The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-13
President Roosevelt Will Order
Them From GOldfield
Immediately Following Assem-
bling of the Legislature.
AN OFFICIAL REPORT
Shows There Never Was Reason
for Their Presence.
All a Scheme on the Part OF
the Mine Owners.

WASHINGTON Jan. 13-President
Roosevelt has determined to withdraw
the federal troops from Goldheld,
New, shortly after the legislature be-
gins it's special session Tuesday. This
intention was made known at the
White House when the report OF the
special investigating commission was
made public together with a letter
from the president to Governor Sparks
dated January 4. The president says
he shall be governed by the recon-
mendation in the report unless the
governor can show that the state
ments of the report are in accordance
with the facts. The report says:
1.-THE condition did not support the
general allegations in the governors
request for troops, nor were his
specific statements established to any
such extent as to justify his use of
these statements for the purpose of
getting federal troops.
But we also must firmly believe
that upon the assembling of the legis-
lature or within a few days there
after, the troops should be removed,
regardless of any request for their re-
tention that may be made by either
the legislature or the governor of
Nevada, it being essential that the
state of Nevada shall understand this
situation completely; shall recognize
the fact that there will, at that date be
thrown upon it. and it alone, the
primary responsibility of keeping or
der, and that, recognizing this re-
sponsibilfty, it may take such action
as is the duty of the state, and as
Will be sufficient in the premises"
The Presidents Letter.
In his letter to Governor Sparks, af-
Ter reviewing the steps so far taken in
the Goldf1eld trouble, the president
says 81 have just received the report
of these three gentlemen, Murray,
Smith and Neill) whicn sets forth in
the most emphatic language their be-
lief after a careful investigation on
the ground that they was no warrant
whatever for calling on the president
for troops, and that the troops should
not be kept indefinitely in GolddeJd
The report further states that there
was no insurrection against the power
OF the state at that time; that nobody
supposed that there was such an in
surrecton, and that none of the condi-
lions described in section 5297-S-9 of
the revised statutes as wdrranting in
reference by the federal government
existed. and that the effort was and
IS plainly an effort by the state of
Nevada to secure the performance by
the Onlted States Of ordinary police
d
course be performed by Nevada
hersef The report further says:
There is absolutely no question that
II the state of Nevada and the county
OF Esmeralda exercise the powers at
their disposal they can maintain order
In Goldfield; that so far these authori-
ties have done nothing but rely on fed
eral aid, and their attitude now is ex-
pressed by that of refusing to do any,
thing, and desiring to throw their own
fo
the maintenance of those elementary
conditions of order for which they and
they only, are responsible.
THE signers of the report express
their conviction that the troops should
remain in Nevada until the assembling
of the legislature, so as to preserve the
status quo, in order that the legislature
may deal with the situation as it ex-
lists, but that shortly thereafter the
troops should be removed
Il agree with the recommendations
of this report, of which inclose COPY,
and shall act accordingly. Unless it can
be shown that the statements of the re-
ports are not in accordance with the
fact 1T Will be incum bent on the legis-
1ature of Nevada, when it convenes
itself, to provide for enforcement of the
laws of the state The state of Nevada
must Itself make a resolute effort in
good faith to perform the police duties
incident to the existence of a state'
AS the Operators association had in
the commission on reaching Golddeld
allowed its counsel to present the op-
orators side Of the cause fully. This
occupied five days. At the end of this
hearing the report says:
Did Not Hear Miners.
"Inasmuch as we were by this time
satisfied that the mine operators had
not in any particular established a
case justifying either the bringing OF
the retention troops, we did not deem
1t necessary to take extensive evidence
on the other side. and the hearing was
substantially closed with a brief for
mai interview with the committee
from the miners unon.-
Reviewing the condition leading UT
to the present strike and since the
strike began, November 81 last, the re.
port draws this conclusion: "The ac.
ton of the mine operators warrant:
the belief that they had determined
upon reduction in wages and the re.
fusal of employment to members OF
the Western Federation of Miners, bu
that they feared to take this course
of action unless they had the protec.
ton of federal troops, and that they
accordingly laid plan to secure sucf
troops and then put their programm,
into effect
When the troops arrived the mine
operators issued a statement in which
they indicated a reduction in miners
wages from So to 81 day also thei1
intention not to employ miners who
belonged to the union.
The report adds:
while this cut in wages and re
fusal 10 employ members of the West
ern Federation was not announced un
til after the arrival of troops, every in
dication confirms this belief that sucf
action was in contemplation before
the arrival of the troops was part O
the general plan of the mine operator
-+ahI Itch, 7af- 4ral
union. and that the coming of tn,