The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-12-13

others were called into these confer
ences, and General Funston wasted no
time in acquainting himself with an
outline, at least, of the conditions that
prevail here.
While General Funston refused to say
TO a representative of the Associated
Press what is contained in his report TO
Washington, he said that it contains
nothing in regard to the probable length
of the stay of the troops in GoIdfield.
but would be confined to the need for
them at the present time.
Stay of the Soldiers.
The regulars will be here at least
until after the arrival of the labor COM
missioners from Washington" said
General Funston. This means that they
will be here for another week, and l
nave no doubt they will remain much
longer than that, or at least a portion
of the number now here will. am hear
ing all sides of the question as to the
necessity for the troops in Goldfield at
this time, to preserve peace and order,
and it is too soon after my arrival for
me to have obtained an opinion. My
report tonight will simply set forth my
view of the situation as I have obtained
II from the people whom 1 have seen
today.
1T must be understood that am not
here to go into the merits of the dis
pUte between the mine owners and the
miners. That is what the commission
ers are coming from Washington for.
They doubtless will so deeply into the
merits of the grievances of both sides,
but l am simply going to determine
whether the continued presence of the
troops, or at least a part of them, in
Goldfield will prevent disorder and riot
and bloodshed. l am convinced that
the presence of the troops thus far has
been a necessary precaution.
Question Of Martial Law.
Martial law should be last resort.
and I will not advocate it until there
has been some great violence commit
ted and the local authorities have prov
en- themselves unable to stop any out
RACES, such as the destruction of life or
valuable property. Either the presi-
dent or the governor of the state must
declare martial law, and in the event
that it be the governor, shall consider
that the regulars are at his service.
just as would be the state militia, pro-
Vided Nevada had such an institution.
In fact, it is my idea that the regulars
are here TO take the place of a state
militia during the present crisis.
Colonel Reynolds remains I'm COM
mand of the troops now encamped here
and I am here to make a report on the
situation and to direct things in the
event of serious trouble.
mo man can say what amount of
trouble is to grow out of this situation,
of course, but l am trying to get at the
possibilities for the trouble, and for
that reason I sought an interview with
President McKinnon and other leaders
in the local miners union in order to
hear their side of it, and to judge for
myself of their frame of mind and dis
position to bring about any disturb
ances."
General Funston did not visit the mil
itary camps until late in the afternoon,
and it was nightfalI before he could
find time to go over the ground and
acquaint himself with the lay of the
land and the location of the mines and
mills.
President McKinnon stated after the
interview with General Funston that
he had told the general that he and the
other officers of the GoIdfield Miners
union would do all in their power to
prevent trouble of any kind and he
pointed to the fact that no attempts
have been made today to modest any
of the men who have deserted the
union. and gone back TO work in the
mines.
No Violence or Threats.
The number of men who today re-
nOunced all allegiance to the Western
Federation of Miners and returned to
work is given out as fifty-siX. visit
to the mine and mill of the Consolidated
company, where the greater majority of
the men were said TO be at work, failed
to discover this number, and II is
known that a few at least of the men
who signed the agreement to go to work
were induced in a quiet way by the
members of the union to reconsider
their action and remain with the West
ern Federation. No instance of violence
being used or even of intimidation or
threats developed. An attempt to op-
crate the GOldfield Nevada Reduction
company's plant failed on account of
lack of men, who failed to keep their
agreement.
The Nevada California Power COM
pany has been able to keep its plant in
full working order today and tonight,
although everyone of the local cleo
tricians and electrical workers of all
kinds have walked out on account of
the reduction i'm their wages and no
skilled men have been secured as yet
TO take their places.