The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-10-28
GOVERNOR SHOWS
need OF MILITIA
IN STRIKE ZONES

Governor Goodrich, in a formal
statement issued Monday defending
his action in sending state troops to
the Calumet steel strike region, made
public a series Of kilograms from Sec
rotary of War Baker and General
Leonard Wood, commander of the
States army, in which the state was
denied federal troops in Lake county
unless the Indiana militia and the To-
cal authorities were unable to cope
with the situation.
The statement also includes a tele-
gram from w. F. Hodges, mayor of
Gary, dated Oct. 26, saying: AN
emergency exists here. If the troops
are removed. the Reds will again be-
come active and life and property will
be jeopardiZed"
Mayor Hodges complains in his tele
grams that, although seven warrants
for deportation have been issued, "the
subjects are out on bail, and again
active"
The governor explains that he has
bee advised Of the Bolshevik propa-
ganda that has ben conducted in Lake
county for the last months, and
points out that state troops were not
sent until the local authorities re-
quested them.
Whenever the right of any citizen
of Indiana to conduct his business or
engage in any useful employment is
interfered with" the governor declar-
ed in the statement, Il shall exert
every means at my command and ev-
cry power | have to protect him in
his just rights, regardless Of the sac
rifice to any Individual or cost to the
state"
Statement by Governor.
The governors statement in part,
follows:
"Inasmuch as question has been
made as to the necessity Of keeping
the Indiana state militia in Lake Coun-
~ in order to preserve order and
the suggestion has come from certain
sources that the troops should be re-
turned home and replaced by federal
troops. il is now thought proper to
give the people of Indiana a statement
concerning the entire matter.
The propaganda being conducted
by the Bolsheviki, l. w. VS. and Reds
Of Lake county has been known to
the executive and military depart
ments of the state for the past 6
months, and we have been busy keep
ing in close touch with the entire
to Lake county upon the request of
the sheriff and mayor, who stated that
they were utterly unable to enforce
the law and preserve order. The sit
uation got so bad in Gary that the
state troops were unable to cover the
entire district and on my request the
War department sent over 1000 reg
ulars to take charge of the situation
in Gary.
Would Relieve Troops.
knowing that the state troops
were largely made up of business and
professional men who are serving the
state at great sacrifice, I Immediately
after the federal troops moved into
Gary, began to take steps to ascertain
If they would not relieve the state
troops and take entire charge of the
situation I called up General Wood
by long distance on the 10 til OF Octo-
Der and again on the 18th OF Octo-
Der, ] wrote him a letter requesting
the federal government 20 furnish
troops to take care of the situation IN
Lake county and relieve our own men.
Having no answer, on the morning or
the 18th l wired General Wood, and
on the same day received his telegram
which is as follows:
Reference to your request Of Oct
= for relief of state militia now on
guard duty in Indiana Harbor and
East Chicago, by United States troops.
Under the law I am unable to comply
with your request unless you state
that Indiana Harbor and East Chicago
are in a state OF insurrection which
YOU are unable to suppress or control
with the means at your disposal
Telegram to Baker.
when General Wood was IN the
city I again took up the matter with
him in person. He said that nothing
could be done without an order from
Mr. Baker. On the 21st | sent to
Secretary Baker the following tele-
gram:
The Indiana Militia who have