Pike County Democrat, Volume 29, Number 16, Petersburg, Pike County, 26 August 1898 — Page 5

INDIANA MINERS legislation Passed By Democratic Legislature to Ameliorate Their Conditions.

«• Piwtuot (k« Miner From Wvjrler Heart lnwaiw of tiraedr Operaton th*> Orinucntot huw<U Uat Pro* 14lug for Mine tu'perM ion, Chrek Weigh »*», Safety of Minora In P— eondlng wad fkaoenitlog la tk« Caga, tho Proper Bracing and Ventilation of tba Mine, the AboUahmeat of Child Labor la Miaea, ae Wall an the Wiping Oat of the lafwiaoua Pluok-M* btoree. One of ludiana’s grant sources of wealth la her coal mines, and, strange to say, however paradoxical it may ap- * pear, this source of wenkh has been fruitful of more poverty and hunger aod their attendant ills, than has fallen to the lot of men employed iu any other department of the state's industries. Coal uauiug iu ludiaua of late years has been fruitful of the most deplorable oonditious, the result in a large measure of the iuordiuate cupidity of muse owners aud operators. W uh these men it was not sufficient that squalor resulted from a constant * depreciation of wages. The extreme hardships, which inadoqate wages imposed. afforded them opportunities to exploit their seihshiiees. until the ouly music that was heard in and around the ■sines was the anathemas of the men, the wailing of women and the cries of cUildjpn. and the coal regions of Indiana became the ecu tor of deplorable deetit ution, bordering upon famine. U was not possible for legislation, not even Democratic legislation, though warmed into* the greatest activity that humanity could urge, to relieve the victim* of organized outrage. But what could be done for tne relief of men. the victims of Weyler heart leanness, was cheerfully attempted, as the records of Democratic legislation amply demon■Orate At> early as 18KS the Democratic legislature. to guard against the injury nuu death of miuers, provided that the rope used lor ••hoisting aud lowering in every coal mine shall be a wire rope" and that it slum Id be examined every tuorniug.

The legislator* stwl farther paovided in caw ga* was kumru to exist in the •nine, for a competent Are boss to investigate comlitiucs to insure the Safety of the iu tiiers. s The law also provided that the mine iiis]>ector slnmld examwie all mine scales used for weighing ouoi, to guard against fraud, and, to further protect the miners* interests, the law provided for a ‘vheckweigumau” hi inspect the weighing. in 1SS3 the ooal miners of the state appealed to a Democratic legislature to etill farther afford them protection. And the law. iu the interest of humanity, provided tliat not more clia i K> perM»ns should work iu any mine, shaft, slope or draft iu every 24 hours after 5,000 square yards have bt-eu excavated, until the second outlet ekail have been made. The law also provided for break* through or airways aud all else required for the thorough ventilation of the mines. The law also provides tor an ample supply of timber, so that the workmen could properly secure the works from oaviug iu < It also provided tliat miners' bosses sfcoujd visit these miners in their working place* at least once a day. it is seen that this legislation had in view the protection of the health of rhe miners and sought to prevent their in* jury and death from avoidable ooudiThe Democratic legislature of 1891 was appealed to for furtner legislation to protect eoal millers frhm the rapacity ot owuera aud operator^, and the re* «poUM> was prompt and emphatic, the pnrpose being, in so far as practicable. Is relieve the coal miners of the state lrotn enactions, which, with relentless persuteucy, forced them into detprr poverty aud forbade their escape. The legist iton> of ISM re-euacted, or made more binding, the regulations re* la rig* to scales and to weighing ooal. It had beeu me practice hr»t to screen the coat before weighing, by wuich the minors were defrauded of a large per cant of their just dues. This was pro* hihited aud ooal had to be wmgped be* foie it was screened, aud provided that 8b pound* of coal should constitute a bushel, and that X.U00 pounds of coal shooid constitute a tou. t or the protection of miners, the law prsrided that "when two veins of ooal are being aimed inane shaft, two reflect* iug imps shall he kept lighted at all «.mes'* when tba mine is in operation. The law provided fur the safety of miners, that the cage descending,and a* vat Lug ta the shaft should be ooverec with one-fourth iuch boiler irou, and that sigual balls should be sounded when the cage was ascending or deset iding the shaft. To* act imposed upon the mining bom the imperative duty of examining every wording plaoe In the mine, at least every alternate day. The law further pro* Tides, Sections it and 14: "That fur any injury ho person or property occasioned by any violation of th * act, or any willful failure to com* ply with any of its provisions, a. right of action against operator, agent or la-sec shad accrue to the purty injured for he direct injury sustained thereby, and iu case of loss of life by reason of —ah violation. a right of action shall

