The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-09-27
FROM the Commission Appointed BY Governor Dawson To Revise
MINING lave of tbe S+,ta
HIS POSITION IN THE MATTER CLEARLY DEFINED
Gould Not Represent The People Endorse Measures Presented
By That Body, Who Desired to Increase the Cost of Main
taining the Department.
Mining Laws Of the State.

President John Nugent, of the
Mine Workers, has withdrawn
from the commission appointed by
Governor Dawson to- revise the
mining laws of the State. In ex.
planning his position in regard to
the matter Mr.. Nugent says:
Until l have information from
the governor as to the powers OF
the commission, have withdrawn,
This action was taken on account
OF the stand of the commission oil
questions pertaining to the protec-
ton of life. My understanding
was that while every regard should
be given to the protection of prop.
erty that the protection of life is
essential.
81 was willing to concede every
point necessary as to the protection
OF property, even agreeing to a
penalty for miners who violate the
law either in OF around the mine
but my idea is that the honest, law
abiding miner should have some
protection. If the parties are con.
troued by the interest sending them
here we have no commission at
all.n
1t appears from what information
can be obtained that the commits
sion as majority was utterly op-
posed to any measure that would
afford the miners or mine laborers
any protection of life or limb, but
were working entirely in. behalf of
the operators and seeking toSex-
pend several thousand dollars more
per annum on the Department.. Mr..
Nugent naturally, under the cir
cumstances, could not see his way
clear to advocate such a measure in
the next session of the Legislature,
therefore he did the only thing he
could as a representative of the
people.
The following editorial criticism
of Mr.. Nugent's action by the
Morning Ne,cs is, as is usual on
union labor questions, as far from
the truth of the matter as it is pos
sible to get:
"The sudden withdrawal of Mr..
John Nugent from the commission
to consider the mining laws, was
an exhibition of temper that he.
probably, will be the first to re-
gret. If his contentious before the
commission were as meritorious as
he evidently believes them to be,
his real task will be in convincing
the public so, particularly on ac-
count of the fact that there were
none, not even the other mining
representatives, to agree with him.
The Ne,cs does not believe that
the governor was justified in doing
SO unusual an act as the calling to-
gether of such commission. But
this criticism cannot be made to
follow the deliberations of the com
mission when once assembled and
performing its task.
Ihe purpose was, if we UNDER
stood it at all, to provide set of
statutes that would preserve to
both employer and employees their
rights and safety. To that end. the
commission was composed of an
equal number of operators and
miners. The findings of a majority
of the commission do not bind Mr..
Nugent in pursuing his sworn duty
as member of the Legislature when
he comes to be such. They do not
bind any member of the legislature,
and can be considered for no more
than their net worth as suggestions
by parties in interest.
sSThe action of Mr.. Nugent in
Withdrawing from the commission
can only serve to lessen the weight
of his argument when he shall make
it as member of the House of
Delegates. next winter.''