davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07
Dangers Of Coal Mining.
(Los Angeles HeraldN


The mine explosion in Utah last Tues
day was probably the worst disaster OF
the kind that has taken place in this
country. Such things seem almost TO be
peFlodlc and all the ingenuity and pre-
cautions seem futile to eradicate all dan
ger, If nothing has been left undone in
tne way OF safety precautions, the men
themselves grow careless Coal mining
IS an extra hazardous occupation at the
best and 1t has been degraded in more
ways than one. To begin with, the coal
resources Of the country are practically
IN the hands Of monopoly that is able
TO control the output, and TO raise or low
er prices as II sees fit. It's power is al
most as great in the matter of wages, but
the federation of miners has been able to
make some Roadway against ii.
The importation first of contract labor
and then of the worse offscOurings of Eu-
rope to take the place Of intelligent. civil
lied labor in the mines. has almost driven
American labor from the field more es-
peclally in the east In the west the con-
dltions are not quite so pronounced. and
the long list of the butchered in the Utah
accident disaster indicates that many
Americans were employed.
Doubtless the conditions are very much
better than they used to be. but it has
been hard fight to secure the changes.
Ordinary precautions are no certain pro-
lection. In addition to the Utah calamity
yesterday morning papers reported
mines atlre IN two other localities The
coal miner takes his life in his hand every
time he goes down into the bowels of
the earth. to earn his daily bread by the
sweat Of his brow.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07
WOES IN LoCksTEP.

Great political disasters. like individ-
ual troubles, never come singly. They
seem to travel in pairs for self-Drotec-
ton. although it may be for comDan-
ionshiD.
The regular Republican organization
OF Utah is certainly supplied with its
share Of trials and tribulations-
threatened as well as inflicted. In the
first place. the ogden Standard mean
dered back several months ago with
an air OF amusing unconcern, as If
nothing out of the usual had ever hap
pened. And there may have been
some foundation for this assumption.
Then the Tribune followed suit, Of
course, for il was out of trumDs The
Ogden pioneer of silverism had no
sooner picked out comfortable seat
in tie goldbug circus than the Salt
Lake ex-champion was seen crawling
under the canvas near the band stand
Something happened just then.
There were pleas and promises to be
good and VOWS never to do it again.
and declarations Of renewed allegiance.
and goodness only knows what all. But
the uDshot Of it was that the circus
performers, audience and stake drivers
We're denounced as idiots" Then all
was quiet for a moment, until another
explosion of wrath. occurred in an
other ring, and we have no doubt but
the Ogden Standard is quite ready to
second the Tribune's motion that
there are few idiots in Utah who
were Republicans and supported Nc
Kinlsy four years ago." and to indorse
its assertion that they seem deter
mined to drive every man who was a
silver man then out of the party"
Woes cluster, indeed Rare are soli-
tary woes; they love a train, they
tread each others heel
And the 1900 votes the Standard
viii carry out of the Republican party
this fall, added to the 20, 600 the Tri-
bune threatens to subtract. viii leave
a very small remainder for Hanna's
campaign fund to be divided among.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07

with favor Nor wdS it now accepted
with unanimity by the party. Demo-
Gratis in both houses opposed it. Bills
were again and again voted down, and
not until 1870 was a sub-treasury bill
finally passed which was expected to
complete the divorce of hank and
state Little as either party recOg-
nized it, the great "bank question was
now, at last, removed from the list of
distinctive party questions.
But his firmnes5 had only made more
enemies for the president. His great
majority melted away. Calhoun, who
had taken his followers and allied him.
self with the Wings. when such action
seemed mott likely to advance the in
teTea-5 Of his cherished state rights,
came back to the Democrats, declaring
the administration too weak TO be4e9r-
ed. Other sOutheTners, however, swell
ed the Whig ranks, and among them
were Alexander II. Stephens and Rob
ert T0Ombs. The Wing party grew
strong in the south as well as in the
north, while the wing of the Democratic
party which followed Van Buren, shrank
TO a faction called the IocO-focos.
Another set of political problems
helped to consolidate the Wing party
during this period Van Bnren's color
less inaugural address announced his
comfortable faith that the agitation
against slavery would never be able
seriously TO disturb the tranquility of
the country; and, as almost the sole
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07