accrue to widow, children or adopted children, or co the parent or parents, or to any oilier person or persons who were before saoh loss of me depen tend for rapport on the person er persons so killed, fair like recovery for damages for the injury sustained by reason of such loss of life or lives.” “That whenever loss of life shall oo- ! oar by reason of any aocddeut whatsoever, in or about any coal uune, it shall be the duty of the person having charge of said ooal mine to report the facts thereof without delay to the mine inspector and the said mine inspector together with the oorouer of said county shall immediately go to the scene of said accident. They shall investigate and ascertain the cause of raeh loss of life, and have power to oqftipel the attendance of vrttuesses and administer oaths of affirmation to them, and the ; cost of such investigation shall bo paid by the county in which the loss of life may have occurred, in the saute manner as costs of coroner's inquests are oow paid. 'Hie inspector shall give testimony in any rail for damages for the violation." The law seeks to Insure prompt notioe ! sf the death of coal miners when engaged in mining coal and imposes a penalty of $50 upon the person in charge ! 3t such mine for failure to give notice ■ of saoh death to the mine inspector. The legislation, with regard to proper reutilatiou, and fresh air, is of the most amphatki character, the supreme purpose being to secure the miners against the perils of foaioir. The act also provided that males uui dor the age of 14 years should not be ; employed in coal mines, nor females at | toy age.

The enforcement of all the provisions of the act iu question, was provided for by wholesome penalties. It has becu remarked that legislation, however drastic, could not mitigate all the ills to which Iudiaua coal miners were subjected, but the various Deiuo* crutic legislatures, as the records demonstrate, responded to every prudeut demaud of the miners. But usideytrom proper equipment of the mines to protect life and health aud guard agaiust injuries, legislation was demanded by the miners to protect them from a species of piracies practiced by owuers aud operators of the mines, iu the matter of payment for the coal they ' had mined. The purpose of these owners aud operators, to all humuu appearances, being to rob them through the agency of “plnck-me stores,” whereby the impoverished uliuers time and agaiu were forced to the verge of starvation. To put an eud to this piracy, the Demtfratlo legislature of 18S7 provided that b^uers should be puid, if the demand vras tuafde, once every two weeks “iu lawful money of the Uuited States ” Aud the law furttier provided that if peraous owuiug or operating mines should issue or circulate any check, card or other paper, which is not commercial palter payable at £ fixed tune iu any bunk iu Iudiaua a* its tall face value, as lawful utouey of the Uuited States, with 8 percent, interest, or by bauk check or curreucy issued by authority of the Uuited States Government, to auy employe of such person, co-partnership, corporation or association in payment for auy work or labor done l\y such employe, or iu payiuent-ot auy labor oontraded to be (lone by such employe, shall be guilty of a wisdcmeuuor, aud, upou couvictiou thereof, siiali be fined in auy sum not more thau #100. Nor was this all of the protection that the Democratic legislature afforded the coal miners, but it prohibited iniue owuers aud operators from selliug auy merrUauiiisu to miners at, a higher price than they sell the same merchandise to others for cash. Aud the law imposed a penalty of not less than #5 nor more

| % tin ti viw. This somewhat extended reference to legislation relating to the interests and welfare of the coal miuers of ludianu, if an apology went necessary,'is found in i the tact that no class of our fellow citisens engaged tu any industrial pursuit, hare bee u so releu ties sly outraged and plundered as coal minors. In the Democratic party, and only in the Democratic party, did they tiud friends who espoused their cause, sympathised with them in their misfortune) and distress and came toj heir rescue by enacting laws calculated to afford such relief as was possible by legislation. If the “true cash value” of property is not on honest basis for assessment as provided by the Democratic tax law, the lawyers who wag their jaws iu the I interest of tax dodging sharks before the tax commissioners, should tell them what; is an honest basis. Governor Mount, after fail investigation, approved the Republican antitrust law, and has failed to execute it. because it is totally valueless. If so. why did he not veto it instead of giving it hie approval_ If Emperor William of Germany wants to pick a quarrel with Uncle ! Sam, now is the right time for him to I begin. We have got through with ! Spain, and another European job could I be finished before Cnruuuas. Senator Fairbanks, in his convention | speech, advocated the tariff policy of the Dingley law. which confiscates the property af the goor in the interest of the rich.__ All of a sudden there ts a deal of sympathy expressed for Spain, but the I penalty she is paying for centuries of j cruelties are not toe severe. Let her sqnral The organs of the Republican party : apeak of the recent convention of the ; party as “harmonious,** which reminds ons of Kilkenny cat fights. Having liked Spain clean out of her boots, we mast now link revenae stamps to pay fur the fan. The McKinley wave of prosperity struck the farmer** wheat and knocked

