The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-02-27
REMEDIAL MINING
LAWS DEMANDED
BY Miners in Sub-District Convention this
Week-A1so Wants the Facts in Connection
With Findings of the Investigating Committee.

following resolution was introduced and
unanimously adopted:
Whereas, y grave problem confronts
Organized Labor in West Virginia in the
matter of securing remedial legislation
for the protection of the lives and limbs
OF the mine workers OF our state, and
to diminish the horrible mine disastArsS
that have been hurling hundreds of min
ers into eternity, thus throwing thous-
ands of helpless women and children ON
the mercy of our citizens, and,
Whereas, The laws of our State are
violated with impunity and trampled
under foot by the mine owners and their
agents, and the oppression and intimi-
dntion of the miners Is daily growing
in volume, in spite of the fact that the
Chief Executive of our State has re-
peatedly called the attention of our Leg.
islators to these facts, and
Whereas, The Mine Investigating Com.
mittce appointed ut the last regular ses.
sion of the Legislature, tn investigate
the horrible disasters during the past
year nnd report their findings and make
such recommendations us they deemed
wise and expcdient, have in their report
just submitted, failed to make any rec.
ommondations looking to the bctterment
OF the mining conditions of our State.
and in reality, the report Is but n
straddle" of all questions in connection
with said investigation, and
Whereas, 1t has been charged by n
member of the said Committee that all
the facts had not been set forth In the
said report, and in view of these facts,
we demand that some steps be at once
taken for the more rigid enforcement of
the laws now on our statute books and
that those necessary to meet the above
requirements be enacted. Therefore, be it
RcsolDed, By Sub District No. 1, OF
District II, U. NJ. w. of A, in session
assembled in the City of Charleston, w.
Va, that We appeal to Governor VIM.
Nj. o. Dawson to sail an extended session
OF the Legislature to consider the follow
ing matters:
list. The enactment of Remedial Min.
ing Legislation;
End. To enact can Employers Liza.
bility Act;"
3rd. To abolish the present private de.
tectlve and guard" system as in vogue
in some sections of our State;
4th. To provide for a more rigid EN-.
forcement of the laws by the Mining De-
partment.
| And be it further
Rcsotued, That copy of these resolu-
tions be forwarded to Governor Dawson.
requesting him to give it his immediate
and careful consideration.
Among the resolutions adopted was one
teiegraphing the sympathy of the con.
Vention to President John Mitchell in
his present illness and hoping for his
speedy recovery; one endorsing the State
Federation reorganization and recon-
mendinS that all local unions affiliate
with same; one endorsing the Labor Ar
gus and appealing to the membership To
give it their moral and financial aid.
The constitution committees report
took up considerable time but it was
completed and the constitution was
adopted as n whole early in the after.
noon session.
AT this time National Board Member
Pen Davis secured the floor and in n
happy speech on behalf of the Labor
Argus presented Chas. A. Sydenstricker.
OF smithers, handsome gold watch in
recognition of his valiant work in Be-
eu,i~g subscribers for the Argus, he
having secured the greatest number dur.
ing the recent contest.
Montgomery was unanimously chosen
as the place for holding the convention
next spring.
Senator Littlepage addressed the con-
vention at some length, after which ad.
Journment was taken until Thursday
morning
THURSDAYS SESSION.