The Colorado statesman., 1914-05-02

wilson sent the following telegram 10
Governor Ammons on Tuesday:
I'm response to your telegram de-
scribing a situation of domestic vio-
lence in your state, which you in
formed me has passed beyond the abil-
ty of the state to control, and con-
yeying your request to me to dispatch
federal troops pursuant to Section q,
United States. 1 beg leave to advise
you follows:
Ihat section OF the Constitut1on pro-
vides that the United States shall pro-
tect each state on application of the
Legislature, or of the executive (when
against domestic violence and is put
INTO effect by certain statutes, princi-
piallyy Sections {, z; ., and s, 200 Re,
lawful for the President in the circum-
stances described in the section of the
Constitution referred to. to use the land
forces or the naval forces of the United
States as he deems necessary, and the
latter provides that whenever in his
judgment 1t becomes necessary so to
use these forces, he shall forthwith by
proclamation command the insurgents
to disperse and retire peaceably to
their respective abodes in specified
time
Upon the information before me. my
Judgment is that it necessary for me to
use the military forces of the United
States for the purposes defined by law,
and l shall forthwith issue the proc
iamation provided by the statute and
troops when they reach the scenes of
disturbance to cause all those who
have been indulging in domestic vio-
lence, or who threaten to do so. or
whose acts are likely to give rise to
disorder, to disperse and retire peace
ably to their respective abodes if they
have not already done so within the
time limited by my proclamation, and
shall order that no person or persons.
natural or artificial. shall be permitted
to do that which may give rise to dis
order of the character heretofore oc-
casioned, to the end that good order
may be established and maintained.
81 shall not, by the use of the troops.
or by any attempt at jurisdiction. inject
the power of the federal government
into the controversy which has pro-
duced the present situation. The settle
ment of that controversy falls strictly
within the field of state power.
MY duty as 1 now see it is to con-
fine myself to maintaining a status of
good order until the state can reassert
its authority and resume the enforce
ment thereof
"T am Informed your Legislature
with this emergency, but has been sum
moned to convene on May 4, 1914. |
shall expect you to draw the attention
sity of immediate consideration OF the
whole situation and as prompt action
as is possible in the premises, in order
that the use of the federal power may
be limited within it's contemplated con-
fines and in order that the state may
take up it's duty as soon as it is pos
The manifest disadvantages of hav-
ing two military forces under separate
sources of control operating within the
same localities lead me to request you
to withdraw your militia as soon as the
troops of the United States have
reached the scene and are ready to take
over the necessary control.
(signed) WOODROW WILSON"
White House officials stated that
the President had acted because all
parties, including the senators and
congressman from Colorado, and the
governor, the mine operators and the
miners as well had asked for the
federal soldiers.