LABOR UNIONS Through Legislation the Democracy Lifts Many Burdens From Labor Organizations. Ik Wm Through Democratic ttchUUom : ' That CMniM and latimidattoa by Da- ; Mrnpalnua Kmylajraw Watt Prohibited— Republican* Ke.puaaihle for the Infaanoa* Law to Intimidate RalUroatl Employee—brlafiaf of Pinkerton’* Into tlie Stato to Shoot Down the Striker* Prohibited by Democratic Enactment*. It is well known to every union ! workingman in Indiana, because it is a ! part and an Important part of labor's | history, that the time is not remote, ! even if it has passed, when employers were virulently hostile to labor organs* ! sation aud iu numerous ways sought to impose penalties upon workingmen who became members of such organizations. This hostility was exhibited iu various forms, each and all of which was iuimi* «al to the liberty and independence of the union workingman.

This opposition took the form of coercion, iutiuiidatiou, threats of die. charge, and of discharging men from their employment and of Macitlisting them. It was in the most odious form wage slavery. And to make matters still worse, the opposition of employers to labor organisations was often, aud generally, secret. The employers had their hired spies and the penalties imposed catue without premouition. This shameful antagonism of employers became so pronounced that union workingmen appealed to the Democratic legislature of lbitt for redress and the response was the enactment of a law, approved Feb. 25th, IHS8, which provided: “Thai it shall be unlawful for any individual, or member of any firm, agent, officer or employer of auy compauy or ; corporation, to prevent employes (rout formiug, joining aud oelouging to any lkwtul labor organisation, aud auy such individual member, ageut, officer or employer that coeroes or attempts to coerce employes, by discharging or threatening to discharge from their employ or the employ of any Arm. compauy or corporation, because of their connection with such labor orgauizatiou, aud auy officer or employer, to exact a pledge from workingmen that they will not become members of a labor organization as a consideration of employment, shall be guilty of a misdeuieauor, aud 'upon conviction thereof in auy oourt of competent jurisdiction, shall be ftued in any sum uot exceeding $100, or iuiprisoued for not more than six months, or both, in the discretion of the court.” In these provisions of a wise and just law it is seen that labor did not apoeal to the Democratic legislature in vain. Workingmen were at once emancipated from a most debasing thraldom. The odious schemes aud machinations of employers werag overthrown aud union workingmen oould exercise their rights j and discretion ouintimidated. Wheu the great number of union workiugmeu in Indiana is considered and the benefits that have aocrued to I them by virtue of the law uuder cousid- : eratiou, the Democratic party of Indij. ana has a right to felicitate itself upon | the wisdom and justice of the statute | which secures rights to workingmen ! which they appreciate, aud prize above | measure. _

INTIMIDATION ! Ufainniu LeghUtiou Kimoied b.v the R«*|iut»lic»u» Agttiutl Workingmen K«pen led by tn» Democracy. The Republican legislat ure of 1881 en- } acted one of the most infamous laws ' tnat ever blotched the pages of the statj ute boons of Indiana. The law, which was approved April U. 1881, was designed especially to intimidate railroad employes and prevent them from striking against oppression, intimidation and ooercton, and compel them from tear of : fine and imprisonment to do the bidding j of their task masters unresistingly. It is a matter of history that the de- | mauds of corporation magnates, when ; they have required laws promotive of j their schemes, however nefarious the I object in view, have sought the aid of Republican legislation, and there is not j an instance ou record in which a Re- ! publican legislature or a Republican congress has failed to respond satisfacj toanly. The Republican law of 1881 was in ; the interest of railroad corporations, the - penalty being fine and imprisonment ! for any and every attempt to resist the ! outrages inflicted upon them by men in oontxot of the railroads of the state, among whom, more or less conspicuous was, 0. W. Fairbanks, now United States senator. No one knew better than Fairbanks the purpose of the despotic law, bat it • was reserved for the Democratic legi&la- : tion of 1889 to give railroad employees the relief they sought by repealing the Russianizing Republican intimidation law, for which thousands of railroad men in Indiana were profoundly grateful. The splendid record made by the Democratic legislatures to improve the standing and broaden the influence of workingmen in Indiana has made the 1 Republican party cautious, though still ready, as is shown by the infamous and unconstitutional garnishee law to aim a blow at poor men when ever an opportunity offers, if it can be done in a way to obscure the real intent of the measure. When, as the records shew, that fiv* Democratic legislatures in sncoenuou . responded to the requests of the work*

