The Ordway new era., 1914-05-01
GOVERNOR TELLS PRESIDENT
MILLIONS OF PROPERTY
WAS DESTROYED.
MANY LIVES WERE LOST
ARMED MEN coNaREeATiNo IN
AFFECTED DISTRICT; OPEN
DEFIANCE OF LAW.
western Newspaper Union News Service.

Western Newspaper Union News Service
Denver, April 27.-Governor Elias
N. Ammons Saturday night tele-
yraphed formal request to President
Wilson to send federal troops into the
Colorado coal strike zone. lmmedt
ltely following this act the states
chief executive called a special ses-
sion Of the Legislature to convene
May 4.
Ammons' Message to Wilson.
aDenver, Colo, April Is. 1914.-His
E1cellency Woodrow Wilson. Pres
ident Of the United States. Wash
ington. D. 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 2s. 1918. there
has been 4 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 80 criti-
cal because Of disorder beyond the
ability of the local authorities to con-
troll that on October 26. 1913. the state
militia was called into service and
sent into the field.
"The district which was particularly
affected with disorder was approxi-
mately eighty miles in length and the
situation demanded all the militia that
II 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were gradually Withdrawn until only
. small number remained In the
troubled district. Thereupon the con-
dition Immediately became greatly ag-
grayated, . vast amount Of property,
amounting to millions Of dollars was
destroyed. many lives were lost and
We were compelled to return fmmedi-
ately a. many. militia a. was possible.
~Armed men in open defiance OF law
nre congregating from various por-
dons Of the state in the affected dis
trict. "
..Thsrs arc probably 5000 men.
ys1asd. IN open insarrsctiou. I have
ayaalab1e Ss6 militiamen, without abil.
w to Increase materially this num-
~.
.rrhs situation has passed beyond
the ability OF the state TO control It.
This domestic violence II the result
'pf an industrial controversy between
Interstate organizations with head
quarters outside the state of Colo
fado.
II, therefore. urgently request that
- 7 NnI0.
rado, and to such other portions of
the state az 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 T.. therefore. have the
honor to make this request ~ gov
ernor Of the state. pursuant to SEQ
tion I. Article w., Of the Constitu-
tion Of the United States.
ELIAS M. AMMONs.
Governor Of Colorado"
Governor Ammons' decision to ap-
peal for federal help was made late in
the afternoon. after tho 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
G. Sharp and Major w. p. Stone OF
the United States Army. Following
his conference with them he -
nounced his intention and telegraphsd
President Wilson.