The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-02-05
THE MINER.
Speech of Gen. Cameron.

Illinois, will, no doubt, be read with inter-
est by our mining readers
Mr.. CAMERON.-Mr. Chairman | de-
sire to report substitute for the report of
the Committee on Mines and Mining Inter
ests It is modification of that report. It
has been modified for two reasons. At the
suggestion of the gentleman from 10 Da-
yiess Mr.. Caryl it has been, as now pre-
sented, so restricted, that it will not operate
injuriOusly on the lead mining interests Of
the State. As reported by the committee,
the provision was intended to have reference
solely to coal mining, but its language was
not explicit. 1t has also been qualified by
striking out the provision as to pits Atty feet
in depth. / ask that the substitute be read
by the secretary.
The secretary read the substitute as fol-
lows:
Article -, SKcFJ,N J. l. shall b. the duty
81 the general assembly to pass such laws as
may be necessary for the protection of opera-
tive miners, by providing for ventilation when
The same may be required, and the cJus ructjon
OF escapement shafts, or such other appliances
SEo @ Tue general assembly shall provide
fO' the enforcement Of said laws by such nal
ties and puhihments as NAV be deemed proper.
Ma. CAMERON Chairman The
reason for altering the provision reported by
the committee in reference to mines more
than fifty feet in depth, will be found in an
extract from letter from the miners. which
will read
have 70 report to you that within a few
days NJ. Homeier's mine suddenly csyed n
without giving the least warning TO the men who
we're at work. They were however, rescued !.
but the tmbering Of the shaft was found 20 be
10 rotten that there Is no chance to save the
pl' They viii have 70 sink a new shaft. and n
Tie men in the pic had not had hello at hand
they would have persisted, although that shaft
Il not City feet in depth. The caviug in also az
Bob AellOr's pit and The Wenona mines as we'll
"a the dangerous condition Of some other uines
n our county, including Stolberg's drift admon
ishes US that the necessity for escapement shafts
Tor all mines, drifts and slopes as well as shafts
O. whstever incline or depth, without reference
10 the fifty feet exemption suggested by me to
you when in your city, With that view the
best miners here coincide.
Mr.. Chairman: l regret the necessity
which is imposed upon me Of taking part in
the discussion of the question now be-
fore US for consideration | have no
personal or political objects to sub
serve. | do not reside in district
"a which mining operations are car
rlcd on. have been asked, however, to
present the claims Of the operative miners
to this Convention, and as the one original
ly moving the appointment of Committee
nn Mines md M,nip~ ond - . --o--L7- r.
.srr4lsi a melIOer vi
the committee reporting the section under
consideration, it seems incumbent upon me
that | should participate in the debate.
! am in favor Of the adoption Of the pro
posed section for the protection of operative
miners. The class it affects come not before
US asking that their property or their mate
rial interests he protected at our hands.
This protection they do not require, for to
them has been allotted no considerable por-
ton Of this worlds wealth. They come to
ask that, instead thereof, we protect their
all-made up of their lives, their limbs and
their health
The life Of the miner is one which has on
il few bright spots 1t is life Of toll and
hardship, and suffering, unrelieved and I'M
requitted a life which, even in its best as
pect, would to many seem as scarcely worth
preserving. Separated in a great measure,
by the character of their precariOus, though
useful calling, from the society of their fell
lOw-men shut out from the light Of the sum
and from the free air Of heaven; inhalingI
continually an unwholesOme atmosphere, !.
which the most stringent sanitary regulations
cannot purify aud exposed, in spite Of all
precautions that may be established TO the I'M
Jury of their limbs and the deprivation of theiGi
lives, their lot is one calling for special CONS
misseration. On the strict principles Of jus3
tce, we cannot refuse; on the broad ground
ofhumanity, we cannot withhold the request3
earnest and sincere, which comes to US frous
10000 Of these operative miners. asking
that we have for them the heart to feel and
the hand to help. In responding affrlna5
lively to their appeal, we will not be taking
as q community the lead, but will be follow
ing only in the footsteps Of others. 1t il
an appeal which they have the right to make.
and which we have no right 10 refuse to lis
ten to,-that the protection Of the organic
law of the State, be thrown around them.
The day has passed when the mnes
formed no part, as it we're, Of society, whers
be was considered as not far elevated above
the condition of the lower creation, ana
when all that his fellow man could do, waS
being done to reduce him, if possible, be9
low the order Of the brute. The movements
inaugurated by Lord Ashley, the philan3
thropic Earl Of SALISBURY, { | make here "a
distinction between the present and the past)t'
for the alienation Of the miner lot, haa
gained, year by year, fresh accessions ii
strength. The world has now learned THAI
there is such class as operative miners; i
has been further ascertained that, as clasS
they are capable Of improvement, that the{
are human beings with natures like our OWE
that they have Sah to be supplied, ans
rights to he asserted. And although thy
time has not long since gone by when theS
could scarcely receive recognition among
mankind, the proudest peers Of the proudeA
cOU y upon earth, no longer refuse liz
tening car to their demands, and royalty II
self extends to them a recognition Of theF
rights.
The great evil of the legislation of ths
present day, a stigma which desire th;b
Convention to avoid being placed upon il
is that it is too much conducted in the inteE-
est Of one class of society, and too little il
the Interests Of another. The drone in thu
hive OF industry, with his vast accumulatiot
Of bonds has imposed upon him no burdens
while ne has thrown around him every saff
guard ingenuity can invent; but the Labor
er, with bis unremitting and lily requittet
toll. contributing day by day to the increass
Of the national wealth and prosperity, is o,}. .
pressed until his burden has become create
than be can he bear. Capital, with its u.
ried interests and insatiate desires, presents