Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1872-09-07
Miscellaneous.
[From. the Harrisburg Telegraph
AVONCAlE
BUCKALEW HAS NO SYMPATHY FOR
W0RKlNGMENi
ALWAYS For THE LARGE ConpoRATIoNs.
READ.THE FACTSl

ALWAYS FOR THE LARGE CORPORATIONS.
READ.THE FACTSl
LET HIM DENY 1T IF HE DAREi
When the Avondale horror, in 1869,
reused the public mind to the crying ne
cessities for some measures of protection
for the coal miners, these patient toilers
were in pitiable condition indeed. Forced
to work in collieries where the chances of
violent death were greater than in the
powder magazines, or starve, they demand
ed the passage of a law to force their en-
ployers to so venllate the mines that
laborer in their deadly depths might be
delivered from the prospect of certain
death for it had been shown that being
killed in them was only question of time.
Before applying for legislative relief the
miners had endcavored to induce the opera
tors to provide some means of safety, or at
least of escape, from the horrors to which
they were exposed The endeavor failed
Sordid capital seldom hears the wall Of
sorrow, and is slow to alleviate it. This
refusal showed its evil effect at once. The
miners were in Il sullen mood. The symp-
toms of that almost complete disorganiza-
tion which, at later period, cUnvused the
mining region, could be seen. And the
time Tor prompt relief, or stern defiance,
had come.
When the Legislature of 1870 met its at
tention was at once called to the subject.
That the Legislature felt the necessity of
prompt action a reference to the Senate
journal of 1870 will show. One day after
the Legislature met january 5,) Mr.. Tur-
ncr presented bill entitled IAN Act pro-
viding for the health and safety of persons
employed in coal mines" (See page 12.)
On the llth of January the bill was refer
red to the Committee on Mines and Mining
(see page 91.) On Febreary IL it was re-
ported, with amendments, and the 18th
was set apart for its consideration (see
page 33+). On February 18th, il being the
especial order" the bill came before the
Senate for action (see page 3S9)
Then the full force OF the lobby, employ
ed by the mine owners, began to be felt,
and the work of defeating this most right
eous measure began in earnest. The tenn
per of the miners was determined, and
their demand was backed by public senti-
ment SO firm, that TO defeat the bill openly
would have raised storm of Indignation
few possessed the nerve to encounter. 1t
was therefore resolved by the lobby, and
its creatures in the Senate, to mutilate the
rection. The bill might pass /; but its pro-
moters and friends should see that, when
ii was passed, il was useless as protection
10 the hardy and courageous miner, and
harmless as a restraint ON the rapacious
operator. The fact was early developed,
that CHARLES Il. BuCKALEw was under
this Just law IN lPER9Sy working to defeat
ments were offered TO the bin n1ine ne amend.
to those put upon it by the committee.
Some Of these are harmless enough to the
casual observer. But others are tlagrantly
hostile TO the spirit, and destructive Of the
value of the bill. And particularly one
made by Mr.. Buckalew was vitality hostile
to the best part of the bill. The third Sec
ton is very important, and the committee,
after devoting month to an anxious con
sideration of the subject, reported it as fol
! lows
SEC. 8. "That four months after tha
passage of this act, it shall not be Lawful
| for the owner, or agent, of any anthracite
| coal mine, or collicry, worked by, or through
a shaft, or slope, to employ any person il
working within such coal mine or colliery
for the purpose of working therein, unless
| there are, in communication with every
seam, or stratum Of coal worked in sucf
coal mine or coliery, for the time being a
work, at least two shafts, or slopes, or out
lets, separated by natural strata, of mo-
less than one hundred and fifty feet il
breadth, by which shafts, slopes, or outlets
distinct means OF iugress and egress are al
ways available to the persons employed il
the coal mine, or colliery," &c. This
period named, of four months, was III
chance. The miners demanded protection
The owners of mines had rights. To hav,
made it instantly unlawful to employ mel
because improvements, requiring SOM
time To make, were not made, would hav,
been unjust. The supply of coal mus
stop. The capitalist must suffer. Th
miner must want, perhaps starve. Blu
the pressing want of the miner must b
considered in conjunction with the desir
of the capitalist to delay. And to proven
any improper, or unnecessary delay, Ih
mine owner was forced to make the i'm
provemcnts demanded by the safety of hi
miners in the time specified, or failing t
do this, close his mine as penalty for hi
inhumanity.
The lobby determined to attack the poiu
of time named in the third section B
defeating the specific period the owners {
mines might go on FOR n year and at tn
end of year there might be softening {
that stern public opinion which demande
prOteCtiDn iOr lne Sluruy utlNeGS III III
mines. Perhaps the owners thus migl
escape, entirely, the public clamor tha
+ they should convert these golgothas {
death into regions of comparative safety
, These were the arguments OF the lobby
and they at once acted on them. On Eel
ruary II, Mr.. Buckalew moved-and Nj
Broadhead seconded the following amenC
: ment: "To strike out the words 'lou
1 months after the passage Of this act
line one of section three" On the que
tion, Will the Senate agree to the amend
ment the yeas and nays were demande
= by Mr.. Buckalew and Mr.. Randall, an
the amendment was adopted, yeas l6, nay
IA. Mr.. Buckalew voting yea (See Sci
a ate Journal 1870, page 800.
n So thoroughly did this destroy the bin lh'
: Mr.. Siney-a gentleman in the coniden'
a of the miners, then in Harrisburg, to pa
5 the bill for them-and Senator Mumm
h who had charge of the bin, were thorough
, discouraged. Mr.. Siney determined to {
: home, aud abandon what seemed hop
= less effort, and to tell his friends they ha
nothing to hope for from a Legislature co
| Il Al. .tt,a nd hnf