Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-28

statement issued late yesterday. max
ing clear his attitude with reference to
the border situation. Gov. Colquitt de-
clared untrue published reports which
quoted him as saying on previous &C.
casions that he might send Texas
rangers into Mexico. The governor in
his statement charged that there
seems to be a deliberate effort at
Washington in dealing with the Next
can border question. in SO far as mat
tiers presented by me are CONCERNED, to
make me appear ridiculous before the
people of the country
1t was true, Gov. Colquitt asserted,
that he had demanded Of the federal
government that steps be taken to pre-
vent firing across the border during
battles near the boundary, and had de-
clared that unless such action was
taken by the United States It would be
by the state of Texas, but asserts that
he had no intention of conveying a
threat to cross the border.
No Threat of Invasion
Il knew that had no authority to in
wade Mexico and was not foolish enough
to make such threat. But. If the Mexi-
cans stood on 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 American
consul at Matamoros had telephoned to
the captain of the ranger company at
Brownsville and also to the county judge
and sheriff of Cameron. Tex, regarding
the threats of the Mexican troops against
Americans in Matamoros and their de-
mand for $4,000 by a given hour of the
night, the public officials called upon
me to protect the people Of Texas living
in Brownsville.
Recognizing it to be the duty of the
federal government to afford this pro-
lection, ] communicated the telegram re-
ceived from the captain Of the militia
company at Brownsville to Gen. Steever
at Fort Sam Houston. San Antonio. Sub
sequently, when a request came to me
from the county judge and sheriff Of
Cameron county. Brownsville being the
county seat thereof, appealing to me to
protect the people of the vicinity against
disorder in Matamoros and probahie vio-
lence in Brownsville. l Immediately call
ed up Gen. Steever and read to him the
telegram of the county judge and sheriff.
Asked for Federal Troops.
Il asked Gen. steever if he could not
send federal troops to Brownsville to
give the protection which the county
judge and sheriff asked for. At that time
the nearest federal troops to Brownsville
were at Fort Mcintosh, near Laredo,
which is approximately 2s6 miles from
Brownsville by rail. He addressed me
over the telephone. that in pursuance of
my request for better patrol on the
Mexican border. he had asked the War
Department permission three weeks
prior to this time to send troops to
Brownsville. but that his request had not
been acted upon. Whereupon 1 advised
Gen. Steever that the situation at Browns
Vile and MatamoroS seemed dangerous
and that / would undertake to give the
protection myself.
Il then called the adjutant general
Of the state of Texas to my Office and
directed that two cavalry and two in
fantry companies of the Texas National
Guard be sent to Brownsville without de-
lay, by special train, my determinaLo on
being to defend and protect the people
of this state, whom l considered the ma
tional government to be neglecting.
1T was never my intention to order
or permit the Texas troops to go be-
yond the borders of this state
A Question of veracity.
The telegram of the captain of the
National Guard at Brownsville stated
that the American consul had COM
municated with him by telephone and
asked If the American consu ate was
attacked If he. the captain of the Texas
National Guard, would cross the river
and give him and the consulate pro-
lection. The American consul after
ward denied making this request: but
the matter Is one Of veracity between
him and the captain of the National
Guard and the county judge and snerln
Of Cameron county.
Having been called upon by the coun.
ty judge and sheriff for protection. il
was my duty to send troops to their
aid, and / did so without waiting to
inquire into the question of veracity
which afterward arose between the
American consul and the local state au-
thoritieS referred to.
THE Associated Press dispatches
from Washington at the time carried a
statement that Gen. Steever had been
instructed not to permit the Texas
troops to cross into Mexico If such
order was given, 1t was most ridiculous.
because the communication between N.Y.
self and the authorities at Brownsville
which Were published the morning after
the occurrence. clearly showed that
there was no such purpose.
II afterward called upon the COM
mander at Fort Sam Houston for a copy
Of the telegram which the Associated