The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1907-12-26
COAL COMP
ARE RESPOVSTBT F
Their Utter Disregard for Law and Oppression Of
the Wen IS the Direct Cause Of the Many
Horrible Mine Disasters IN West Virginia,

sion. Ike says of cur recent 5 ew-
ART disaster: "HaviUg been en-
pioyed 10y the Mine Legislative
COMMITTEES To examine the cause of
the "NpiUSion, the fan was not run-
hinS. and the air courses had nor
oeem repaired, but went down
lhe PIT and found is Il vast maua
zime vi gas No matter what. 9th
eiS may say, III my opinion the en-
pIoSion was caused by fire damp,
only intensified by coal dust which
The concuSsion raised; but. coal
dust played {, small part in the ex
plo>ion. Alr. Brooks. Il mining
expert of Ciarksburg, W. Va. ex-
anlned the mime Il few days before
me and stated in his report that il
was a pure fire dlmp explosion,
coal dust playing no part in it.
some fire damp explosions are re-
galrtett as u mystery. but they are
All SuSceptabIc of explanation if
the facts can he had.''
This Is quoted from ii veteran
and scientific expert, may say a
lifelong practical man. And if
W" could take and present the evil
dence of mcn who are familiar with
th" Fact in The iomongs.h cXplo-
sion and record Of the mine as a
hrc damp producer, the public
would be startled at the deliberate
and Wiifu! disregard OF the law and
oi the oppression Of these men even
unto DEATH.
III Is rot due to the inSuf1iciency
OF our statelaw that we have the
cataS ropheS, but the non enforce
mrnt OF the law aS-it stands today
upon our statute books is the chief
cause, aud for the r,ason that our
inspectors are politicians. net mine
inspectors. are creatures of the
large coal corporations, not Impair
TIA! conSerVatOrS of the public wei
fare, Corporate contributions to
campaign funds are Of more impor-
tance To the political burcauocracy
than life or property.
c"tCd property rights, theories
OF court made laws are used to Sus-
tain these bctrayalS of the trust re.
poScG III public officers. and in the
So-calIcd vested rights. the public
right is coniiScatcJ, human life is
taken, and the legal rights of la
Dor Is suppressed, and Il condition
OF slavery, pconagc, is vigorously
enforced upon the labor of this
state without regard TO color. creed
ur intelligence.
This condition is no where more
fragrant and oppressive than III
and about the mine OF the Fair
mont Coal co under paid labor
deprived of every liberty guar:Iu-
tceu by Our National and State
constitutions and open disregard
of The provisions of our state mine
law by the coal companies of this
state, with Z. few exceptions con-
h"cd chiefly TO the kanawha Dis
tgiCt. section l9 of our mine law iS
openly set at naught and deIiber-
atc.y and wilfuIiy violated.
This section provides for the
right Of mine employees TO organize
for their protection. viii any OF
the political inspectors show where
they have ever prosecuted a viola
ton Of this section! No, not one.
But what about chapter 81 of the
Acts Of 1901! Miners, drivers and
trappcr boys have been fined for Il
lamp full of The companies oil. and
the same com pauirS were selling
Oi. of more inferior quality and
contrary to law at the same time.
How Is it possible to stop these
determinations by our public Off
GERS? Only by publicity, agitation
an. organic ttion founded on the
luctriH, OF equal and exact justice
To ali men. special privileges 10
none MARK EARNEST