Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-28
kilograms From the Gov. of
Nevada and President
ARE MADE PUBLIC TODAY
Difficulty Of Converting the Legis'
ture Shown.
FIVE DAYS LIMIT GIVEN
President Says Notice to Convene
Legislature Must Be Issued
Within That Time.

Within That Time.
Further correspondence between Gov.
Sparks Of Nevada and President Roose-
welt as to. the Goldheld situation was
made public at the White House today.
II Is in the shape of kilograms between
the two ofacials. They are as follows:
From the Governor.
CARSON. New. December %. 1907.
The President, Washington:
AZ CHIEF magistrate Of the state of
Nevada I have been of the opinion for
the past year that g. condition border
ing on domestic violence and insurrec-
ton has existed in the Goldfeld mining
distric1 There has been an almost: con.
union and the mine owners, who employ
the members of the union. During the
year 1907 practically one-fourth of the
time was occupied in actual strikes, and
strikes. Without considering the merit
OF any OF the controversies, 1t is only
necessary to tate that the entire district
became divided into two hostile camps;
on. the one hand the miners with their
adherents and sympathizers. and on the
other hand the mine owners, with their
adherepts and sympathizers.
The union alone claimed membership
Of 5000 and fully one-half of the member
ship were constantly armed. Arms ana
the union as body. On the other hand.
the mine owners had in their employ .
large number Of watchmen and guards
who were constantly armed and on duty.
In addition to these opposing forces were
an unusually large number of the GRIM
inal element attracted to the new and
booming mining camp. Under such condi-
tons the civil authorities were practically
powerless They could attend to the ordi-
nary petty offenders from day to day but
armies Of labor and capital they would
have been swept away. The repeated
strikes and continued threats of other
strikes irritated the mine owners more and
more.
1t was clear to me. therefore, that when
the last strike was called in the midst OF
the financial crisis spreading over the
country and with long winter FACING
the twenty thousand people situated upon
the desert. hundreds of miles from any
centers of population, 1t was time to
recognize the actual condition Of affairs
and to act accordingly. A state of do
mestic violence and instruction arises, in
my judgment, when armed bodies are in
existence with SUFFICIENT power to over
come the civil authorities, and continual
lire and property.
This condition has existed in the Gold
field mining district the past year ana
exists there now. 1t calls for the pres
this condition has been of slow growth it
will take time. to remove 1t. In my judy
ment. it is necessary that troops be kept
at Gold'feld an indefinite period OF time
They should remain there until both sides
are shown, that the district Is not to re-
main an armed camp and a scene Of COM
tinuaf warfare. The communist and an
archist must seek new fields; the laboring
man be convinced that arbitration and
peaceful methods are more certain and
ton than by dynamite and the shotgun
This can only come about with time. and
for the present and some time in the fu-
ture the strong arm Of the military must
be in evidence to convince all that no
other method will be tolerated.
1t is known as a matter of legislative
history that recommended a measure at
the last session having for its object the
establishment of state constabuary
along the lines of the Texas rangers.
members thereof still being in ONCE. The
assembly of that session, with the vote of
all but one. passed a resolution denounc-
ing. the injustice done Meyer, Haywood
and Pettiuone by the denial Of a speedy
trial The resolution. however. was tabled
by the senate. 1t Is a matter Of only a few
weeks since ! called for the opinions of
inherent representatives and individual
cItlLeDS--OI tne state generally as to the
ACCESSIBILITY of converting a special session
to act upon q then existing emergency,
which. however, did not relate to the
present situation.
The expressions received at that time
indicated that 95 per cent OF the people
were opposed to such extra session. For
geographical reasons and on account Of
the customary ten days notice to MEM
bers, it would be impossible to convene
and organize q special session of the
legislature in less than three weeks,
presuming on the most expeditions ac-
ton on the part OF the members. For
these reasons I deemed it impossible to
convene the legislature in special SEES
sion to meet the present emergency and
still think it highly inadvisable. This
telegram was in course OF preparation
on the 18th instant. in reply to your
telegram of that date, but I was taken
III and have only just returned to my
office. I am now sending it in lieu Of
letter which I wired you was in course
of preparation. The delay was not in
territorial on my part and no discourtesy
meant thereby.
JOHN SPARKS, Governor