The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-11-03
THE WORKINGMAN'S FRIEND.
Exceptions TO the Claim OF Senatorial
Candidate VI. Il. Mcdonald Story of u
West Side Miner.

Candidate NJ. Il. story of
West Side Miner.
1t will interest Lackawanna county
voters and particularly laboring mea to
consider the following story which
chiefly concerns Michael II. Mcdonald,
the Democratic candidate for senator,
and James Il. Butler, hard-working,
miner who lives at 242S Jackson street.
| The facts We're volunteered by Mr.. But
Ter, who will soon institute proceedings
against Mr.. Mcdonald and the Ameri-
can Safety Lamp and Mine Supply COM
pany to Orecover his Butler' 81 complete IN
terest in mine drill, of which he Is the
patentee.
Contracts and other documents were
produced to substantiate the honest
miners story, which shows how he has
been prevented from receiving any re-
muneration from his patent and has
been compelled to spend considerable
money in hopeless endeavor to have
it brought to public notice, MI Butler
said:
Il am practical miner, but am now
loading coal for a living in the CONT
mental mines as result of mistaken
confidence In Senator Mcdonald. My
! experience with him has not been such
as will bear him out in his frequent as
| sertions of late that he is the friend Of
the workingman.' He has been the
means Of depriving me Of many months
of fruitful labor and believe him capa-
| BILE of misleading the hopes of others.
Butler Obtained Patent.
'In January, 1893, / secured a patent
! on II mine drill and in October of that
year made IA contract with him as presi-
dent of the American Safety Lamp and
| Mine Supply company to manufacture
| the article, and under the agreement
/ the contract was to hold good unless
notice to the contrary was given by the
company. | was TO have control of the
sales and was TO receive 20 per cent.
commission and Is per cent royalty;
the company was TO receive 80 for each
drill manufactured in addition to the
90 per cent. of sales funds.
II condemned the first drill made,
which was not perfect and workman
like according to clause in our con-
tract. When | wanted to take a drill
into the mines for a practical test, Mr.
Mcdonald refused me permission un-
less paid for the drill. ! tried in vari-
Gus ways to secure drill for trial but
he put me off at intervals of weeks and
months until ] was heartily discour-
aged Finally it was suggested that
the sales privilege be given to'a certain
machinery supply firm in this city.
consented and signed a contract Civ
ing the sales firm % per cent. and re-
serving 5 per cent. for myself. After
signing the contract / was refused a
copy and have not obtained one since.
"A few months ago Mr.. Mcdonald
agreed to relnquish his companys in
terest il | would secure other parties
to interest themselves in the matter. 7
spent considerable money and time in
doing this and then Mr.. Mcdonald re-
fused TO withdraw.
THE firm which has had the sales
privilege mas sold only comparatively
small number of drills. feel satisfied
that the whole history of the case has
been dragged along for the purpose of
compelling me to sell my interest for a
song.
81 told Mr. Mcdonald several months
ago that he had treated me unfairly
but he made further avowals of good
faith and l foOllshly believed him.
Aside from any political bearing of the
story it is simple evidence that he
will treat others as he has treated me"