The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-11-15

that there is design in putting that
statement in the paper in that man
ner, because it must be the nope OF
some of the people indirectly con-
nected with the outcome of the work
of This commission, to belittle the ef-
forts OF the miners and the opera
tors and the commission and the
Governor in at attempt TO reach such
conclusions as will be beneficial to
all parties interested in the mining
industry of this State.
MIR. a. B. LITTLEPAGE:
The purpose, as understand, of
the Governor in converting this Com
mission was to secure such express
sion from the operators of this State
as they desired to submit to him. in
the report of this Commission, as
well as also to secure such express
sion from the miners, as they them
selves desired to submit through this
Commission to the Governor, in ord
er that the Governor, in formulating
his message to the Legislature of this
State, which is to in Janu-
airy, may suggest such amendments
TO the now existing mining laws of
this State, as to his mind 1t seems
clear hat the interests and welfare
of the State demand; and in response
10 the Chaiman's invitation, l take it
that both the operators and the min
ers have come together, | believe in
good faith, in order to exchange
news and ideas looking to holding
the Governors hands up, 10 the
Whole people of the State, So as to
enable him, in the eXertion OF his in
nuence, kto bring about such legisla-
ton through the inStrumentality of
the legislature, as will prove, not
only beneficial, but n blessing to the
| mining interests of this State.
Mr.. Chairman, | notice IN this
mornings issue of the Charleston
News another refer nee madp-you
will find it on page eight, If dny OF
you have ito a statement made by
Mr.. Nugent, a member of thu, Com
mission, which, when the attention
of the Commission is called tc 1t, you
will observe the injustice of, nPt only
to Commissioner Nugent, but b the
people whom he represents In
quoting MI. Nugent's statemleht, it
says hat he stated that tho Estate
loses every year ~thirty-five thAlsand
men, who refuse to work BECAUSE OF
the inexperienced labor. Now, hat
is an unfair statement for anT editor
of any paper to make, and tho record
of his statement will show! which
record was preserved by the official
reporter, the young lady, yesterday.
that he state that wenty thousand
experienced miners had left the
oldLc DeCdu5e u eAlSlIuS COHolllOuS,
and thirty-five thousand ineXperi-
enced miners had taken their places.
Now, representing the miners, it is
right. it is fair, and it is just to say
to this commission that references
of that kind. made by the reporters
of the papers,, are not calculated to
bring the men of differing Opinions
together here, and they ought not to
be tolerated. 1t is an injustice to a
member of the Commission which l
think the other members will resent
as quickly as himself.
Now, Mr.. Chairman, leaving that
natter, ! want to say this. there is
not a good sitizen in the State, bust
ness man. there is not a man under
the sound of my voice who does not
recognize and realize that the coal
industry of West Virginia is the most
important industry we have in the
State, and it is that industry alone
that the employer and the employee
alike took to make this State great
and prosperous, n to give it its
place among the States of the Union
with reference to Importance. The
coal liners have come in to
the Chairman's invitation, to ex
change in a reasonable, in a kind, in
Il nice manner. their views with the
operators, in order to ascertain, ii
possible, why they cannDt get to-
gether and Join in one common re
port to the Governor, looking to bet
terinS The conditions. as we'll of the
operators a. of the miners. | wan,
TO say as a humble representative OF
the miners, in 4 professional capacity
that II is the purpose and the only
purpose of the miners representa-,
uVcs h AVE assembled here to
day to do what they cln in theil
weak way to aid the Governor, to aiC
The Commission, in other words, il
reporting to the Governor such sug
geStiOnS as will do the most good tt
the greatest number of our citizens
especially those connected with TIL,
coal industry of the State. 1t is {
foregone conclusion, Mr.. Chairman
mat the high and the low, the rich
ana the poor, must recognize tina
IN this State some changes must tax,
place. in order to throw some safe
guards around human life, in the
management of certain of our Goa
companies properties. | want tc
say, and | have been at a great MANI
OF the important collieries of tbs
State, that my observation has been
and my information is that a erea,
many, that the management of hun
dredS OF coal companies and Goa
properties. endeavor to run the,.
right uD to the requirements of the
law, and more than the requirements
OF the law. The men who do tina,
deserve the communication, of ever,
{ Christian. npriobt Ia w-~o.,oo+i.