Position, which called itself from 1884
t.le Wing party. There was yet no
homogeneity Of political principles, no
united party feeling, no discipline, no
adequate preparation for q contest with
the compact, well drilled. thoroughly
organized forces of the Democrats, who
did net scTuple to use all the admins
trative patronage to advance the party
interests.
The Wings held no national conven-
ton in 1856, but General William H.
Harrison was the candidate favored by
the anti-MasonJ and by several state
conventions He had been Jeffer-
sonian Republican, but was opposed TO
Jackson and to FreemaSonTy. Webster
was nominated by the Wings Of the
Massa UluSetts legislature. Judge
White Of Tennessee, representing the
1oUthern, or state-right9 wing Of the
Wing party, received the nomination Of
the legislature of that state. and car
ried twenty-six electoral votes from
Tennessee and Georgia Mangum and
Tyler, as nublfers, received those Of
South Carolina Clay, the real and be
loved leader of his party, received no
electoral votes.
Under such circumstances q Demo-
cratic triumph was inevitable, but no
sooner was Van BuTen's election as
sGred than the opposing forces were
drawn together in a powerful resist
anCe to the policy which he was be-
lieved to represent. His administration
was almost wholly given UP to efforts
to adjust the finances of the country,
whose unsettled condition was largely,
though probably not wholly, owing to
the fiscal policy pursued by Jackson.
The president and his administration
were unpopular. Responsibility for the
widespread suffering due TO the crisis
Of 1891 and the less extreme but more
lasting one of 1889 was saddled upon
Van Buren,. So was the gross cOrrup-
ton found TO exist throughout the civil
service. That these were legacies from
his predecessor could not avail him.
Every day the mastering factions Of the
opposition grew stronger. One faction
OF the Wings clamored for a new Unit
ed States bank, which should relieve
the financial distress. But the Dresi-
dent was firm. He had come into Of
fee without a policy of his own, but
pledged to that of Jackson. The de-
StTuctiOn of the national bank and then
the failure Of 1897, Of the state banks,
including the pets" with their $1,000
geo Of federal funds, left the govern
ment without income for running ex-
penses. Congress was repeatedly forced
to issue treasury notes to tide over the
emergency. In an extra seseiOn of con-
gress President Van Buren, brought
forward q plan designed to separate the
fiscal affairs Of the government from
all banking corporations whatsoever. It
is called the independent treasury, or
the sub-treasury scheme, and provided
for the holding Of the public funds in
vaults constructed by the government
in several Of the more important cities
A similar plan had been proposed a few
years before by a Virginia member OF
the house, but had not been received
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07
Protection For Miners
Park City Record.1


There will be no immediate suffering
Ior LIES necessities by the stricken fam
lies, for generous hands and RESPONSIVE
hearts will come to their relief and min
lister to them. Few. indeed, will hesitate
to contribute their mite for such a wor-
thy cause. We hope that there will be
no omissions. that each sufferer NAV be
given every aid and consolation that can
De extended to the broken hearted. There
IS but one good that can result from the
horrible tragedy. and that is that it Will
cause better protection and more safe
guards to be thrown around those who
toll IN such places, so that there can be
no recurrence of such a disaster, no more
blOtting out Of lives that have not even
the enjoyment or guidance Of Gods sun
light in their labOrs
We hope there will be a thorough inves-
LEGATION as to the cause. and that fhe
blame, If there be any, will be placed
where 1t belongs The truth should be
known, and the responsibility heavy as
1t IS should rest on the shoulders of the
guilty ones, if guilt there be.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07
REMARKS OF THE EDITORS

