Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1908-10-23
TO The VOTERS OF
ELKO COUNTY

Having been u member cf the lust
session of the Legislature. and having
used whatever poor ability and infiu-
ence l possessed in the passage of the
Police Bill" there are certain voters
i'll Elko County opposed to this bill. who
are making n vigorous effort to pun.
ish" me for my action, by defeating
me for reelection on November 3rd
next.
I have nothing to say regarding
those who are endeavoring to effect
my defeat, but I desire to impress on
the minds of all those who believe in
the maintenance of law and order the
positive demand for the enactment of
such Il measur mt that time, together
with the fact that / was firm III the
belief that my action would meet with
the approval of Il very great majority
of my constituents.
The /. w. w. in Goldfeld had held
an anarchy parade under u red flag; in
the procession were such streamers us
ITO He'll With the Flag" and THE
Constitution be Damned" our flag was
desecrated; the use of dynamite was
advocated; overt acts had been COM
mitted; mine owners. and miners were
armed prepared for an outbreak; civil
authorities were unable to control the
situation and the caertion of u military
or constabulary force was rendered i'm
perative.
/ Was selected us one of the two
members of the Assembly, who with
two members of the Senate, drafted
the Police Bill. The bill was drawn
with most careful consideration and
the most competent advice obtainuble.
1t was meant to protect employer and
employee alike, and TO restore industrial
peace in Goldfield. How we'll it served
the purpose is shown by the fact that
in the nine months preceding it's pas
sage there were sixteen strikes in Gold
field. and since its passage there has
been uninterrupted industrial peace,
and the wage scale is us high or higher
than i'll any camp in the United States.
THE Police Bill" is misrepresented
rs being an oppressive measure, rs
those familiar with it from actual
study know. Only when martial law is
declared by the Governor (such as the
Governor of any other state may do
with n militia force) is the constabn.
larry given great latitude, reports TO the
contrary Notwithstanding. / admit,
however, that the bill is imperfect in
detail and should be amended to cor
rect abuses it permits of, and this will
be done at the mex session of the
Legislature, hut l maintain that its
principle is correct.
l was warned that | could never lie
elected to III Office in Nevada again if
l voted for the Police Bill, but / stood
by my convictions, confident in the be.
lief that the vast majority of my con.
st%ituents favored the maintenance of
law and order nj any cost.
Now that the Police Bill has become
IN issue in my candidacy, and MS its
misguided enemies are making a strong
effort to defeat me on account of my
connection with it, l appeal to the
voters to vindicate lily action. Fir:
members of the Elko county delegation,
Mr.. Hunter, Mr.. Corryell. Mr., Fernald,
Mr.. Winter and |, voted for it. Mr..
Winter and I are the only candidates
for reelection, and 1 especially seem to
he marked for punishment" by the
enemies of the bill.
In conclusion, l appeal to every good
citizen, regardless of political procliyi.
ties, to support the bill, which is to be
voted upon Nov. 8rd, and to vindicate
my action by your suffrage. 1t will re.
mind further Legislators that you will
stand by them in the right; that they
need fear no threats from those OPP
posed to law, order and good govern
ment.
GEO, b. RUSSELL.