Cañon City record., 1908-01-16
EXTRA SESSION OF
NEVADA LEGISLATURE

to the call issued on December 80 by
Governor Sparks, the state legislature
| of Nevada convened in special session
here today to consider the labor trou-
bles in Goldfield. The call was made
at the request OF President Roosevelt.
who had notified Governor Sparks that
such action must be taken or the fed
eral troops sent to Goldfield to deal
with riot" which did not materialize
would be recalled. 1t Is generally be-
lieved that the legislature will refuse
to adopt the recommendations Of the
governor, and in that case the latter
will probably declare martial law.
There are so many avowed friends OF
the Western Federation OF Miners
among the Nevada lawmakers, and
they will probably seek to prevent any
| Legislation looking to the establish
ment of state militia. They declare
that such a militia would be practi-
cally organized. armed. owned and
controlled by the mine owners and
would be used for the sole purpose OF
enabling the operators to break up the
union, import "scabs" and inaugurate
reign of terror with its bullpens and
| SuCA dSS" W.
orado few years ago. They assert
that the miners have shown them.
selves willing and anxious to carry on
peaceful strike, and that state troops
should not be used as strike break
ers.
That Governor Sparks Is doubtful OF
the willingness Of the legislature to
take an active part in the Goldheld
troubles is evidenced by his letter to
! President Roosevelt in which he said:
ut is a matter OF legislative history
that I recommended a measure at the
last session to establish a state con-
stabulary along the lines OF the Tex
as Rangers, which was rejected by the
legislature. the members thereof still
being in office. The assembly OF that
session, with the vote OF all but one,
passed a resolution denouncing the In
! justice done Meyer. Haywood and Pet
tibone by the denial Of speedy trial.
The resolution. however, was tabled
| by the senate"
The governors implicated criti-
cism OF the state legislature because II
demanded a speedy trial for the lead
ers OF the Western Federation OF Min
ers has aroused much Indignation
| among the members who voted for
| that resolution, who declare that re-
cent history, in the acquittal Of Hay
wood and Pettibone and the release OF
Meyer, has justified their contention.
The opinion Is general among the
lawmakers that Governor John Sparks
has "gone over" to the Goldfield mine
| fo hnN Ha
elected largely by the votes OF the
miners and laborers. who considered
him their friend. Others hold that the
governor has been cleverly taken in"
by the Goldfield stock jobbers who
have made him their unwilling tool in
securing free advertising for Goldfield
In one respect Sparks resembles the
late Governor Steunenberg OF Idaho,
Harry Orchards victim. Both Sparks
and Steunenberg we're elected by la
boring men, and both aligned them
selves with the mine owners when
trouble came Steunenberg introduced
the bullpen into Idaho, and II Is de-
clared by Sparks enemies that he de-
sires to do likewise in Nevada.
1t is a notorious fact that Governor
Opal M DCSH IdtG oh CNCSCulh6-
ly good terms with the Goldfield stock
jobbers. who promoted million dollar
companies by the dozens on a capital
OF hole in the ground and abundant
stock OF hot air. Many prominent
statesmen OF Nevada have been in
volved in these get rich quick"
schemes and have aided the Goldfield
boomers in their efforts to attain new
notoriety for the town by having
United States troops sent to protect
their Interests"
There are many rich mines In Gold
fleld. but most OF them are in the
hands Of a few men. The other pros
poets" have been capitalized for thou
sands Of times their value and the
stock sold to unsuspecting Investors
in the east
Every possible mean. to boost Gold
field and to advertise its resources"
has been utilized by these clever stock
jobbers. Prize fights were held at
which princely purses were hung up.
newspaper men were subsidized to
send out glowing stories Of the wealth
Of Goldfield and every other method Of
obtaining notoriety was utilized. to the
end that the stock might be sold. Il
Then the bubble bursted. Men sup
posed to be worth millions woke up
and found themselves penniless. The
exodus began, and grew, until scores
og buildings were left empty and Gold
field had assumed the appearance Of .
deserted village. Then the stockjob-
bers conceived the scheme OF manu-
featuring a call for federal troops and
gaining new advertising. II worked,
and Goldfleld again occupied q po1i-