Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-11

gress, would find very limited scope
for his energies.
When Mr. Lacey was elected to con-
gress in 1888, he found there was no
law upon the statute books for the
protection of the lives OF the miners
in the territories. He proposed bill
on the subject which became law
and will be found in the acts of con-
gress of 1891, being approved by
President Harrison on March 4, 1891.
Mr.. Lacey secured the passage of this
act through congress after he was de,
feated for reelection to the ffty-sec-
ond congress. The miners whom he
was serving by this bill had no votes.
as they lived in the territories, so this
action on his part was purely non-po-
litical and showed his good will to that
class of our workers who are engaged
III mining in the territories and who
are not in a position to protect them
selves in national legislation. Besides
that, the Indian territory, where a
very large portion of the coal miners
are at work. has no representation of
any kind, not even delegate in con-
sress. The miners of the Indian terri
ltory, Texas and Arkansas, at a con-
venticn in Krebs. Indian territory,
honored Mr.. Lacey by vote of thanks
for his efforts in preparing and secur-
ing the enactment of this law. The
Iowa state miners did the same, as did
also the national convention of the
miners of the United States, at Column
bus Ohio.
In the present congress, Mr.. Lacey,
long before Mr.. Reeses mime was
mentioned or suggested for congress
sienal nomination. procured an addi-
tional law for the territories to further
prevent explosions by increasing the
amount of air supply, by providing for
a system of sprinkling dusty mines,
and also providing Tor shot firers in
| the mines of the Indian territory,
where there is an unusual
amount of dangerous gas.
| This work, covering a per-
Iiod OF twelve years service in con-
gress. provides the only system of
mine protection in the territories.
John Mitchell. the head of the Unit
ed Mine Workers of America, does not
share in Mr.. Reese's view of the i'm
portant mining legislation which Con-
gresham Lacey has secured; legisla-
ton which has already saved the lives
Of many hard working and honest
miners In the territories. On hearing
of the passage of the bill Mr.. Mitchell
sent telegram to Congressman Lacey
in which he said: 81 note with graf
ification the passage of the territorial
mining bill with shot-firing clause.
Please accept thanks for your efforts
in behalf of this measure"
This is certainly specific as to what
Major Lacey has done for the miner
lit is a strange statement OF fact in
)strange contrast with Mr.. Reese's gen,
eral statement when nominated that
if he could not do more for the miner
in one minute with his eyes shut than
Major Lacey has done during his long
service in congress. he would be will
ling to quit the miners then and
there.
If Mr.. Reese has any 9th
Ter legislation in mind will
he please specify? And il
he was mistaken as to his estimate
of the powers of congress to legislate
for miners, will he say as much?
This is the main question among
miners when asked for their votes on
the ground that they are miners.
What has Mr.. Reese to offer?