Helena Independents: When Mark Han
ma strikes a keynote the trusts and net
corporations know it is one of large de-
nomination from them.
Kansas City Star: An appeal is seldom
made 10 congress which carries the
weight Of influence which accompan ies
the protest Of the newspaper publishers
against the outrageous extOrtiOn of the
printing paper trust Back of this re-
monstrdnce are p, 600 newspapers with a
just ana righteous cause OF Complaint
Colorado Springs Telegraph: Gates saws
that all the money he ever made out of
the steel and wire trust could be carried
IN one pocket. After having dealt in wire
for some time, Gates has acquired the
habit OF ''stringing' US.
Chicago News: H. H. Rogers. for the
Standard Oil COMPANY denies that he
SAID the company owned twenty-six. SEN
ators. At the same tirne he does NOT
say just how many the company does
own.
Butte, Miner: The trusts will smile
when they read the antitrust plank i'm
' 1ile Iepubhean piatfora and win then
proceed TO dig up some 20 0G0 900 or So ia
Keep their friend Mckinley in power
Denver Repl blican: There is no evil
without some remedy. aud we hone that
senators and representatives will leave
no stone unturned TO curb the raDapifv
OF the paper trust and of every other
trust mat attempts public robbery bv
means OF eXtOrtionatA charges
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07
MUST SWALLOW THE PILL.

The Provo Enquirer resents the Trib-
une's eharacterization of the Few Utah
men who supported Mckinley four
years ago as idiots" and declares that
time has vindicated them" In this
the Enquirer is mistaken. Time has
not vindicated them. but the Tribune
has.
The Enquirer. speaking as one hav-
ing authority" says:
The men who voted for W. J. BRYAN. by
their very vote, took themselves oct of
the Republican party. III they are back
now they should have better grace than
to attempt to he the whole front of the
party. II certainly comes with very bad
grace for them to call the supporters of
NJ jor Mckinley IN 1896 idiots when they
= back supporting the same man on the
same principles. with few new ones
added, that held sway IN 1896
There is a ripesul for our morning
contemporary to smoke as II studies up
a new excuse for deserving the silver
cause this year And the Enquirer
throws in a quid tor mastication when
Il assures returning prodigals that. 80
Tar AZ their stand on silver was con-
eernsd, which was probably all that
took them out Of the party, they might
as well be prepared this year. if they
are going 10 be true to the party in
the coming contest, 20 swallow che gold
standard 1ill."
Then let all who support Mckinley
this year do as the Enquirer says-de-
clare that the silver cause was a mis-
take. and that the gold standard is
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07
What viii Kalad Do2

Nhalad tlda.) EnterDr1Se.)
Down in Scofleld. Utah, in one of the
mines of the Pleasant Valley Coal com
pany, an explosion occurred on Nav /.
and every man employed in that mine
numbering about 800 was killed Three
hundred men killed; 200 wives made Wild
OWs, and probably 600 children left father
less. This IS by far the most terrible dis
aster which has ever occurred in this
lntermOuntain region There are today in
Scofleld, about 500 women and children left
entirely alone without any visible means
OF suppOrt-absOlutely destitute Subscrip-
tons are being raised in every town in
this country to relieve the terrible dis
treSs. and we believe Malad should do
something and do IL quick. Let the mayor
take hold Of the matter and send out So
locitlng committees The Enterprise will
start the ball rolling with s.. and viii
receive any contributions which the peo-
pie feel disposed 10 make until such
time as some other arrangements can be
made The names of contributors and the
amount Will be published in these col
umnS
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07
TYRANTs IN THOSE DAYS.

Administration newspapers are con-
tilually harping on Anglo-Saxon duty
towards inferior races" and Anglo
Saxon opposition to tyranny The New
York Commercial Advertiser defends
the rights Of the Anglo-Saxon'' as
against the tyranny of the Dutch in
South Africa" The Boston journal
rejoices that the Anglo-Saxon. who
never did submit to tyranny, refused
10 do so in the TransvaaI."
All such comments are based upon
prejudice and imagination. The Anglo
Saxons as the English people are
called for convenience rather than ac-
curacy, cringed for centuries under an
absolute despousm; that they were as
superstitiOus and ignorant as any peo-
pie anywhere up to the reign Of Eliza
beth is generally admitted by all his
torians- History relates that Holland
supplied one Of the first enlightened
monarchs of England. The people of
that island endured the tyranny of the
four Georges, from one of whom the
American cOlOnists rebeIied.
There is no use of taking refuge in
romance when history presents the
facts.
But the English people worked out
their destiny in many centuries and
became a grand race. All that the
Beers ask is the same chance. All that
their American sympathizers ask is
that they be given this chance. 1t is
the American idea 1t was the oppor-
tunity Tor which the founders of this
government first petitioned and then
fought.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07
THE .SCOFIELD DISASTER.
Equals Ashtabula Horror.


