Thomas E. Campbell to Woodrow Wilson

1CH. RA. 406– Govt. 8:40 p. m.
Phoenix, Arizona,
July 12, 1917.

Industrial conditions throughout Arizona, due to presence of large numbers of members Industrial Workers of the World, coming from outside the state and agitating their propaganda, are rapidly getting beyond the control of peace officers. There are no state troops under my authority, all Arizona National Guard being in Federal Service, making it impossible for me to use this force for the preservation of peace. At Bisbee today, fifteen hundred citizens rounded up approximately twelve hundred Industrial Workers of the World and other alleged undesirable citizens, deporting them by rail en route to Columbus, New Mexico. At Jerome, similar action was taken by citizens, with result that sixty one similar characters were deported Tuesday en route to California, being stopped at the California line at Needles, California, and returned to Kingman, Arizona. I instructed Sheriff at Kingman to release these people, except in cases where legal charges would hold against them. This was done. Citizens in the many mining communities affected, feeling that peace officers cannot afford adequate protection, are acting as hereinbefore stated, meantime praying for federal intervention. I have recommended to General Parker, commanding at Fort Sam Houston, with whom I am in constant telegraphic communication, that troops be immediately dispatched to Bisbee, Kingman, Jerome, Humboldt, Ajo, Ray, Clifton and Morenci, that peace be maintained, important mining industries continued and recurrence of such affairs as at Bisbee and Jerome prevented. This movement on the part of the I. W. W. is general throughout the western mining states, with particular activity centered at the present time on Arizona copper production, seventy five percent of which is idle today.
It is generally believed that strong pro–German influence is back of this movement, as the I. W. W. appear well financed and are daily getting into their ranks many aliens, particularly Austrians.
I am unable to ascertain definitely activity of pro–German influence, but the result remains, in so far as copper production is concerned.
I consider the situation in Arizona sufficiently serious to warrant immediate federal intervention and am most anxious to cooperate with such forces as will allay present civic and industrial situation.

Governor of Arizona.