The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1909-07-08
MINE: LAW
And Its Purposes Are Dis
cussed by An Expert
enced Coal Miner.

Editors of the Telegram:
The purpose of the mine law was to
protect the health. life and lombs OF
those who work in the mines of the
state.
! have lived and worked in and
around the mines in different capaci-
ties for rhe last forty years; 1 have
gone through all the different changes
that have taken place in the mining
industry, The purpose of all law Is
to protect the weak against the strong,
] can we'll remember when miners
we're required to work IN the foul,
poisonous air of the mine until the
miner would get so full of bad air.
that he would get so sick that he
would be compelled to come to the
outside OF the mine and vomit as
though he had taken some poison
drug. It was a very frequent thing
for miners to say that they would
have TO LAY on until their headache
got better or until they got rid OF the
"blghead." 1t reached a stage where
such complaint became public. Then
there came a demand for legislation,
the public conscience became awaken
ed. and the rlght-thlnklng people OF
the state demanded of the legislature
profession for those of their citizens,
who We're compelled to work under
ground. No sooner did the legislature
take the matter up than the operator
became alarmed and got busy" and
for fear that some hardship would be
placed upon him. he Immediately be-
gan to manipulate the framing of the
law. and being In position (while the
lmlner was In tn mine), ne was able
TO dictate just how the statute should
be framed. Great care was taken not
to place any responsibility on the OPP
orator, but the law must be made so
1t has been in all the past, that the re-
possibility has been placed upon the
state, that is. II the law Is to be en-
forced, but It is burning shame that
the law has not been enforced. Those
who have had the enforcement of the
law in their hands have utterly failed
to have. the law even passed upon by
the supreme court. Therefore, the law
we now have Is simply subterfuge,
and can be and has been declared I'M
constitutional, whenever necessary by
the lower court. Two sections of the
present law have been so declared by
the lower court, and no effort made
by these in power to carry said decis-
ions to the higher court.
The people have patiently borne the
burden of taxation to maintain mine
department as well as three miners
hospitals, (something that is not done
for any other industry in the state).
What for? For the benefit OF the
miner? l am afraid to say yes, for
fear that l would not tell the truth.
1t sometimes requires strong will
to speak out in meetin'" but 1t
strikes me that the time is not far
distant when some one will speak.
tthe taxpayer). Not content with
framing the law, so as to escape re-
sponsibility. but for fear that some
honest effort would be made to en-
force the law. the appointing power
must place large operator at the
head of the mine department. Permit
me to say that / have quarrel with
the man who is trying to do the right
thing. tand there is n large number),
but candor compels me to believe
that there are some who do not COM
ply with the law, and TO all such do
sincerely believe that II would be a
hlehteous deed for the Legislature to
repeal the entire law, rather than fur
ther try to have the state stand spon-
sor for designing men. AS miner /
do not believe that the legislature ever
dreamed that an operator would be
placed at the head OF the mine de-
partment.
have in mind the writing OF sew
eral articles. provided this one es-
capes the dreaded waste basket.
MINER.
clarksburs. W. Va. July c. 1909.