The Springfield herald., 1907-12-20
FUNSTON IN
GoLDF|ELD
NUMEROUS DELEGATIONS As.
SURE HIM THAT TROOPS
WERE NEEDED.
WOMEN TERRORIzED
STATEMENTS OF THE AMERICAN
FEDERATION OF LABOR
A REVELATION.

the Womens club OF Goldheld and
from the chamber of commerce,
Merchants association and Mining ex-
change, called on General Funston
Saturday afternoon to further aclaaint
him with the conditions which have
prevailed in Goldfield previous 10 the
coming of the United States troops,
and the situation which led TO the
sending Of Governor Sparks dispatch
to Washington asking that troops be
sent here.
The visit OF these delegations doubt
less was because of the efforts thut
are constantly being made to have the
troops recalled.
General Funston said after the con-
ferences were over that the state
ments made to him were revelation,
especially those made by the ladies,
who are the wives of prominent citl-
zens of Goldfield.
The statements, he said showed
that for days the women of Goldfield
ha6 lived in state of constant terror,
until the arrival of the company of
troops, though no instances of any,
thing more than trivial annoyances
were cited.
Saturday night Secretary Erb OF
the Goldtield Mine Owners Associa-
ton, said that arrangements have
been made to bring a number Of
miners from California, Utah, Mon
tant, Arizona and Wyoming, and that
about 45O will arrive soon. No in
formation as to their movements or
the time when they will arrive can be
obtained, and the union men character
izc the statement as false.
No men have arrived in the camp
from other mining districts to take
the places of the strikers of the West
ern Federation The mine operators
report that more of the Western Fed
Grafton men who formerly worked in
the mines have returned to work, after
signing the agreement to renounce the
Western Federation.
The federation men deny this.
If any considerable number of strike
breakers are to be brought here, it is
becoming evident that the plan IS to
quietly bring them in small lots. and
provide places for them and put them
to work with the least ostentation pos
sible
Both the mine operators and the
labor leaders say that they will vel
come the United States labor commits
sioners, and the officers of the Miners
union are positive in their statement
that no violence will be attempted, and
that the strike will be settled quietly.
Sunday a delegation from the Amer
lean Federation of Labor called upon
| General Funston, who Is continuing
his Investigation Of conditions here
with a view of determining the reces-
sity for the presence of federal troops
in Goldfield.
These gentlemen made the most re-
markable statement have yet heard"
said General Funston, In an interview
with the representative of the Asso
ciated Press Sunday night. Their
statement is that for months they have
lived in constant fear. They have Con-
sidered it necessary for their self pro-
lection to go armed at all times and
have been compelled to avoid personal
contact with members of the Western
Federation of Miners in order 10 pre-
vent serious trouble. This condition of
affairs, they have told me, Obtained
until the arrival of the United States
troops, since when the conditions have
been greatly changed"
General Funston stated that he con.
sidered that this statement of the con.
ditions came from men who have been
in better position to know the real
situation than any others who have
talked to him since his arrival.
Members of the commission sent by
President Roosevelt arrived in Gold
field Sunday night. They are Charles
Neill, labor commissioner; Herbert
Knox Smith, commissioner of corpora
tions, and Lawrence Murray, assistant
secretary of the department of COM
merce and labor. They are &C.
companied by F. Patterson as Gecre-
tary.