In Scofield. Utah. every house is in
mourning and every home is a chamber
over the gate. Hardly a family is free
from the touch OF the Angel OF Death
nSeauy 50 brave miners lie wrapped in
the habiIlments of the grave awaiting
sePuichre. On that day. the list of May,
memorable now as one of horror and
gloom, men kissed their wives and little
ones and went down into the shaft. No
warning voice whispered aught of COM
ing doom. Without, fair nature smiled,
the bird songs thrilled the air with mu-
SIC ana myriad flowers flung their fra
GRANGE upon the passing breeze. There
was a rumble as OF distant thunder.
clouds OF smoke and dust and the hearts
OF those men were stilled forever. OF
all who went down into that mine not
one escaped TO tell the sad story of SUI
location and death There were shrielzs
ana smothered cries and tremblings of
0lStreSS and runniHgs too and fro Such
scenes Of agony as transpired in those
tunnels Deggar the pencil of a Raphael
10 picture; DEFY a pen ike that Of Hugo
70 describe. Fathers ana sons We're
locked in each others arms. The whole
mine was raging inferno. The men
We're burned and SCARED and wounded
many OF them beyond recognition, Many
OF them had their hands and feet burned
away, some were decaPitated many were
roasted alive. Whole families persisted
locked IN one another arms and silent
IN last embrace. 1t is horror that
blancnes the cheek and fills the eve
with tears No such disaster has ever
before happened in Utah. 1t is one of the
horrors OF the century and will &c down
in history by the side of the Ashtabula
disaster ana that of the death bridge of
tne lay. All that human sympathy and
nelp can do is being done for both the
dead and the living. All hearts go out in
sympathy Tor the stricken wives and
children who sit and weep beneath this
AWFUL cloud of sorrow
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07
Necessary Precautions.
Pittsbure Disnatchl


The Utah mine disaster is the worst
OF its kind for many years. The death list
Is simply appalling. Like the explosions
which have occurred in PENNSYLVANIA
mines 1t is difficult to determine the inn
similar disasters of this state it NAV be
assumed that lack of proper precautions
Is at the bottom of it, and probably in
sufnc1ent legal safeguards. Whether the
mine was imperfectly ventilated or
whether some Incompetent or reckless
miner took liberties with doors or lamps
Is matter for the Utah authorities to de-
teTmine. Yet there remains for all the
lesson that mining laws should go beyond
the requirement of perfunctory examina-
ton OF workings to secure the safety of
human life The requirements regarding
ventilation and safety appliances should
be OF the strictest. In addition, the quail
lhCatiOns of miners should he fixed bv
law. irresponsible persons ought not to be
permitted TO jeopardize the lives of their
fellows.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07
Help the Bereaved Ones.

tJtdA NouIl9 DetnOCrdJD
The Democrat extends its deepest heart
felt sympathy to those who lost their
dear ones and friends in the Winter
Quarters mine disaster. Humanity stands
appalled,, man gazes blankly at his fellow
man, and the tongue is dumb to utterance
when death snuffs out the light of so
many lives. But though we are helpless
in the presence of death, though we can
not ease or resuscitate those who have
departed into eternity, who are happy
now in the midst of q fuller life still
let us give g word Of cheer and helping
hand to the hereaved ones. The manner
of their death was sad, but nearly all
passed away without experiencing pain.
the greatest sorrow and sadness Is for
those who viii no more know the loving
care of a father, the love of a husband or
a brother Those who died are in the
presence of the Almighty; trust him, they
are content
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07

