Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1912-11-30
1.-THE MINERS FRIEND"

1.-THE MINERS FRIEND"
published by Request Of Senator Henault.)
Denis Henault, of Custer county, who
represented that county in the STATE
Senate two years ago was defeated fol
reelection by 10 votes. Denis was the
miners friend in the last legislature and
gave his time almost exclusively in urg
ing legislation favored by the labor
unions. His success in this direction
was not oyerstriking but he stood by
bis guns all through the session.-Pierre
Oak otan.
There is room for divergence of op.
inion as to what constitutes "the miners
friend" II some Of the bills introduced
by Senator Henault had been enacted
into laws considerably less number oi
miners would now be employed in the
state for the reason that it would have
put the operators of mines carrying low
grade ore out of business. "The miners
friend" in the Black Hills ia the man
whose endeavors are along the line OF
promoting harmony and understanding
between the miners and the operator in
bringing about realization on the part
of the miners that the owners and oper-
ators Of mines cannot place values in
the ores and that they cannot raise the
price Of the product to meet the de-
mands of the miners or any other ex-
pense connected with mining and mill
ing. The man who poses as the friend
of labor is often only demagogue and
its worst enemy, and sometimes a
would be "miners friend" gets his block
chopped off for meddling with things.
-Pioneer-Times.
Henault Replies.
In justice to myself and the many
friends who so Loyalty supported my
candidacy for reelection, / feel it my
duty to correct the false impression
given in an editorial of the Pierre Da-
kotan, relative to my work while serv-
ing as State Senator, and which was re-
produced with comment by the Pioneer
Times, of the twentieth inst. The
article claims that my time was almost
exclusively given in urging legislation
favored by the labor unions. AS mat
ter of fact introduced only two labor
bills-one for an eight-hour shift, and
the other a law against the card system.
l gave but very little of my time to these
two bills, being too busy looking after
the needs Of my district, working hard
for good appropriations for the Tubercu-
losis sanitorium, the Soldiers home, the
experimental farm, money for fire pro
lection of state forest, fighting to retain
the $l3,0 yearly wolf bounty, helping
along the headlight, Richards primary,
good roads, pamphlet printing, seeds
for farmers, express rate, railroad freight
rate, income tax, guarantee of deposit,
employers liability bills and many 9TH
ers, introducing resolutions for the gen
eral recall and equal suffrage amend
ments; also helping to defeat the free
railroad pass, the doctors bills and many
other vicious bills.
The Pioneer-Times in commenting on
the Dakotan article, said that if my bills
had been enacted into laws that low
grade ore operators would have been
put out of business. This is ridiculous,
Senate Bill No. rs was intended to make
the S-hour law operative In the southern
as well as in the northern Hills. Sen.
ate Bill No. 81 only says-"That it shall
be unlawful for any corporation, part
nership, company or person to require
that any employee of such corporation,
partnership, company or person shall
renounce, give up or sever his relation
or membership with any lawful organi-
cation or society as a condition of his
employment"
l thought the bill to be right and con-
stitutional. l acted accordingly and l
have no apology to offer for my action.
l still believe that the demand for the
resignation Of an employee from a law
full organization, or that he refrain from
joining one. to be dictatory, unjust, un-
constitutional and surely un-American.
AS to my posing as the" Miners Friend"
l plead guilty; am the friend of every
man, woman and child, regardless of
nationality, religion, sex or color. As
to my being "Demagogue" l shall leave
that question to be judged by those who
know me best. Labor, unexpectedly
influenced, has chosen to turn me down,
but l shall continue to do what little /
can in its behalf to the end.
DENIS HENAULT.