The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-08-09
. WORD FOR THE MINER.

One OF h Graft DISCUSSES hn4 fosluon
From u Miners Standpoint.
To he Editor Of he lahHioeHeer.
SIR:-I wish to ask the public
through the columns Of your paper why
it is that miners are SO often wrongtully
accused and misrepresented through
the newspapers of our country; and
why is it that they are nOe recognized
by the public as rational beings capable
OF receiving and enjoying the same lib
erty aud justice as their fellow trades.
men. Is 1t because theminers are COM
posed of q less intelligent and more ig-
norant class OF people than their fellow
tradesmen?
You will certainly cay not, for you
will find among tho miners people who
are as reasonable and just, as kind and
hospitable, as agreeable and peaceable,
and, in short, you will find as noble
minded men and women, as you will
find among any class Of people on the
globe. Then why should the miner be
ground down by our newspapers and
so-called popular men OF our land?. Are
they slaves or brutes not worthy Of
being recognized as men, or granted
privileges which are justly and fairly
theirs? They are certainly treated as
such. And why? Simply because the
miner has been a kind and self-sacriic-
ing sort OF an individual who would
rather loose what wa justly and hon
estly his than to discommode his en-
ployer by asking him for it; and by so
doing they have humored and petted
their employers and the press until
they have become big, fat babies on
their hands, who they must still humor
or they will squall like a panther and
kick like q mule. Although tho miner
has proved himself to be worthy Of a
place among the bravest and most
heroic class that can be found anywhere
in history, still l am sorry to have
to say that there has always have
a drawback to his career, which he has
as yet failed to give sufficient thought
or to exercise sufficient energy to have
adjusted; and that drawback is due to
neglect Of self-respect aud the self-in-
terest Of himself and family.
We know he has shown to the world
his bravery and loyalty. He has shown
it by delving deep and bringing forth
the rich minerals from the bowels Of
the earth, which has made our country
what it is to-day. He has faced danger
in its most fearful forms and has even
faced death itself in the dark and dis
NAL mine. Thousands of his brave
comrades to-day lie sleeping in their
dismal graves, buried in the depths of
many a mine; forgotten by their am
ployers, the men for whom they risked
their lives; forgotten by their country
which they strove to serve. Yes, noble
heroes. forgotten by all but q few horri:
fed and h%eartbroken friends who will
cherish their memory until death shall
put a period to their woe
Why are their names not cherished
and lisped by the small and great, as
are the names Of our so-called heroes
who did nothing for the welfare, man
hood, or development of their country.
or their fellow man, but spent their
days in idleness and laughed and
sneered at, and ignored the honest
Workingmanwho earned his bread'by
the'sweat of hisibrow?
This is the condition Of affairs, and
why is it so? Simply because he de-
MES himself OF the right to have any
voice in fixing the price for which he
shall sell his labor.
Again We notice too much distinction
between some of our fellow tradesmen.
We should learn that, as workingmen,
we are all on one common level, for all
labor that is honest is honorable. And
now / would ask the labor-scorner to
suspend labor and where are the glory
labor.scorner look to himself and learn
what position he occupies. From the
crown of his head to the sole of his foot
he is the debtor and slave Of toll. The
labor which he scorns has adorned him.
Where does he get his garments, which
shield him from the bitter blasts of the
winter storm, and a pillow upon which
lay his unworthy head2. Let labor an
swer. A MINER.
Montana Mines, W. Va, August8.