The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-06

y
miner a most dangerous one, demanding
the greatest care.
In such places only miners of experience
should be employed. Such a policy would
pay the masters by reducing the number
OF accidents and consequent loss of life
and property. The masters and employ
ers that are doing so are far better off
than those that give employment to
whosoevec may come and ask for it,
Those that are careful in so doing are
the best employers and should have the
confidence of the miners a question that
comes before US here is. Does the miner
have the defense due TO the difficulties
of his employment? We believe the question
important. especially in the days when the
Pittston disaster should give us little
light upon what the miner has to take
care of. There are thousands Of our fel-
lowmen compelled to work out their
strength in the mines, therefore We should
think of them from the standpoint of good
human feeling--We believe that the rudi-
ments of Christianity demand an investi-
cation of the management and the defense
that thousands of miners get in this
country. especially from those that are
employed as officers by the owners to look
after their mines.
HAVE GOOD MINE OWNERS.
We believe that we have as good mine
owners as can be found upon the face Of
the earth. Yet great many of them
are not acquainted with the principles
of mining and have to depend to great
extent upon their officers. On the other
hama, We have great confidence in many
OF the officers that are in and around the
mines. We have good laws in regard TO
mines and mining. The inspectorship that
belongs to the mines Is Of great value to
the miner and should be SO TO the EN-
ployer. But after all. 1t seems that the
miner needs more than he has today. and
it il time to inquire where is the weak
ness of his defence.
Has the pulpit and the church any
thing to do with the right of the miner?
I believe so. In these va!lies our church,
es (as common peopleJ are composed
mostly of miners, and they are good peo-
pie; we love them. We Try to preach 10
them the Gospel of Christ and we cannot
do so without going sorle times down to
the mines to see how they are treated by
their mast ar3. We are glad of the great
improvements that have been made by
law in the interests of the miner during
the past twenty years. But sometimes
1t seems to me that the most of them are
as dead laws. What may be the reason
of it the reader may think for himself.
AS we have mentioned before, We believe
the occupation of the miner Is very dam
gerous; we also believe that many acci-
dents have their causeS in the fact that
miners are unqualified for the work they
profess to be able to do. 1t would be of
great value to most miners to study what
they have to do in the mines. l don't
fnp
study his daily occupation to an extent
that enables him to be a master OF his
work
What an unreasonable habit eXisteth
among miners to leave their fellowmen
alone in the mines the greater part of the
day when they need no. to do so, and to
spend their time on the streets. My dear
friends let It die out and take hold of
the best method to master your work for
the safety of yourselves as well as your
fellow-workmen.
IT IS NOT TRUE.
On the other hand. is 1t not true that
many accidents in our days happen
through the negligence of the officers in
authority at the mines to act in accord
ance with the laws. The officers OF the
mines are in there to do what the law
demands, and are in better position to DO
their work than the miner that has to
work hard to get his coal ready for the
car. The unfairness comes in when the
authority is needless of the law that pro-
tects the workmen, and then stating after
an accident that everything had been done
to have the colliery safe when facts are
plain 10 the contrary. Who can deny that
in many cases the authorities have COM
bined together 10 testify to the wrong,
rather than confess the real causes of ac-
cident.
Sometimes ii seems TO me that mules
and working materials at the mines are
of greater value than men and boys. 1t
may be that do not look at things in the
proper light, but, however, ! cannot less
than express myself in that way when /
am compelled to take UP some facts.
The avarice for wealth has much to do
with the hardships of the miner Men in
offices are very ambitious to have the
honor of working collieres as cheaply AS
possible. 1t is the duty of every officer
to do his best to save, and not to waste a
dollar of his masters money, and he
should be glorifled in mis- ambition of do
ing so. But there is another feature to the
same law that should insure to the miner
his rights. His life is not to be sacrificed
on the altar of narrow doings in order to
increase the profits of the collicry and to
add to his great name. We do not see any
reason why the rights Of the miner should
be taken away from him because there
are plenty of men to be had Of course 1t
happens sometimes when hands are scarce
there is a better chance to have higher
wages. But when man Is employed by his
master and doing his work according to
the law of his master, his master Is re-
sponsible for his rights and his life should
be protected by his master while he Is on
duty that is as far as the law of the state
and the country calls for, and, moreover.
IL the master has manly feeling, he
should do so without the power Of the
law.
JOHN HOwARD'S WORK.
John Howard did grand work by going
as a ministering angel through different
prisons and jails of the world to know
the true condition of those that were IN
bondage. Is II possible that we are In
need Of another kind of John Howard
in our days to travel through our collieries
to examine and to be witness of things
that are going on where the sun of the
day does not throw its light? During the
past years, what are the terrible accidents
that are on record as of Nanticoke. Kings
ton and at Pittston. falls and caves!
What. can they be the works of Provl-
denc? No, no. my dear friends; God
is love-" Think not Of God as the author
Of such disasters. Let us come back to
the duties Of men toward each other; let
US try to be faithful to the laws Of ma