The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-28
TEXAS GOVERNOR
DEFINES POSITION
Tells to What Extent He Under
takes to Protect People
of His State.
NO TROOPS TO CROSS BORDER
Says There Is Deliberate Effort
at Washington to Make Him
Appear Ridiculous.

Austin, Texas, February 27.-Gov-
issued the following statement:
The Associated Press dispatche es
from Washington. referring to my tele-
gram of yesterday addressed to tho
President concerning conditions on the
Texas Mexican border. make the fol-
lowing statement:
"a similar situation arose in Texas
in February. 1912. and February. 1913.
when border troubles caused Governor
Colquitt to declare he might send
Texas rangers into Mexico either to
prevent firing into American territory
or protect Americans.
And again the Associated Press dis
patches from Washington say:
"'When, on February "A, 1918, Gov
ernor Colquitt ordered four companies
OF militia to Brownsville, the War De-
partment telegraphed General Steever.
then In command of the department
OF Texas Under no circumstances
permit their crossing the river, except
under specific orders OF the Secretary
OF War;
'"rhe statements quoted above are
positively untrue, In so far as they al
lege that ] have threatened to send
rangers or State militia into Mexico.
Il did send telegram In 1912 to
the President asking him to prevent
the Mexican revolutionists and Federal
soldiers at Juarez from shooting into
Eel Paso, Texas, and thus endanRering
the lives of Texas people. And In that
telegraphic correspondence stated
that II the Federal government did not
take steps to protect the Texas people.
that | would. And | gave orders to
my Acknowledgement to bo ready TO
proceed with State troops to FL Paso
for that purpose.
No Authority to Invade.
II knew that had mo authority TO
invade Mexico and was not foolish
enough to make such Il threat But il
the MeXicans stood or their side and
shot down Texans, the State OF Texas
certainly would have the right to have
afforded these Texans all the protection
that could be lawfully given them.
I'm February, 1913, after the Ameri-
can consul at Matamoros had tele-
phoned to the captain Of the ranger
company at Brownsville and also to
the county judge and sheriff Of Gamer
on. Texas regarding the threats OF
the Mexican troops against Americans
In Matamoros and their demand for
$4,000 by q given hour of the night,
these public officials called upon me
to protect the people Of Texas living
in Brownsville.
"RccoYniZinE II to be the duty OF
tho Federal government to afford this
protection. | communicated the tele-
gram received from the captain OF the
militia company at Brownsville to Gem
eral Steever at Fort Sam Houston. San
Antonio. subsequently, when re-
quest came to me from the county
judge and sheriff of Cameron County.
brownsville being the county seat
thereon. appealing 10 me to protect
the people Of that vicinity against dis
order in Mntamoros and probable vio-
lence in brownsville. I Immediately
called up General Steever and read to
him the telegram OF the county judge
and sheriff.
Il asked General Steever if he could
not send Federal troops to Browns
Vile to give the protection which the
county judge and sheriff asked for
Al that time the nearest Federal
troops to Brownsville We're at Fort
Mcintosh, near Laredo. which Is ap-.
proXimately 2S6 miles from Browns
villo by rail He addressed ma over
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