Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1907-12-27
President Roosevelt Withdraws Troops.


A Washington dispatch OF the 2O:L
Gays:
President Roosevelt today directed
The withdrawal Of United State troops
stationed at Goldiield, Nevndn, ON Mon
dar, December 80, next.
kilograms on which the decision to
Withdraw troops Is based were given
out at the White House today. The
first, under date OF December l7,h,
directed to Governor Sparks of Nevada,
and signed by the president, reads:
i sent troops at your request because
from the tenor Of your telegram and
from the representations made me
tie two senators from Nevada and
member OF the lower bouse of con.
from Nevada, it appeared that AN in:r'.
rcction was imminent against whicl
state authorities would be pDweIlsss.
troops have now been III Go!dii..u Iru
days aud no Insnrrcctlun has occurred
and scemngly no circumsiancrs .vist to
Justify your calling on me Tor action by
the troops under the provision OF the
constitution. The troops were sent to
Go!dheld to be ready 10 meet u grave
emergency which seemed likely AT once
To arise and not Ia provide substitute
Tor the exercise by the state il its police
tunctioLs. don't feel at liberty to
leave them indefinitely under such cir
cumstances that they will i'll effect he
pertor ming on the part ~ the United
States those ordinary duties OF maintain
ing public order in the state OF Nevada
which rests upon the gover1 ment OF the
state. As the legislature Of Nevada has
uot been convened, am bound To-
assume thnt the powers already vested
in the police officers OF the state are
adequate, and that il they choose to,
they can maintain order themselves.
Under these circumstances, unless there
bo forthwith further cause shown justi-
iyinR keeping the troops at Guld.ield, |
shall direct TINT they shall return to
their 'oTmcr station.
Signed: THEODORE ROOSEVELT
The following telegram wHs sent to
Governor Sparks today 10y the president:
Il hnve received no answer from yOn
to my Telegram Of December l7tb, which
stated that unl'ss there was forthwith
further cnusc shown justifyng keeping
the troops at Goldiield, .hould direct
their return 10 their former statloDs. ]
am informed by three representatives Of
the Department OF Commerce and
Labor, who are in GoldiieId 10y my
order, that you have stated to them i'll
writing, that you will not convene the
legislature to consider the call for troops
nor take the necessary steps tn form u
saie military force. Their report further
satlslics me that there IL no disturbance
threntened which the government OF
Nevada ought not to be nble To control
it il starts to work with n serious pur-
pose to do go, but that no effort IL being
made 10y the government OF Nevada to
,uke the steps necessary In the matter.
| stand ready Ia geo that the national
govornmcn, docs it's full constitutional
duty in this matter oi preserving order,
but the readiness Oh the pnrt of the
national government does not excuse the
state government Tor failure to perform
ito tull duty in the first place. Federal
aid should not DO sought for by the etnte
as method for relieving itself from this
duty, and the state should not 10 per
miited to substitute tho United Stntos
for the govormont Of tho etaso III
ordinary duties Of maintainuR order
within the state. For the reasons given
in this and my former telegram, ! have
accordingly directed the troops to re-
turn 10 their former station on Monday,
Decombcr 30th, next.
sSiypcd: THEODORE ROosEvELr.'