Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-21
TROOPS TO Be WITHDRAWN
PRESIDENT DECIDES THAT
THEY ARE NOT NEEDED.
Believes That the Government Of
Nevada Should Be Able to Con-
troll Any Disturbance.

President Roosevelt has directed the
withdrawal of United States troops sta
toned at Goldfield New. Monday. Decem-
Der 80 kilograms on which the decision
10 Withdraw the troops is based have been
given out at the White House. The first,
under date OF December IL. directed to
Gov. Sparks of Nevada and signed by the
President. reads:
Il sent the troops at your request be-
cause from the tenor OF your telegram
and from the representations made me by
the two senator's from Nevada and the
member OF the lower House of Congress
from Nevada II appeared that an insur-
rection was imminent, against which the
state authorities would be powerless. The
troops have now been in Goldfield ten days
and no instruction has occurred and
seemingly no circumstances exist to JUS
thy your now calling on me for action by
the troops under the provision of the Con-
stitution. The troops were sent to Gold
Held to be ready to meet a grave emer-
gency which seemed likely at once to
arise. and not to provide a substitute for
the exercise by the state of it's police
functions. l do not feel at liberty to
leave them indefinitely under such circum-
stances that they will in effect be per-
forming on the part of the United States
those ordinary duties of maintaining pub
lie order in the state of Nevada which
rest upon the state government AS the
legislature Of Nevada has not been con-
vened, l am bound to assume that the
powers already vested in the peace officers
of the state are adequate and that If they
choose to do so they can maintain order
themselves. Under these circumstances
unless there be forthwith further cause
shown to justify keeping the troops at
Goldfield. shall direct that they shall re-
turn to their former stations.
(Signed)
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
Gov. Sparks Notified.
The following telegram was sent to
Gov. Sparks yesterday by the President:
Il have received no answer from you
to my telegram of December IL. in which
I said that unless there was forthwith
further cause shown to justify keeping
the troops at Goldfield 1 should direct
their return to their former stations. I
am informed by the three representatives
OF the Department of CONNIE rec and
Labor who are in Goldfield by my order
that YOU have stated to them in writing
to consider call for troops nor take the
necessary steps to form a safe military
force. Their report further satisfies me
that there is no disturbance threatened
which the government of Nevada ought not
to be able to control II IL starts to work
with a serious purpose to do so, but that
no effort is being made by the govern
ment of Nevada TO take the steps neces-
sary in the matter l stand ready to
see that the national government does its
full constitutional duty in the matter of
preserving order. but this readiness on
the part of the national government does
not excuse the state government for fall
ure to perform its full duty in the first
place. Federal aid should not be sought
by the state as a method of relieving itself
from the performance of this duty and
the state should not be permitted to sub
stitute the government of the United
States for the government of the state In
the ordinary duties Of maintaining order
within the state. For the reasons given
in this and my former telegram, / have
accordingly directed the troops to return
to their former station on Monday, De-
cember 30 next. (Signed)
rrIIEnnORE ROOSEVELT II"