Rocky Ford enterprise., 1914-05-01
GOVERNOR ELLIS PRESIDENT
MILLIONS OF PROPERTY
WAS DESTROYED.
MANY LIVES WERE LOST
ARMED MEN coNGREGATINo IN
Al ACTED DISTRICT; OPEN
DEFIANCE OF LAW.
Western Newspaper Union News Service.


Denver, April Ex-Governor Elias
NJ. Ammons Saturday night tele-
sraphed formal request to President
Wilson to send federal troops into the
Colorado coal strike zone. lmmedi-
ately following this act the states
chief executive called special ses-
sion of the Legislature to convene
May 4.
Ammons' Message to Wilson.
Denver, Colo, April %, 1914.-His
Excellency Woodrow Wilson, Pres
ident of the United States, Wash
ington, ID. c.:
Conditions in this state compel me
to request of you that federal troops
be sent Immediately into the state of
Colorado, for the following reasons:
"Since September IS, 1913, there
has been a general strike OF coal min
ers throughout the major portion of
the state of Colorado. The situation
in the southern part of the state in
the Trinidad district became SO criti-
cal because of disorder beyond the
ability of the local authorities to CON
troll that on October &c, 1913, the state
militia was called into service and
sent into the field.
"The district which was particularly
affected with disorder was approx
mately eighty miles in length and the
situation demanded all the militia that
1t was possible to secure under the
conditions here in Colorado.
About one month ago. the trouble
having apparently abated, the troops
were gradually withdrawn until only
n small number remained in the
troubled district. Thereupon the con-
dition Immediately became greatly ag-
gravated, a vast amount of property.
amounting to millions of dollars was
destroyed, many lives were lost and
we were compelled to return immedi-
ately as many militia as was possible.
ARMED men in open defiance of law
are congregating from various por-
tions of the state in the affected dis
trict.
There are probably 5000 men,
armed, in open insurrection. | have
available $50 militiamen, without abil-
ity to increase materially this num-
ber.
THE situation has passed beyond
the ability of the state to control 1t.
This domestic violence is the result
of an Industrial controversy between
Interstate organizations with head
quarters outside the state of Colo
RADIO.
II. therefore, urgently request that
you send forthwith to Ludlow. Colo
rado, and to such other portions of
the state as the commanding officer
may deem necessary, not less than
one battalion of infantry and one
troop of cavalry.
THE Legislature of this state can
not be convened in time to meet this
emergency. and /. therefore. have the
honor to make this request as gov
ernor of the state, pursuant to Sec
tion 4. Article w., of the Constitu
tion of the United States.
ELIAS NJ. AMMONS,
Governor of Colorado"
Governor Ammons' decision to ap-
peal for federal help was made late in
the afternoon. after the committee of
women representing the mass meeting
of women which was held throughout
the day in the chamber of the House
of Representatives. had called upon
him several times. About the middle
of the afternoon, the governor went
into conference with Colonel Alfred
C. Sharp and Major w. P. Stone of
the United States Army. Following
his conference with them he an
bounced his intention and telesraphed
President Wilson