Watertown weekly leader. [volume] (Watertown, Jefferson County, Wis.) 1906-1908, 1908-01-03
FEDERAL SOLDIERS
STAY IN GOLDFIELD
PRESIDENT GIVES GOVERNOR A
CHANCE TO CALL SPECIAL SEES
SION OF LEGISLATURE.
HEEDS SPARKS' NEW APPEAL.
Tells Him That Troops VIII Not Remain
There More Than Three Weeks I'm
less Lawmakers Ask 1t.
NEVADA MUST DO SOMETHING.

WASHINGTON, d. c., Dee. 2S.-
President Roosevelt today indicated by
! a telegram to Gov. Sparks of Nevada
/ that the federal troops now at Goldheld
/ Will be ordered to remain there for 4
! further period of three weeks, provided
/ the governor within five days issues Il
/ call for a special session of the state
| Legislature. The telegram of the Pres
ident was in response to one from the
governor i'll which he sets forth the
need of armed Intervention and express
es the doubt that to call the Legislature
would result In the request from that
! body for federal aid. The correspond
ence was made public at the white house
as follows:
Sparks Pleads for Troops.
In his telegram to the President. Gov.
, Sparks says;
/ There has been an almost constant
/ state of war between the miners union
! and the mine owners. During the year
1907 practically one-fourth of the time
was occupied i'll actual strikes, and sew
! eral months i'll agitatiOnS about other
! strikes. The union alone claims il MEM
bership of 1000, and fully one-half OF
| the membership are constantly armed
/ On the other hand, the mine owners
had i'll their employ a large number OF
watchmen and guards who are cons,an,-
Is armed and on duty. Under sucu
conditions the civil authorities are prac-
tically powerless.
/ Says Soldiers Are Needed.
I'm my judgment, it is necessary that
troops be kept at Godheld an inuetinlle
# cI,n Il
until both sides have shown that the DIS
trict is not to remain an armed camp and
| a scene of continual warfare.
1t is known as Il matter of leglSla-
tive history that | recommended Il meas
! ure at the last session having Tor It's
| object the establishment Of Il state con
| Stabulary along the lines of the Texas
rangers, which was rejected by that
body. The Assembly of that session.
| with the vote of all but one, passed IL
! resolution, denOuncing the injustice done
! Meyer, Haywood and Pettibone by the
denial Of Il speedy trial. The resolution,
however, was tabled by the Senate.
Three Weeks Before Session.
1T is Il matter of only Il few weeks
| since | called for the opinions of different
! representatives, and individual citizens
Of the state generally as to the advisa-
blllty OF converting special session TO
act upon then existing emergency,
which, however, did not relate to the
present situation. The expressions re
ceived at that time indicated that 80
! per cent. Of the people were opposed 30
such extra session. For geographical
| reasons and Oh account of the customary
| ten days notice to members it would be
! impossible to convene and organize Il
| special session Of the Legislature III less
| than three weeks, presuming on the most
expeditions action on the part of the mem
| berS. For these reasons | deemed it i'm.
| possible to convene the Legislature il
! special session to meet the present cir OF.
gency and still think it highly inadvis.
| able. This telegram was in course OF
! preparation on the 18th inst. in repy tt
| your telegram of that date but Wa>
taken i'll and have only just returned tC
my office. L am low sending it in liet
of letter which | wired YOU was in course
of preparation. The delay was not III.
territorial Oh my part and no discourtes!
! meant thereby"
President Raps Governor.
IL reply to the governor the President
says:
Your telegram, December 26 is re-
ceived. 1t i'll effect, declares that YOU
have failed to call the Legislature to-
gether because, in your judgment, the
| Legislature would not call upon the gov
eminent of the United States for the
use Of troops, although i'll your opinion
it ought to do SO.
The Constitution of the United
States imposes, not upon you but upon
| the Legislature if it can be convened
the duty of calling upon the government
of the United States TO protect the state
| of Nevada against domestic violence.
You now request me to use the
armed forces of the United States in vlo-
I,+, Of thn l.,
your judgment the Legislature would
fail to perform its duty under the con-
| stitution. The state government certain
| ly does not appear to have made any
serious effort to do its duty by the eff
fective enforcement of its police func
tions.
Il repeat what l have already said tC
you several times. that under the circum
| stances now existing in the state of Ne.
vada made known to me, an applica
ton from the Leg.slatur of the state is
an essential condition to the indefinite
! continuance of the troops at GOldtield
Circumstances may change and if they
do | will take whatever action the needs
OF the situation require so far as my con,
stitutional powers permit. But the first
! need is that the state authorities should
do their duty and the first step TOWARD
this is the assembling of the Leg:sla ture
Now Up to Sparks,
1T is apparent from your telegram
that the Legislature of Nevada can read
lily be convened. You have fixed the Pc.
Rod Of three weeks as the time necessary
! to convene and organize Il special SOS
! sion. If within five days from the re
cept of this telegram you shall have is
sued the necessary notice to convene thu
| Legislature of Nevada. | shall continue
the station of the troops at Goldfeld dur
| ing such period of three weeks. If with.
in %
not been issued. the troops will be imme-
diatalE returned to their formar stations,