Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1894-05-18
A POOR MINERS LOSING
FIGHT.

: One of the saddest chapters anon
the many of robbery of poor mir
ers by the rich, closed last wee
with the death of old Billy NJ
Garahan. at Washington. Ever
one in the West who studied th
case without prejudice, and ever
committee in Congress whic
investigated it, know Old Bill
was wronged, and had justice ol
his side. But when a bill in Con
gress was reported favorably from
a committee to grant him the poo,
boon of taking his case into cour
because under our statute he hac
no right in csurt-the influence o.
the monied men who robbed him
killed it. Only once did it pass
then under the sponsorship of Sen
ator Teller, and President Rsrri.
son vetoed it, for reasons that to Us
are enough to condemn him forever
as dishonest tool of dishonest
wealth
1t is curious to note 10 this con-
neotiJn that the Congress which
passed the bill by an unanimous
vote, is the only Congress, in which
no lobby ever worked against it.
In this connection. too, may be
noted the fact that the great
opponent of the McGarahan claim
was D. o. Mills, the multi. mil
lionaire, father-in-law Of Whitelaw
Reid, who ran for se-president
on the ticket with Harrison. Pos
sibly Mr., Mills felt in that case
that he could rely upon veto,
and that the regular lobby expsn-
diture of past years could be dis
pensed with.
The McGaraban involved the
title TO the Panoche Grande quick
silver mines in California. The
Judicial and congressional litigation
over the McGarahan claim have
passed into national history, and
volumes could be written of the
almost endless episodes of this
noted case, the employment of we'll
paid lobbies, the subsidation of
the public press, the mutilation of
The public archives and the cor
ruption of public officials; the
struggles OF McGarahan year after
7car to find bread TO eat, all at
ending the efforts of the New
ldria Mining Company to retain
possession OF McGarahan's relief.
10 many and varied have been the
Incidents attending this affair that
number OF them have doubtless
'een forgotten in the lapse of
ime.
Donn Piatt for many years de-
|
lounced Billy McGarahan in his
'aper, the Washington Capital, I
nd this was done so effectively
hat in 1877 McGarahan thrashed
'iatt soundly in the Senate lobby,
he only act of personal violence he
YER committed. Piatt was armed
ith a pistol at the time, but did
OF attempt to use it, because. as
Q afterwards explained. he carried
lie weapon only TO defend him.
III from the club or horsewhip,
1t from anyba,dy who used his
ats alone to resent his newspaper :.
tacks. !,
The public men who have stood
st and firm by McGarshsn and
oheld the Justice Of HE claim are |,
any, but the need OF praise is q
ie to Senators Teller OF Colorado q
ID Hunton. of Virginia, who for n
'ars past have not only fought a
anfully for his Fights, but con- s;
ihuted largely from their nurses Il
relieve McGarahan's utter desti Il
hon. It's proper in this con- g
'ction to mention that Congress. u
an John D. Pendleton of West n
irgin,a, chairman Of the House r, r.
on private land claims, n
d Congressman Cockrell of Tex s,
and Bell of Coloraio, members ai
that committee, were strong and W
tive advocates ot the justice OF q
Guardians claim. 3,