The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-01-24
FROM ILLINOIS.


BELLVIILE, Ills, Jan. 22d, 1874
To the Editor of the WoREiNaxAN's ADVOCATE
In your issue Of the 18th inst, notice
an article by James Braidwood, headed
"AMENDMENTS To THE MINING
LAW And now Mr.. Editor. although
We differ same~ha; with the amendments,
aud thuk several Of the questions pro
p,mlcd are such "a It the c .urts mast de-
clIe. ana MT the legislature Still! We are
glad To >c- pur friend, FROM th, northern
part of the stats, taking hold of this qucs-
tIol. and ~ there viii he a committee
appointed 1, meet AZ Springfield. Il may by
well in then tn consult Those amendments
p-opos W tr,n vlripu, syctinus. more Is
prcmlly. a, all tnt.nrs are mot worked alike.
and by nnparlus the vatluus com t,I,da-
tions. We think That general laN can be
agreed upon that will cover all cases.
There IS one very serious question which
every miner should consider IN reference
to the present Law, viz Is it beneficial TO
the miner. or does It protect him any IN its
present form Ii not, strike IL Oft the
statut 5, a matter very easily accomplished
but If il is ii any benefit. let Us use every
available means Of enforcing II. accord
Ing to the reports II the delegates at
Springfield THIS seemed to be the great
obstacle. and MIR Braidwood thinks that
to appoint SURVEYORS. Is grand humhug
We admit that there is some truth III the
statement Hut then wr must consider that
the surveyors are compelled To appoint
competent ana practical miner as their
deputy, and the miners IA the various
counties should petition every surveyor To
appoint such man. lt may be true that
this cannot be accomplished IN every coun-
tv. but We are satisfied that II can IN a
majority IT instances 1t the men are united.
without which. nothing can be dore. Re
member that God helps them tina, helps
themselves.
MIR Braidwood suggests that in place Of
slrveyors there should he CD three prac-
teal mining engineers. appointed by the
State. as inspectors II this Is done, II
Will be necessary ~ be very careful IN the
selections made. for It the appointment Is
left to the Governor We fear 1t will become
a partisan and political affair and the in
tN itdpic ilSciutlltt WIN 'O' tAA'' hiNh VII
receive the appointment who are opposed
to the workingman.
One thing We do know, that when the
original bill with the clause referred to,
passed irs second reading in the House, -
there were men making preparations 70 get
the appointment. one man IN particular
whom we happened 70 be acquainted with,
went t. Springfield for that purpose, and
We believe that majority Of the Leglsla-
tors would have voted IN his favor, although
he was al that time bitter enemy To the
miners And the probability Is that thus
thing would occur again. However this
and other amendments may be uncalled cor
at the present time ana am led to believe
that the law will not Ice amended III part Or
~ " hole, until such time as the miners
are thoroughly organized as one body,
let them then elect men from their own
ranks men who are reliable and IN sym
pathy with their interests men who know
by experience that mining is dangerous
calling, and needs protection. II We tall
IN this. then We may rest assured that
nothing vii. he done for our protection.
But If We are united as one body, we
can accomplish anything within the bounds
of reason Until then, let rs he careful,
and hold Iast ta that which Is good. Eel
low miners. let Us ~ up and doing, mo-
matter what power capital brings 20 bear
on US while struggling fur liberty, God and
the right Is with as
Yours. truly,
WILLIAM + Owen.