The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-11-02
FOR wORKINGMEN.
Do they want n Representative with such q
Record9

Record?
Last Evenings Neirs Letter.
1t may not be generally known anon
the workingmen OF this county that MI
A. D. Garden, one of the Democrats
candidates for the Legislature, and WHIT
is posing as the warm and earnest frient
of the workingman, voted for the pas
sage of the miners bill, which wa
known as Senate Bill No. 1870, "a bill K
regulate the working, ventilation ant
drainage OF coal mines in this State, u
provide for the appointment Of mine in
spectors, and to repeal chapter 20 Of the
acts of 1885," which measure contained
the iniqultous conspiracy clause.
The title OF the bill conveys the i'm,
preston that it is o very harmless meas.
ure, not only that, but that 1t is wholly
for the good and lasting welfare Of the
man who works in the mines. Some oil
its provisions are beneficial to the miners,
but the conspiracy clause destroys what
benefits 1t insures to them. On page $50
OF the journal OF the House Of Delegates
will be found the full vote on the pas
sage of the bill, and among those voting
AYE" was Mr.. A. D. Garden, OF Ohio
county. Those absent on leave and not
voting were Messrs. N. Z. Whitaker and
]. J. Woods. This is a matter of record
and not mere assertion.
Now for the conspiracy clause, for
which Mr.. Garden voted, and which
the Democratic Legislature made part
OF the laws OF the State. 1t will be
found under the head Of Chapter 80 Of
the Acts of the Legislature, page 1853,
section IA. The clause reads: "Nor
shall any person or persons or combi-
nation OF persons by force, threats,
menace or intimidation of any kind,
prevent or attempt to prevent from
working in or about any mine, any per-
son or persons who have the lawful
right to work In or about the same and
who desires TO work"
That was what Mr.. Garden voted for
and he now claims to be the special and
particular friend ofthe workingman and
the Jealous guardian Of his interests.
The penalty attached for any violation
Of the foregoing provisions will be found
on page ITO oftheacts of 1887; itmakes the
crime" misdemeanora and, such person,
the act says, upon conviction, shall be
by fine ofnot less than $40 nor
more than 500. In default OF payment
OF such fine and costs, for the space OF
ten days, the defendant may, in the
discretion OF the court, be imprisoned in
the county Jail for period not exceed
ing three months"
And this was what Mr.. Garden voted
for, and who now says he is the very dear
friend OF the laboring man.
Several miners in the Kanawha region
were arrested under the provision ofthe
act, but popular clamor was so great and
the indignation OF the community SO
that the prosecuting wit
ness failed TO appear on the day set for
the trial and the miners were discharged.
Now let the workingman and the la
borer consider what the Republican
party, through its platform, adopted in
Charleston at the State convention OF
August %, 1888, pledges itself to per-
form. In regard TO this bill it says:
"WHEREAs, The passage OF the Miners
bill by the Democratic Legislature OF
1887, containing the conspiracy feature,
was direct blow at organized labor, and
was passed with the design and purpose
OF overawing those who are connected
Herewith; therefore be 1t
"Resolred, That we pledge our party to
repeal so much of Chapter 80, OF the
Acts OF 1887, us refers to conspiracy, and
also provide that the inspector shall be
a practical miner instead OF civil engi-
necr, as is now required by law"
Isn't that plain enough2 Aud Mr..
Garden, the special and particular
friend Of the workingman," voted for
that very measure which the Republic
can party, through its representatives in
the Legislature, is pledged TO repeal.
There is food for reflection in these state
ments for the workingman. They are
incontrovertible facts, and not delusive,
unsupported assertions. Mr..
Garden, "the Jealous guardian OF the
interests of the workingman," is on
record, He cannot 90 behindit.