New-York tribune., 1907-12-21
ORDERS TROOPS AWAY.
QUIT GOLDFIELD DEC. so.
President Rebukes GoUcrHOr Sparks
for Neglect of Duty.
lFrom The Tribune Bureau. ]

Washington, Dec. 20.-The President to-day
ordered the withdrawal of United States troops
from Goldfield New. on Monday, December 80
and In taking this action made public two teie-
grams sent TO Governor Sparks of that state.
In these messages the President shows that the
Governor failed to avail himself of his authority
TO create an armed force within the state TO pro-
tect its citizens and ignored the presence OF
mob danger. The President has often said in
his speeches: eff a man stunbles and falls. lift
him I'D: help him to his feet. But if he lies
down, don't carry him." The President regarded
the failure to act of Governor Sparks as plain
case of Lying down." and refused TO carry the
police power of the state for him any longer
As ne had received word from the Department
of Commerce and Labor investigators. Assistant
Secretary Lawrence o. Murray, Herbert Knox
Smith Commissioner of Corporations. and
Charles p. Neill. Commissioner of Labor who
left Washington December IL that all inime-
date danger of insurrection was over. he con-
sidered it safe 10 order the troops TO return 10
their former stations
The first telegram to Governor Sparks was
sent on December II, and reads as follows:
sent the troops at your request, because.
from the tenor Of your telegram ana from n the
representations made me by the two senators
from Nevada and the member OF the lower
house of Congress from Nevada, 1t appeared
which the state authorities would he poweress.
The troops have now been in Goldheld ten days
and no insurrection has occurred, ana seeming
Iy no circumstances exist to justify your now
calling on me for action by the troops under the
provision of the Constitution The troops were
sent to Godfeld to be ready TO meet grave
emergency which seemed likely at once 10 arise
and not TO provide a substitute for the exercise
by the state of its police functions / do not
feel at liberty to leave them indefinitely under
such circumstances that they VIII In effect
be performing the part OF the United States
those ordinary duties Of maintaining public or
der in the State of Nevada which rest on the
state government AS the Legislature OF Ne
vada has not been convened / am bound to as
sumo that the powers already vested IN the
peace officers of the state are adequate and that
If they choose to dc they can maintain order
themselves. Under these circumstances. unless
there be forthwith further cause shown 10 JUS
tify keeping the troops at Goldheld, shail
direct that they shall return TO their former
stations. IHEODottE Rooot-N ELL
The second telegram. sent to-day. reads
have received no answer from you to my
telegram of December II, in which / said that
to justify keeping the troops at Goldfeld L
should direct their return to their former sta
tions I am Informed by the three representa-
tives of the Department Of Commere and Labor
who in Goldfeld by my order that you nave
stated to them In writing that you will not con-
yene the Legislature consider a call for
troops take the necessary steps to form a
safe military force. Their report further salts
fies me that there is no disturbance threatened
which the government of Nevada ought not TO
be able to control IL it starts to work with a
serious purpose to do So but that no effort Is
being made by the government OF Nevada TO
take the steps necessary in the matter. l stand
ready to see that the national government does
its full constitutional duty in the matter of pre-
serving order but this readiness on the part OF
the national government does not excuse the
state government for failure to perform 1ts full
duty in the first place. Federal aid should not
be sought for by the state as method of re-
lieving itself from the performance of this duty,
and the state should not be permitted to substi
tute the government OF the United States for
the government of the state In the ordinary du-
ties Of maintaining order within the state For
the reasons given in this and my former tele-
gram have accordingly directed the troops to
return TO their former station on Monday, De-
cember 80. next THEODORE ROOSEVELT.