West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1902-08-14
STRAIGHT TALK
FROM TIE CaECK wEIcHnAs At
ruESELroS vHo STANDS BY
HIS GUNS
And Replies to the Article In Last
Weeks Paper.


complied with the commands of tina: ..Gold.
en- Rule" 'rhou shall, not lie, nor bear
false witness against thy neighbour which
he 50 forcibly tried to impress upon myself
through the Careless manner in which he
handled the truth, in the assertions that he
set forth.
wish TO say ,ha, the good citizens and
miners of Function will bear me out in the
versciiy of the assertions that have hereto
fore made concerning the trouble a, thi.
place.
The writer has set forth the good
qualities of the Merchants Coal Company a,
employed towards its employees. Some OF
which were very good. but did he tell you
too Of the bad qualities which the said
Company emp:oyed2 No, he did not, but
whyf because he was not desirous of show.
ing up the true colors as employed by said
Company through their managers whose
incompetency was the direct cause of the
mining business here not being carried
along in practical and business like way.
for which have been uncercmoniousiy as
sailed
On June a. - 100 the miners of the
Merchants Coal Company being desirious of
placing checkweighman to represent, them
at The scales and to see that their interests
were properly prot ecied and cared for. held
meeting and there elected 4. w. Myers 20
act in their behalf and in fairness also to the
Merchants Coal Company, when upon the
rs day OF June 1901 | entered upon the
duties required of me after fIst complying
with all the requirements of the State
Mining Law, which says that each of the
persons so employed, both by the company
ana The miners, To see the weighing of coal,
mat before entering upon the duues of his
employment shall take and subscribe an oath
before justice of peace or a notary public.
that he will honestly aud impariially do aud
perform the duties of his position and do
equeal aud exact justice between EMPLOYERS
employees, To the best Of his Judgment.
skill and ability
IL this will be Of ANY advantage 4, the
next GIand-jury empaneled, / will saw ,ba,
Hub-t Peniony, ]. w. Watkins aud myself
seeing The weighing Of coal were the only
persons that were ever qualified or entered
upon bond to do justice according to The
requirements of the State Mining Laws.
have no complaints whatever to make as TO
the fairness of weights in coal given the
miners by said company, but a, the time
that entered upon my duties as check
weighman there was considerable complaint
being made that the miners were compeIled
10 lose certain mining cars of coal which
came out Of the mines unmarked or uncheck.
ed unless they could almost swear to same
and this was enc of the first wrongs that
found Il my duty To right While MIR A. 7.
Bonaheid acted in the capacity as general
| timc'kceper and paymaster for said com
pany he was always ready and willing to
correct any mistake that might arise.
| But did Robert III. Johnson act I'm the
same honest and gentlemanly respect TO.
wards the miners after entering upon the
duties that Mr.. Bonahcld had acted in so
faithfully No. he did not. but endeavored
through every possible way to disregard the
requirements OF our State Mining Laws.
Not until after the change of management
did the miners here experience any of the
hardships and unlawful measures that has
caused Tunnelton to be thrown into such
! turmoil
When George w. Morris took charge of
the mines at this place he assured the
miners upon his word Of honor and that of
gentleman that they should receive good
treatment and that all grievances should
| be fairly and honestly rightcd
But did he not as positively ignore all
snch promises and there by lose the con.
hdcncc aud respect OF all the men under
his charger
| When Morris saw that he was not Gamble
handling the work entrusted him he began
discharging all the old and practical miners
upon the most frivolous charge .and others
IN order to force them to quit would not
see and have their places OF work Gu, so
that they could work for three and four
days al time nor neither would he have
their places baiIed free of water and be
cause the men would complain OF this treat.
ment, then he would curse them as farmers
and buck.whcat growers and when would
enter plea in behalf OF my oppressed
fellow workman, hc would cry that Myers
was Interfering with the management
| In removing the miners he replaced same
with foreigners, who were not acquainted
with the many impurities that arc in this
vein OF coal and when the coal mined by
these men was rejected by the b. & o. K. X
Cos. coal inspector then Morris very
Indignantly declared that the inspectors
did not know their business and had both
coal and dirt dumped into the commercial
trade and then when the crisis came he en-
doavored TO vindicatc this particular class
and place all the blame on the old miners
who always had tried TO act in fairness to.
wards the Merchants Coal 90 Now will
| you tell nc tbat I was acting in an uniust
respect towards the said company when
was only cndeavoring TO uphold and sustain
the miners just rights or should bav.
taken tiic back seat which was prepared
Tor NE placed a paddock upon my lips and
made myself their willing TOOL and allowed
The managers and their hireiing TO dis.
regard the mining laws and TO openly rob
the miners Of their hard earned laborss
Because did not do these things il the
exact reason that = demand for my removal
was made and one to be placed in my stead
/ that they could control
| Ihc miners here are wiilisg to submit
/ their cause TO any honest and fair.mindcd
men that may be selected TO bring the true
aud direct cause Of this trouble to the
/ public and let them flicn determined who
Is wrong aud who is right. Why did no,
the writer w last weeks article submit The
vcfaciy Of bis assertions TO the following
! business men and citizens as well rs totliosc
50 named, the Messrs -. 4. Gibson & Bro.
! T. x. Shay & Bro y. r. Watson, Link Wolf
Geo Miller wcss Miller Willis Halbritier
Samuel X. Gucsman. G. W Wolfe. q. S
sapD y Ashby John W. Combs AID