesday afternoon for
Goldfield, New, to make thorough
investigation of the trouble between
miners and mine operators at that
place. Secretary Murray and Com
missioner Smith made this announce
ment after conference with Presi-
dent Roosevelt Wednesday.
President Roosevelt is anxious to
ascertain the exact conditions at Gold
field. He has given to the commits
sion a letter of instructions broad III
its character and will enable the com
mission tomake any such investigation
into affairs at Goldfield as 1t may de-
termine. The letter is brief, simply di-
recting 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 to furnish the COM
mission with any information they
may have.
The following instruction was sent
to the commanding officer of the
troops now at Goldfeld Wednesday
by order of the president: THE
troops are not sent to take the part OF
either side in a purely industrial dis
pute, as long as it is kept within the
bounds of law and order. They are to
be neither for nor against the
strikers or the employers. they are
to prevent riot, violence and disorder,
under and in accordance with the con
sttution and the laws of the land.
No man is to be interfered with as
long as he conducts himself in
peaceful and orderly manner"
Further than the official statements
already given no declarations are to
be had from any authorized person
as to the sudden decision of the ad-
ministration to take such action as
the president did Wednesday in rela-
UlOu u Iuc IL -
clearly understood, however, among
the officials of the war department
that the purpose is to forestall ad-
verse criticism upon the dispatch OF
troops to Godfield before there had
been any actual rioting, and distinct,
limitations that such criticism wouldF
be forthcoming were not lacking III
labor circles. There is no disposition
in any quarter to question the SIT
preme right of the president to move
the troops of the army, OF which he
is the commander-in-chief to one
point or another at his own will, and
therefore to send the troops from
California into Nevada. But the cues
ton might arise at once as to his au-
thority to use troops now in Gold
field, should he decide to do so. for
congress has strictly limited the func-
lions of the regular army in times OF
peace. Only recently in connection
with the balloon races started in st.
Louis, 1t was found that United States
troops had been Illegally employed
there and war department officials
are now on their guard to prevent the
employment of the regular army in
any unauthorized manner. The
purpose of the president therefore la
sending the commission to Goldi
is to obtain the facts necessary as
foundation for an action that the army
may be called upon to take at that
place.