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

following resolution was introduced and
unanimously adopted:
Whereas. a grave problem confronts
Organized Labor in West Virginia in the
matter of securing remedial legislation
for the protection of the lives and limbs
OF tho mine workers OF our state, and
to diminish the horrible mine disasters
that have been hurting hundreds of min
efs 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 IMMUNITY 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 tho
Chief Executive of our State has res
peatedly called tho attention of our Leg
islators to these facts, and
Whereas, The Mine Investigating Com
mittce appointed ut the lust regular SEES.
sion of the Legislature, tn investigate
the horrible disasters during the past
year and report their findings and mako
such recommendations as they deemed
wise and expedient, have in their report
just submitted, failed to make any rec
concentrations looking to the betterment
OF the mining conditions of our State.
and in reality, the report is but q
'straddle" of all questions in connection
with said investigation, and
Whereas, 1t has been charged by q
member of the said Committee that all
tho 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
Resolved, BY Sub District No. i. Of
District IL, U. M. w. of A, in session
assembled in the City of Charleston, w.
Va, that we appeal to Governor VIM
NJ o. Dawson to sail m extended session
of the Legislature to consider the follow.
ing matters:
LIST. The enactment of Remedial Min.
ing Legislation;
End To enact can Employers LA
bility Act;"
3rd. To abolish the present private de-
tective 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
Resolrcd, 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 on.
telegraphing the sympathy OF the con-
vention to President John Mitchell in
ms 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 a whole early in the after
| noon session.
AT this time National Board Member
Zen Davis secured the floor and in
happy speech on behalf of the Labor
Argus presented Chas. A. Sydenstricker.
OF Smithers, handsome gold watch in
recognition of his valiant work in ne.
| curing 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 adj
journment was taken until Thursday
morning.