The Logan Nation, Republican organ
OF Cache county, has stood it Just
about as long as patience can be called
virtue. 1t says shat the Tribune
should continue to carry its old anti
Mormon chip athwart its shoulder and
trot 1t out and use ii on every possible
occasion, whether there is any reason
or sense in doing so or not; and then.
when 1t has done everything in it's
power IN these various ways to iniure
the Republican party. let it bemoan
after election because Cache valley
goes Democratic" Why Oh, why can
not brethren dwell together in har-
mony?
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07

when heavy financial concerns break
the laws, exposure and agitation NAV
cause panic, says a New York fnan-
cier quoted in the World That is no
doubt the reason why goldbugs declare
that the election of an honest bimetal-
ilst 10 the presidency VIII result in a
monetary panic. When lawbreakers
are able to compel silence and avoid
publicity by such methods, the sooner
We nave that panic and get through
with il the bettSr it will be for the
country and future generations.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07
Rock Springs VIII Helm.
(Rock Springs Miner.)

The explosion at Scofeld. Utah. is the
worst in the history of the west. Two
hundred and fifty dead bodies have been
recovered and there are more in the
mine. In every home in Scofield there
is a vacant chair and poignant grief over
shadows the town like a cloud IT is
awful, awful Many Of the victims are
known here. Words are useless SYM
pathy we extend, but it seems only
mOckery. Let us do more. Rock SPRINGS
ought to organize q committee for a re-
lief fund. Who VIII lead? The Miner
columns are at the service of the people
and the Miner is with any movement to
temporarily amsliorate the sufferings of
the distressed.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07

The Intermountan Catholic chal-
ienges the statements recently pub
hshed in a contemporary over the sig
nature Of F. A. Grant. In summing up
Its review OF the majors article the
Catholic says that his whole article
is a tissue of falsehoods, utterly
groundless in every particular, and
that the statements which he attrib-
utes to the Catholic chaplain of the
Twenty-third infantry were never
uttered by that gentleman" The ma
Jor ought TO substanuate his assertions
with proof or revise his lecture. If it
IS "a tissue Of falsehOods" it is mis-
leading TO the people of Utah.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07

The Beers are besieged by imperial
armies. Conflicts occur daily. Hun
dreds of the burghers are losing their
lives in an attempt to repel invaders
who demand the unconditional surrer-
der of their national independence. The
Firms have long since passed through
the ordeal. American sympathy was
extended to them. Thousands OF them
have been welcomed to American
homes, But an Anglicized eontempor-
airy wants to know why Americans do
not cease concerning themselves about
the Beers and turn from the present
scene Of war n South Africa to busy
themselves with the lost cause of the
Films. That delicate request reads very
much as If it had been suggested by
Joseph Chamberlain himself.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07
Manti Generosity.
Manti AIessenger.)

No news so terrible as the Scofe =
tastrophe has ever circulated thror 1t
the state of Utah
To think of the terrible fate of the min
ers in that explosion, and then to remem-
Der the many families left in almost des-
titute circumstances is enough TO make
any able bodied man contribute to the re-
lief of these heaTtbroken families
This terrible accident Is certainly a very
sad affair. as many of the families are
reported TO be almost destitute and We
hope our citizens will open their pocket
books as wide as possible and donate lib
erallv, as the means will be given to the
families of these unfortunate miners who
were burned, smothered and cruelty killed
while performing their duty.
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07

During the year 1899 the federal ad-
mlnlstration collected from the Amer
lean people, in the way Of taxes, al
most altogether on their food, clothing
and shelter, the enormous sum Of $685.
96O620' War taxes are Continued and
millions are being collected from the
people which is turned over to the
Rockefeller banks to loan to the people
again at a profit to the banks and a
loss to the people. This is what Nc
klnley calls financiering. 1t is what
Rockefeller calls "a good thing"
The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-05-07

right. There is no ether way TO be an
honest follower Of the president. or a
real member Of the Republican organ
izatfon-
The day Of straddling the financial
issue passed four years ago.