New Mexico state record. (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1914-19??, 1919-11-07
GOVERNOR MEETS STRIKE
SITUATION SQUARELY

prompt action to protect the inter
ests of the public in the strike oi
coal miners that started November
LIST. He at once ordered Federal
troops for the districts where the
strike is in progress. A squadron
of cavalry arrived early at Gallup
and cavalry and infantry reached
Ration Wednesday morning. By pro-
elamation the governor declared
Colfax and Mckinley counties under
martial law. The proclamation fol-
lows:
After having consulted with local
peace officers of the counties OF
Colfax and Mckinley. in the state
of New Mexico, and after an in
vestigation conducted by myself,
find that following the strike in
augurated by the coal miners in GER
tain coal districts in said counties,
respectively, condition of public
excitement and insecurity of the per-
sons of willing workers exists; that
these conditions amount to insurrec-
tion in the aforesaid localities and
districts of said counties, so that
people who are willing to work in
the coal mines dare not do so for
fear of serious physical injury to
themselves, to their families and to
their property, and that by reason
thereof the coal mines in said dis
tricts have ceased to be operated and
the necessary production OF coal is
made impossible, and that thereby
the peace, quiet. lawful and orderly
existence of said communities has
been interrupted, that protection to
the lives and the property Of those
living in said communities cannot be
given under the ordinary process of
law by the civil authorities therein
and the peace quiet and comfort of
the whole state is thereby seriously
endangered and jeopardized.
Now, therefore, in view of these
conditions, which l am satisfied do
exist in said counties, and which the
peace officers of said counties have
reported to me they are not able to
meet, cope with and control, ], o. A.
Larrazolo, Governor of the State OF
New Mexico, do hereby publicly pro.
claim and declare that a state OF
insurrection exists in said counties
OF Colfax and Mckinley, in the state
Of New Mexico, in virtue whereof
! have called for the intervention OF
federal troops in said counties, to the
end that through their instrumental
ity and agency peace and order may
be maintained in said counties, that
full and ample protection may be
equally afforded and extended TO all
persons who may be willing 10 work
either in the aforesaid mines or tn.
erwise, to their families and depen-
dents and to their property, and also
that the aforesaid mines and proper
ty OF whatsoever nature and descrip-
tion that may be found to exist with
in the limits of the aforesaid coun-
ties may be fully protected from in
Jury and destruction and that in all
things order, peace and law may be-
maintained and preserved; and | fur.
ther declare that martial law exists
and is in force in said counties from
and after the date of this proclama-
sion and until further ordered by me.
The central labor union at Albu-
querque filed protest against the
presence of troops at Gallup. So did
the mayor of Gallup who insisted
that law and order prevailed and
that civil authorities could cope with
the situation. To this the Governor
replied that it was q source of sat-
isfaction to know that law and order
prevailed, but that the troops will
remain in Gallup until he sees fit to
withdraw them.
The various American Legion posts
In the state have organized guards
and advised the governor that they /
are at his service to maintain law |
and order. The only objection to
the guard plan comes from Albu- !
querque, which seems to have become |
the seat of the objectors to the Gov !
ernor's very intelligent law and order
program. There are no funds avail
able for use of the guards for one
thing and the Governor also holds
that the ex-serv,ce men who have
done so much for the Nation should
not be again called into public service +
until it is urgently needed to suppress
violence beyond control of the auth
critics.
U. s. District Attorney Object.
U. S. District Attorney Summers
Burkhardt objects to troops being
sent to coal fields to maintain order
and wired the Attorney General re-
commencing that the troops be held
at Ft. Wingate rather than Gallup
Sheriff McCammant of Mckinley
county on the .other hand wants the
troops at Gallup as a protection 10
the miners who only need assurance
OF protection to resume work The
action OF district attorney Burkhardt
seems quite peculiar under the cir.
cumstances when his superior Attor-
ney General Palmer is doing overy-
thing possible to protect the pub
Iic and keep the mines going.
Troops Arrive at Ration
The Ration district now is under
the protection of federal troops. The
cavalry rushed from Columbus, NJ NJ,
At Governor Larrazolo's request, ar
rived at Ration yesterday morning
and their distribution in patrols
among the coal camps, some of them
Is far as twenty-five miles, was begun
It once.
The commanding officer reported
heir arrival over the long-distance
telephone to the governors office =
ind the governor asked that he send =
patrols to the outlying mines. He
vas asked not to fail to send troops
o Dawson. The mines there are q
he only ones in operation in the d
district and the governor is unwill- =
ng to overlook any precaution that |
assures continuance of their produc- t
ion. No disorder has been report a
d from Dawson. c
Governor Warns Operators
The commanding officers report r
vas received at 9 o'clock. two hours {
Ifter the arrival of the troops, and a
a that time he et.4ed a H. ss,.. a