The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1876-09-28
HENTLLATING MINES.
PIGEON RUN CoLLIERY, |
Sept. %, 1876. J

ldhON nun OOLLlhhfj "
p Sept. %, 1876, J
Editor DemOcrdt'
DEAR SIR In the year 1871, the min
ers of the State of Ohio met in the diff
ferent parts Of the State and selected
pen from amongst themselves to draw
out bill for the ventilation and inspeG-
ton of coal mines. Ia, be presented to the
House of Representatives, praying the
House to pass it, 30 that their lives and
limbs would be protected by law. In
1872 the bill was laid before the House,
and Mr.. Andrew Roy from Mahoning
county, and Mr. James Pollock from Stark
county, were sent by the miners 10 rep
resent them and their bill. With your
permission and through the columns of
the DEMOCRAT, wish TO let the miners
of the State know their friends and also
their enemies. In 1872 the House of
Representatives was Republican, and
Roy and Pollock, that represented the
miners, were both Republicans, and it is
from their report that l get my informa-
ton Many miners are not aware Of the
facts given in this report, for they were
published in pamphlet form and sold at
ten cents copy, which they refused to
pay, thinking they had right for re-
port free, after subscribing money to pay
their delegates while they were at Col.
umbus. On the first page ofthe pamphlet
are these words; ain compliance with
the expressed wishes of a large number
of intelligent and influential miners, we
herewith submit brief statement Of the
leading facts in connection with the de-
feat Of the measure in the House of Rep
resentatives, etc"
AS the miners are aware, the bill passed
the Senate without any opposition, it
having received the unanimous vote Of
that body, but it was stabbed to the heart
in the House, mainly through thr mach
nations of Conrad, the Republican men,
ber of Portage county. On page second
| find Conrad was head and front of the
opposition to the measure. He was in
heart opposed to the bill from the begin;
ming, and while it was pending in the
Senate he was ever in that body lobby
ing to defeat it every time it came up.
On page third find Charles Rumelin,
another Republican, and one of the Com.
missiouers appointed to inspect the coal
mines, was another bitter opponent of
the bill, and did all he could to help de-
feat the measure in the House. And
when giving his report he made laugh
ing stock of himself by his blundering
statements. Mr.. Conrad, fearing that the
bill would pass, introduced substitute,
and then the Republicans came out in
their true colors, DIR. Scott, the leader of
the House, had promised Mr.. Roy that
he would support the miners bill. He
claimed to be a friend to the toiling
masses He desired to know who was to
pay for the inspectors, the mines or the
State. or the mine operators, and hoped
it would not, as it should not be the
miner; suchsnwas his solicitude for the
welfare of the working man; said he:
81 do not want the miner to pay for them.
| am friend to the working man, and
any laws which seek to ameliorate his
condition will always receive my hearty
cooperation and support; and on page
fifth | find that this same DR.. Scott, on
the day of the final voting was the worst
enemy of this bill lpon the floor of the
House, not teven excepting Conrad. There
were only two Republicans in the House
of Representatives that sympathized
with the miners, Mr.. Cooper, of Knox,
and Mr.. Bowman, ofStark county. These
gentlemen hvve the wellwishes of the
miners at large. On the sixth l find that
Mr.. Blakeslay, Republican, opposed the
bill. He could uot see the necessity of
providing mining bureas. Mr.. Haag,
Democrat, favored the bill, although op-
posed on principle to the creation of new
offices. He said in the last three years
we had created Commissioners for rail
roads, for gas companies and for insur-
ance companies; and now when the poor
working man raised his voice from the
depths of the coal mines, and presented
his petition for protection, to health and
limb, he would not turn away from him;
but would vote for the bill. Not q sin
gle Democrat opposed our bill. While
their ablest speakers urged it's passage
and denounced Conrads substitute. Not
a single Republican, with the exception
of Cooper and Bowman, had word to
say in its favor, while their ablest mem
bers spoke against the bill and in favor
of Conrad's substitute. We certainly ex-
pected and hoped better things from our
80 called Republican friends, but were
most bitterly disappointed in our hopes
and expectations Like the good Scottish
King Duncan, the bill wss murdered in
the house Of its friends. Sir, l want ev-
cry miner to read and ponder over the
above, and with your permission, l may
continuen next week, and show the miners
were insulted by their so-called Repub-
hcan friends. MALAMPUS.