The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-04-03
WHAT SHALL We
Do WITH MEy 50?
Imprisonment Of United States Citi.
zens Is Becoming Too Frequent
To Be Over
looked.
STATE MILITIA BILL
Laws May be Changed so That Ma
tional Guards VIII Be Al
lowed to Make
Invasion.
STATE MILITIA BILL

4
WASHINGTON, April 3.-Following
the recent decision that the state mi
litia could not be used RS an invading
force by the government should 1t de-
eide to intervene in Mexico, Attorney
General Wickersham, who gave the
opinion, has framed bill which will
make such action possible, if passed
by congress, it was learned today.
The bill will be forwarded to con-
gress with President Taft's recon-
mendation that the body give it I'M
mediate consideration. 1t provides a
change in the militia law, making
state organizations effective as an in
vading force instead of only defen-
sive body, as under the present law.
Critical Situation.
| WASHINGTON, April 3.-The re-
ported capture and detention by re-
bells of Harry Conklin and about fifty
other Americans at the Lluvia De Orc
mine near Choiax. Chihuahua, threat
ened today to develop into critical
incident of the Mexican revolution.
Representative Esch, of Wisconsin
to whom Conklin's mother at Lacrosse
wis, appealed, took the matter up with
the state department at once. Because
of the report that the Americans are
held as hostages against Intervention
4 the department regards the question
Involved exceedingly grave. Ambass
ador Wilson and all consular officer
il Chihuahua were ordered to investi
gate the matter
Another American Prisoner.
4 Ell PASO, Texas, April 3.-A grav'
situation exists today as the result o
the arrest by Mexican rebels in Juar
ez of Powell Roberts, citizen of E
: Paso. Sheriff Peyton Edwards ant
Chief of Police l. N. Davis of El Pas,
and U. S. Consul Edwards of Juare
: have all made demands for Roberts
release but have failed and the fact
in the case today were telegraphed t
: the department of state in Washing
ton.
) Roberts was arrested three day
ago when he went to Juarez He is
former Ell Paso policeman and wa
seized on what he declares is
"trumped up" charge Jenario Cen
!. ceros, formerly resident of FL Pas
!. but now secretary of Col. Demetri
Ponce, Jefe De- Arms of the revol,
4 tionists in Juarez, brought the charg'
%bot -
ed his house in Ell Paso to search fc
), arms and stole $500.
AS soon as Roberts was seized an
j, thrown into jail he tried to sen
word to his friends in Ell Paso bl
failed. He finally smuggled note o,
), this city the local authorities bega
= their vain efforts to get the prisont
:. back. They allege that the arrest
: absolutely unwarranted in as much {
:, even if Roberts did search the Mex
cans house here, he is not subject
y arrest for it in Mexico They declal
that the rebels are merely trying
= vent a personal grie> nnce.
y Chief Davis went to Juarez, unari
8 ed early today to make another fc
N NAL demand for Roberts release
N is rumored however, that the rebe
/ have taken Roberts to Chihuahua Fl
trial.
: Mayor c. E. Kelly has protested
Governor O. B. Colquitt, who prom
+ ed to take the matter up with Il
ar state department. The mavor a,
U prominent Ell Paso citizens have al
n telegraphed vigorous protest to &c
If eral Orozco at Jiminez and demal
for the immediate release of Rober
ar Additional reinforcements we
sent from Jiminez to General Cam
ar last night, to assist him in TAXI
ar Parral. Fighting at Parral continu
3 all day yesterday, according to 6
ar vices from Allende to Orozco
The town is being defended by V
la and Soto with their federal trool
IT. numbering fewer than 500 and
lie hundreds of the citizens. Campo h
m now more than 1000 rebels in his
lacking army.