West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1916-06-01

nary workshops had opportunity damages court
The coal miner had such opportunity the state
unhlnkabe that such condition could state
and yet that is exactly the condition that did this
state not The Ingncer through accident but through
deliberate design During the years this condition
existed it is safe say that killed or disabled
for life in the coal Virginia and not dollar of
legal damages paid to the sufferers their through
the operations of the courts and if any damages paid
it was through scant, and often very scan charity.
The end to this indecent state of affairs Work
men compensation law passed in 1919 but that law passed
the vigorous opposition leading interests and then
they were strong in the Legislature that they
clause into the law limiting the possible
law to cent the dollar pay Under this limitation
the Wormens Compensation prevented from
ing to the coal industry the full casualty CHARGE and
In the two years OF operation under that law the casualty charge
caused by the coal industry by nearly $500 90 the
amount OF money paid into the Wormens Compensation bureau
for them This deficit for the good by the con
butions of other industries In the legislative of 1915
gey through the influence OF Governor Hatfield other
public who recognized the equity Wormens
Compensation law modified that be CLASH
@ ana eaeh INDUSTRY forced to pay its casualty charge
This humane and sensible amendment bitterly by the
representatives of the coal industry IL this point
break between Governor Hatfield the coal
operators who at that time had prosed friendly supports and
from that point dates much of the bitter warfare waged by
interests against Governor Hatfield and the State
From that point dates the the part of certain
gentlemen elect their own needs
and obey their commands and from that point began
in West Virginia. P"''
To obtain better conception dsnrested character of
this particular line support being given Mr. Ilv let the ub
lie bear in mind two things:
For twenty-five years West Virginia has maintained and
operated miners hospitals for the particular special
enormously rich They have wealth of sec
tons and moved others They their millions
the state the responsibility for providing communities
around them the deeence of medical surgical help
cry community should other section Of West Vir
gna such hospitals maintained by the support
mune in which they situated; but electorate of
West Virginia maintains the hospitals industry
The farmer the small merchant working man are all
taxed to provide humanitarian institutions which provided
solely for special interest which in the meanwhile
grown rich strong and arrogant that dictate
the policies and the personnel executive officials of the state
of West Virginia " ~ ''''
We have laws this wisely providing for state inspee-
ton OF large number of activities and operations
bank inspection and We
boards whose business determine efficiency of men to
practice medicines dental boards determine efficiency
to practice dentistry
The psG py oP RRf 5an m u5 age
The insurance companies pay for their inspection
An applicant who become pay the fee for
his examination.
applicant who is to become dentist must nav the fee for
But the rich coal mine companies Of West virginia dn
ing S60oOooOOO0 worth year. ping up enormous
fortunes each year refuse pay mine inspection and
have refused to do so for twenty years MAN. times his de-
signed to relieve the state Of the coal inspection charges and
the miners hospital charges and place those charges
they properly belong have passed the House Of Delegates the
West Virginia legislature and have often in the
State Senate by the influence of coal operators organizations
state Of West Virginia today is threatened with the nece
sty Of paying large the Virginia on account of
the Virginia debt decision This aggregates l2
If the coal mining industry Virginia today were to
get together and pay oneh Of the entire Virginia debt would
in dollars and cents which the state has rendered the past
twenty years.
If the special costs imposed upon taxpayers state
through various mine strikes, requiring expenditures
io the maintenance Of militia, with the that
may safely be said that the payment Virginia debt
would not repay the people Of The dollars cents the
special privileges they have had to render the barons coal
industry in West Virginia.
The broad politics involved contest the Governor
ship Of West Virginia is the question whether nominate
for Governor who chosen and
special interest whether shall choose has had
thf than critical occasion the
right against tremendous pressure, who has shown
utey independent any Interest public welfare rep
in his person and character the highest type American
citizenship ln short, who will be Governor of The
whole people Of West Vrgnia-Edtora from Wheeling Intel
Hgencer
Published by authority Of the Citizens Committee Of Preston county