The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1890-09-05
THE MINERS REVOLT.
WHY THEY REJECT DELAMATER AND SUP
PORT PATTIsoN.

Interview of Hugh McGarvey, Chairman Of the
Legislative Committee OF the Knights OF
Labor in the Ledger.
The sentiment ther- and in the i'm
mediate vicinity is strongly in favor
of Pattison. have been in Carbon,
Luzerne, Schuylkill and Lackawanna
counties since the nominations we're
made, and found the feeling intense.
My correspondence with friends and
labor men is very much to the same
effect. have yet to hear a working
man, who knows show many beans
make ive," stand up and defend Della
mater. On the other haAd, l have
heard hundreds--and Republicans at
that-denounce him and advocate the
election of Pattison. 1t is not all love
of Pattison, to be sure, as it is oppo-
sition to Delamater. Still, Pattison is
extremely we'll liked by the mine
workers and would receive a hand.
some vote from them, no matter whom
the Republicans nominated.
The smallest part of the opposition
to Delamater is the matter of what is
called "Quayism." The greatest is
concerning Delamater bimself and
the failure of the party which
nominated him--and be personally and
officially included to give the relief
and protection asked for by the work
ing people of the State. Besides the
more intelligent among the miners are
satisfied that the charges made against
Delamater in connection with the ore
plug bill in the session of 1887 are
true. This strengthens their belief in
the further charges made against
HIM by Senator Emery.
The key of the situation, however, is
Mr.. Delamater's record on labor meas
ures last session. First he failed to
vote for the factory inspection bill,
giving protection and relief to the
working women and children of the
State. Next he voted against the
employers liability bill, but when he
discovered that it had passed the Sem
ate by two votes he changed his, be.
cause it is believed that, as a candi-
date for Governor. he saw it would
never do to have the bill pass with his
vote against it. Before that, as chair
man of the labor committee, l went
once or twice to Mr.. Delamater's place
and talked with him, but did so no
more after this exhibition of states man.
ship,
1t must be noticed that Mr.. Della
matters votes on the most important
labor bills tally exactly with those of
Mr.. Watres, the Republican candidate
for Lieutenant Governor. This may be
a mere coincidence, and / belle, it is,
as far as the first two votes on the fac
tory inspection and employers liability,
but believe that Mr.. Watres, who is by
far the brainiest, ablest and boldest
man of the two, did in some measure
lead Mr.. Delamater in the vote against
the anti-company store bill and the
miners dockage bill. Mr.. Watres
fought both those bills before the Sen
ate. and, say it fearlessly, in opposi-
tion to the will aud best interests of
the large majority of his constituents
In Laokawanns county. Besides all
this, Messrs. Delamater and Watres
were both members of the Senate Judi
ciary general committee that smother
ed the Farrell store bill and the semi
monthly pay bill. after they had passed
the House by an almost unanimous
vote.
The mine and mil workers of this
State have their eyes open to the fact
that Delamater and Watres, as leaders
of their party in the Legislature, not
only failed to have long prayed for
legislation enacted, but they opposed
it. No sane man will for moment
think that the miners will support can
didates who 30 bitterly and hearLlessly
voted against bills that were to pro-
tect them against the extortion of COM
pany stores, the robbery of the dock
boss and the relief that would come
by the enforcement of semi-monthly
pay. AS l said, there is a strong love
for Mr.. Pattison among the miners
particularly, as well as among the
working people generally, but after all
it is not with us Delamater vs.. Patti
son, or the Republican party VS.. Demo
cratic party, as much as it is opposi
tion to the men aL3 the machine who
had the power to give us the relief and
protection asked for, but who denied
our every plea, petition and prayer,
aud went even so far as to sneer at or
ganized labor while opposing our bills
on the floor of the Senate.
/ have been labor reformer, politi-
eally and otherwise, ever since my first
vote, twenty years ago. have never
voted for Democratic candidate--as
such--in that time. l have, however,
on several occasions supported the Re-
publican State ticket, aud frequently
In local mattere. hat lke thouaands ~