The Advocate and news., 1898-03-09
Answer to Mine Inspector MCGrath.

ita committee, has sent communication
tc Governor Leedy, In answer to Mine
Inspector McGraths letter to the Kan
saA City Times. The committee says:
Weir City, Kas, March /, 1898.
NIp His Excellency, Governor Of the State
0f Kansas, Topeka:
Nhe mine legislative committee of
Loyal Assembly No 1923, knights Of La
hdr Of Weir City, that communicated to
yea at the beginning of last month, the
opinions of experienced miners, relative
u the cause or combination of causes
which lead TO the appalling mine dlsas-
tggs at Fleming, FrOntenac,, Krebs, T.,
and ChiCOpee on January s, has met with
Bcurrilous and unwarranted attack
nom the State Mine Inspector, George
=. McGrath, and which In the judgment
Oh the miners of southeastern Kansas,
89stead Of being a defense against the
Charges Of the committee, substantially
pl0ves every statement in the communi-
c8ti0n to your eXcellency.
The Mine Inspector, in his statement
in connection with the sanitary condition
Of the mine, No. s, at Chicopee of the
MNnnt Carmel Coal Company, does, with
! IDLE, superfuous gush, attempt to release
the company from all responsibility Of
the terrible disaster, by going back six
months prior to the explosion and TWEEN
tg-eight days afterward, to show the
model condition Of this mine and the
Marvellous solicitude of the Mine In
apector and the officials of the Mount
Carmel Coal Company for the miners
welfare.
I'm our communication Of February /,
to your excellency, we stated what, in
our judgment had been the principal
causes Of the several mine explosions in
a0utheast Kansas, and we herewith
transmit the original documents, accom-
panied by the, Mine Inspectors reply,
AId we would respectfully desire you to
raRd both and IL, after reading both
papers, your excellency can see any sem
hlRnce OF successful contradiction in the
reply, the members Of this committee are
ready to bear the brutal denunclatlons Of
Mr. Geo. 7. McGrath.
Your excellency can peruse the pes
tiier0us reply of the Mine Inspector and
y9u will be disappointed to discover that
NOT q single word Is stated with refer
ence 10 the sanitary condition of the
MINE on the day Of the explosion, but
frankly declares that the six months
elapsed since he made his last inspection
OK the mine, prior to the day of the ex-
plesiOn, and with shameless hardihood
admits IL was twenty-eight days after
ths disaster when he made the next in
snection.
II does not require mlRing expert to
H'l0w that the sanitary condition can be
entirely changed within six months, nor
4 Wlll any one with practical knowledge of
\ Ventilation, assume that mine where
the air courses are defective and below
ghe requirements of the law, may not be
s1lilctently improved inside OF twenty
eight days to stand the test of an exper-
fenced inspector; hence, this romantic
investigation and unique report OF Mr..
McGrath, which Is aimed to dazzle the
\ public, deceive your excellency and Inn
Dlled insinuatiOn to the coal operators
~ coeTCe into abject silence the members
. ~ this committee, for having the temer-
10y TO stand by the courage Of It's con-
n flctlOn and volCing the sentiments of
tlle miners Of southeastern Kansas.
Please note the Mine Inspectors admis-
n won that the shot-flring law ought to be
2Niended.
4 Gam he explain to you or the miners
fhe reason why he made the discovery so
fHcently? II the law Is defective now, It
DKas defective last winter when he was
Representative OF Cherokee county in
t#e General Assembly; where he aPpar-
e&tly spent his time urging his appoint
'dnent Tor Mine Inspector and in training
'sEp defeat the proper observance and ap-
plScatiOn Of the mining laws.
ln regard tn violations of the law, It
WIS not necessary tor any member Of
I yMis committee or any one else, to ac-
lalnt the Inspector with them, as he
Nhew to the positive knowledge Of sew
ANal miners that violations were being
bmnitted almost every day he inspected