logmen of Indian* to a fiord them relief ! from oppressive conditions, nil doubts regarding the lenity of the Democratic party to labor at oace disappears, and j the fact that the party is the friend of : the workingmen of the state stands con* { leased and irrefutable. PINKERTONS The Great FrieuiU of Carnegie, Frick ; an«t Other Uitxernpulon* Kmployere j Denied Arimlaloa to Indiana by a Demo- j er*tic UofMlHitriH It will be remembered by every citi-! sen of Indiana, who has ever given labor troubles and interests a thought, that a few years ago serious labor difficulties occurred at Homestead, whereabout 10.-! 000 workingmen were employed in building up the colossal fortune of Andrew Carnegie, one of the multimillionaires of the country. This man Carnegie is now kuowu in Europe and America as “Blowhole*’ Carnegie, a sobriquet applied to him because of his attempt to rob the government iu the manufacture of armorplate for battle* ships, which was found to be worthless ou acoouut of “blowholes.” But before Carnegie attempted to defraud the government, he, in association with another rascal by the name of Frick, who had won a large measure of infamy in the coke regions of Pennsylvania by defrauding workingmen, began the same system of robbery at Homestead. Carnegie and Frick tried several methods for killiug their employes who struck agaiust the reduction of their wages and by being watchful, had escaped being scalded to death by hot water or kilied by electricity, and dually to subdue men who were contending for fair wages and agaiust robbery, Carnegie and Frick imported into Homestead a small army of thugs kuowu as “Pinkertons, ” who were armed to the teeth with the most deadly weapous. These mercenary murderers, hired to kill for so much a day and rations, were attacked by the Homestead

nuiaiu^uioii auu wuipruvu tu lugiori* ously rot irw from the battlefield. But the iucideut aroused universal indignation aud beearae a world*wide in* fauiy. If disclosed the fact that a concern iu Cliicago kept constantly on baud or within call an army off unhung mercenaries, who oonid be hired as the British hired Hessians, to kill workingmen with as little compunction as it they were 90 many jagabond dogs, and it was seen that there were men in the United States at the head of great industrial enterprises who were willing to hire these outcasts to murder their employes, aud feariug that Iudianu might be within the “Pinkerton” roue, the Democratic legislature of 1889 enacted a law whioh forbade the employment of such vagabonds. This law enacted to protect workingmen from wounds and deuth inflicted by men as heartless as Apache savages, pro vided, “That it shall be unlawful for any person, company, association or corporation to bnug or import into this state any person or persous or associations of persons for the parpose of discharging the duties devolving upon sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, marshals, policemen, constables or peace ouicera iu (he protection or preservation of public or private property or iu the punishment of any person violating the criminal laws of this state. ” Aud the penalty imposed for violating the law is imprisonment in the penitentiary for one year aud a fine of 1100. This wise and humane Democratic measure received the emphatic indorsement of every workingman in the state and was convincing ovideuoe of the promptness of the Democratic party to shield workingmen from the assaults of corporations, aud from assaults of thugs, the product of the slums of great cities, and iu the employ meat of men who were willing to resort to such means to conquer their employes.

Governor Mount’s friends, regardless of party, are still deploring the injuries he received in his collision with Judge Showalter. The Governor had side* tracked his train, which was hauling the constitution, the legislature, the su* | preiue court, the .'3-cent streetcar fare law and the attorney general when | Show el ter’s injunction locomotive , struck him. head*on with terrihc force, | siuce when the governor, the oonstitu* ; tion, the legislature, the 3 cent fare law : and the attorney general have been so intermixed and intertwisted that all who have viewed the wreckage have i declared the ooilision was altogether the most disastrous that ever occurred, since each judicial mosquitoes as Show alter } wore boots._ _ _ Before the war with Spain we were getting oa nicely with a standing army I of 25,000 men, and now we are to have I a standing army of 100,000' men. It I costs money to keep up such an estab- ! liahmeut, but to raise u all that is re* ; qaired is to lick and stick revenue stamps. ___ Major McKinley hints that Whitelaw Reed will be made secretary of state, because he married a fortune big enough j to enable him to get up swell entertainments in Washington, and make a so* perb ms of himself, as he did in Paris. Senator Fairbanks, who goes to Can* aaa on some sort of a government picnic, could, if required, tell the Oanadi- , a ns the profitable limit of wind and water to be injected into their railroad nocks and bonds. Having acquired the Hawaiian isI lands, 2.000 miles west of oar Pacifio coast, wuat becomes of the “Monroe doctrine?”_ The administration ought to inform the people, approximately, how much leprosy has been annexed to the United Stales by the Hawaiian treaty.

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