Norwich bulletin., 1919-09-25
GOV. w. c. SPROUL UPHOLDS
 ACTION OF STATE POLICE

Harrisburs, Pa. Sept. 24.-Gov. Will liam C. Sprou1 tonight gave out a ' telesram which he had sent to William C. roster, leader of the strike in the Pittsburgh district, in answer to q message in which Mir Poster had com plained of action of state police. The governor says that the interest of the state government is preserva tion of law and order and that 1t will regard any armed mobs which seek to cross the state line to overcower municipal officials "as armed invaders of Penn sylyania" and will deal with them as such.
 The governors telegram says: William z. Foster. Secretary. 303 Ma gee Building. Pittsburgh. Pa: Tour telegram complaining of the action of a squad of our state police in. dispersing a crowd at North Clare ton has received my attention My in formation is that the people were or dered to move in accordance with q proclamation by the sheriff forbidding public gatherings. that the police did not approach the crowd until their commands had been defied. and that roDody was hurt until shots had been fired and stones and other missiles had been thrown at the officers. Experience has shown that it is dangerous to per l mt the congregation of large mbers or people during times Of stress and excitement and the sheriff as the off clal charged with the maintenance of
 law and order was acting for the pub l4S "el1dTe III 1OfD1QdlnG the ga ther- lngs and in enforcing his decrees Tn carrying out this policy the sheriffs of all the counties will have the full as- sistance of the state.
 Permit me to take this oopportunitv ol saying to you that in the situation which now exists. when 1awlessness and disorder have compelled the in 1 tervention of the state to aid the local when every good citizens attitude should be that of upholding the law and counselling and aiding in the
 maintenance of order. I shall expect
 your full cooperation in helping us to
 see to it that the laws of the common
 wealth are observed and it's peace pre- served.
 Reports have req ched me that many
 agItators, hostile alike to our institu-
 tlons of government and to the organ
 lzauon which you represent, have
 taken advantage of the disturbed con
 d1tions to come into Pennsylvania to
 spread wicked propaganda and to en-
 deavor to incite the ignorant and the
 vicious to riot and pil1age. These per
 sons are enemies of the state and our
 every endeavor- is being given to their
 our laws.
 Information has come to us that ef-
 forts are being made by dangerous and
 evil disposed persons at points in other
 states near our boundaries to collect
 armed mobs to come across the state line to overpower our municipal au-
 thorities nd to attack our citizens and destroy their property. If any such
 attempts are made we shall be com
 pelled to regard these mobs as armed invaders of Pennsylvania and we shall aeal with them a s such. 1 count upon your counsel and influence to discour-
 age such attempts and to aid us in every way that you can against those who would by incorporate speech in- flame people to criminal actions.
 Our interest in the struggle in which you are engaged is in the maintenance of law and order the protection Of your rights and those of all of our people citizens and sojourners alike who live within our laws. During your own stay here you must have been i'm pressed with the fact that our people