Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1907-12-26
AIRS N BLO0DSHED.
|VERNoR SPARKS TERMS RE-
AZ OF TROOPS A BLUNDER
aLIKELY AT ANY TIME
|uation Extremely Strained-De-
||clares General Funston Agreed
on this Point.

Reno, New, Dec. 22.-From his bed
Bterday Governor Sparks, who is
nv iii, made the following state
a mt In explanation of his part in ask
PRESIDENT Roosevelt to send
pOpsgto Goldfield:
sThroughout this whole controversy
EbhAYe acted according to my best
Ildgment. L. believed from advices
scetyed from confidential agents in
I|Qldheld that there was trouble i'm
l1hent in the mining camps. l know
4 lhAt dynamite had been stolen from
Me- mines, that the miners are armed
IND prepared for trouble, and the
lcketing of mines and preventing
hon from working was damaging
[0perty.
twas also advised that the sheriff
n other civil authorities were I'M
|knIeE to cope with the situation.
1neAe these facts known to the presi-
Slt and in the absence of any state
nSnt advised that troops be sent to
ESyent trouble. l thought no good
enld be had from calling a special
ession of the legislature.
while was in Goldfield l investi-
otod personally the conditions that
1hiled. 1 found that the business
hen were afraid of violence and that
~. women were in terror. Dozens
NEomen have left the camp because
AG. have feared trouble. l found
hat there was an organized band Of
high graders and that the sheriff Is
ehsolutely unable to secure a convic-
lion of any ore thieves. l learned
hat there are over 1000 rifles in the
pOssession of the miners and that the
pirit of many of the men is such as
% warrant me believing that those
text.
while General Funston was there
I conferred with him frequently.
lAfter he had made thorough in
gvestigation seeking information from
all sources he told me that it was his
opinion that the troops had arrived
none to soon. think he considered
the situation grave and he gave me to
understand that he Endorsed my action
In requesting that the troops he sent.
He practically stated that portion OF
the troops would remain in Goldtield
Until winter had passed.
president Roosevelt has evidently
I acted upon advice of the commission
which he sent to investigate. They
4 were there a short time and their in
vestigations were perforce much more
I Incomplete than those conducted by
General Funston. l have always had
q high regard for the president. but |
believe he has made serious mistake.
II hope that no blood will stain the
streets of Goldfield but fear before
Nmany days have passed some violent
&outbreak will prove the unwisdom of
Nhis act.
& II have given no thought to issuing
re special call for the legislature. IT |
&thought l could accomplish anything
xgby so doing | would not hesitate a
second. l shall do all in my power to
I maintain order. however"
Washington, D. c., Dec. 23-It was
stated at the White house last night
that Geographic appeals sent by civic
bodies, mine owners and individuals
of Goldfield to President Roosevelt
gurging upon him the necessity for re-
Staining a portion of the federal troops
lat Goldfeld Indefinitely had been re-
Soeived, but that no action had been
Mdecided upon.
NJ Adjutant General Ainsworth stated
@last night that the order signed by
#Secretary Taft yesterday directing
What General Funston withdraw all
b the federal troops at Goldfeld Dec.
80 WAS forwarded yesterday.