The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-07-04
GROsvENoR AND THE MINERS.

GROSN ENOR AND The MlNEhSS
A Chapter Of History Of Interest to the LabOrlng
MSn-ShOwing the RldICulOslty Of the Claim Of
Friendship for the WOrklngman Made by the
Republican Platform.
Special Correspondence Of The Enquirer.
Columbus June 27.-If truth was a maiden fair,
with big brother to protect her, Charley Gros-
yenor would have been hagellated years ago
within an inch OF his life for the many liberties
he has taken with her especially as II would
have been impossible for him to have pleaded
honorable intentions in mitigation Of his mani
fold offenses Not having the fear Of any such
gigantic relative to deter him, however, he con-
tinues his assault upon the guileless damsel with
a reCkleEness that is shameful
One Of the most outrageous of these attacks was
made in the last Republican State Convention at
Cincinnati, when Charley, correcting (?) an error
of the platform as read by that truly good man.
Richard Smith, sprang to his feet and tried to
make capital for his party and curry favor with
the miners OF the State by claiming that the law
creating the Office of Inspector Of Mines was the
work ola Republican Legislature Of which was
o member" General Grosvenor is too well post
ed In State legislation to have made this state.
ment innocently but, for the benefit Of others
who are not 30 well versed, l nave at some little
trouble traced the history Of the legislation for
the benefit of the miners which eliminated in
the passage Of the present law creating the office
of Mine Inspector.
The first legislation on the question Of mine
regulation was had in 1871, when joint resolu-
tion was adopted creating a Commission to ex.
anime into the condition of the mines Of the
State, and report what legislation was necessary
for their proper government. This joint resolu
ton passed the House by vote of 67 10 A, the Re-
publiCans voting for 1t for buncombe, not think
ing or intending that any practical good should
result from 1t.
In accordance with the provisions of the reso-
luton Governor Hayes appointed Charles Reem.
elm of Cincinnati, Andrew Roy of Trumbull
county and Major Skinner OF Meigs county as
Commissioners.
After a careful examination Of the different
mining regions the Commission made its report,
and in 1872 a law was passed providing that GER
tain things should be done by mine owners to
protect the lives and health Of their employees.
This bill was a fraud, a snare and delusion,
passed merely as bait to catch and retain the
vote Of the miners, and was Of no use whatever
in bettering or ameliOrating their condition, for
1t provided no penalties for Its violation or for
the appointment of any officer to see that 1t was
enforced. In 1874 the Democrats got possession
of the Legislature, and Mr.. Baker, of Perry, a
good staunch Democrat, introduced new law
on the subject with proper penalties for its viola
ton, and providing for the appolDtment OF
Mine Inspector to see that the law was enforced
The bill passed the House March 6, 1874, by vote
of 6S ayes to 25 nays those voting against the bill
being Messrs Barnett, Barrett, Bay Beatty, Coler,
Carnahan, COnkright, Edison Faxon, Ford, Gour-
w. Heron, Holt, Marx, Martin, Myers OF Fayette,
NJ Rau RiphmOun VOFlnV.
cent, Walker and White. OF these twenty were
Republicans, four Democrats, and one was an In
dependent.
In accordance with the provisions Of this bill
Governor Allen appointed Andrew Roy, Repub-
lican of Trumbull Inspector of Mines, and he at
once entered upon the discharge of his duties.
That very year there was a strike Of the miners
at Nelsonville, not far from Charley GrosVenor's
home, It created considerable excitement at the
time and the Sheriff of Athens county was called
on To ask the Governor for troops TO put down the
miners. This the Sheriff declined to do, as he
did not apprehend any disturbance that would
render the presence Of troops Necessary.
Governor Allen was then appealed to in letter
signed, first Of all, by Charley GrosvenOr, and az
ter him by many others This letter represented
the existence of such a terrible state ofaffairs that
the Governor sent his Private Secretary to the al
legged seat Of war In order that he might learn
from dlsinterested party the true state OF the
condition Of things.
The report of the Secretary was such that twas
not deemed Necessary to send the militia to the
mines. Nevertheless az precautionary measure
and in order to quiet the fears Of Grosvenor and
other siRners Of the letter spoken Of, Governor Al
len ordered one company Of troops TO hold itself
In readiness to, be carried 70 NelsonVille or
wherever ordered at moments notice.
The troops were not needed.
At the next meeting OF the Legislature Cover
nor Allen congratulated the Assembly upon the
fact that the troops had not been called out, and,
at the same time, asked for an appropriation OF
$500 TO pay the expenses Of the company ordered
to hold itsef in readiness for duty, while obsylng
such order,
Here was chance for demagosue Charley, and
he embraced It instantly, He denounced Cover
nor Allen IN the seVerest terms and declared that
he should be impeached for calling out ~ the
troops He fairly outdid himself OF this time in
bowling over the woes Of the miners, though he
himself had written to the Governor asking that
the militia should be sent 10 Nelsonxille for the
purpose Of crushing them out and Rwing the m
Into submission To the demands OF the bosses for
when did capital ever invoke bayonets in q
struggle with labor except to compel the latter to
accept Its terms2
1t was at this time Andrew Roy, Republican,
that he was, in a spirit Of Justice and fairness,
knowing all the facts wrote an open letter to the
miners explaining the real state Of affairs, and
completely spiking GrosvenoT's artillery.
In 1876 the Republicans came into power, and
on the oath Of January Of that year Private Dal-
zell, the blatherskite introduced his first bill,
which was entitled IAN act to regulate mines and
mining" &C. He wanted to remove Roy because
of his exposure of the trickery and chicanery of
IN ha inf fV1h
place of Professor E. b. Andrews q man who was
neither a miner or friend of miners. Owing to
the fact that it was discovered that Roy had the
backing of nearly all the miners Of the State, the
bill failed to pass.
Influences were then brought to bear upon Gov
ernor Hayes in order to induce him to remove
Roy and appoint in his place some creature OF the
ring, but Hayes, more polite than GrosvenOr
showed petition signed by over twelve thousand
miners asking for ROy's retention, and declared
that he would not remove him against their wish.
In thus doing It was not love of the miners thai
actuated him, but fear of their votes, as Roy him.
self afterwaTd told him once upon time.
On the 2lst of February, 1877, DR.. A. B. Mona.
han, of Jackson the leader of the Republican
party in that county. introduced bill that was
similar to Dalsell's, and Governor Tom Young, in
his message of January previous, advocated the
passage OF such measure. Again a bitter fight
was made against Roy, but again the fear of the
loss of the mining vote kept the bill from being
passed In these fights Charley Grosvenor was
the bitterest enemy the miners had, and his per-
sOnal vituperati0n and abuse Of Roy were Of the
most outrageous character. A nice man he to
claim for himself or his party any love or friend
ship for the miners or the iaboring classes
The above statement of facts can not be contro-
verted by the record. They show that the Repub-
lican party, even II so disposed, can not aid the
yorklngmen BY legislation, for its efforts are 80