The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-01-22
KANSAS MINERS
Ask To Have Their Views Given
Thru State journal.

Thru State journal.
To the Editor of the State Journal:
1 was requested this morning, by
many of my fellow miners, to express
my views the circular letter sent
out by the officers of District No. IA,
United Mine Workers of AMERICA,
asking the membership to petition
Governor Henry Allen, of Kansas, the
right to elect by referendum vote, the
mine inspector of the state. 1t is to
be hoped that Governor Allen will
make = thoro investigation before he
steps on such treacherous ground
In seeking this change, an attempt
is being made to convince the miners
that their interest and safety would
be better guarded if the inspector was
elected by them. 1 am one of those
that believe that the important Of
fices of inspector of mines should be
far removed from under the influence
of either coal operators or miners, in
| order that the inspector will not have
to humble himself to every Tom, Dick
or Harry who attempt to use him as
a lever to adjust their grievances. If
| the inspector be elected by referen-
! dunn vote of the miners, then any of
our members who may have fancied
! complaint that is not adjusted at once,
! it would be heraEded turnout the dis
| trict and we would find resolutions de-
nouncinG him and demanding his re-
| moval.
On the other hand, if the coal oper-
| ators have their selection when a visit
| is made to a mine by the inspector
and he finds that conditions are suchi
| that they must be changed and-~the
| change will warrant much expenditure
| of money, yet he gives the order that
| the same must be done, regardless of
| expense. the operator complies with
| the request, but in his heart he says,
| Il will get even with you as soon as
| your present term expires
Then under either of those condi-
tons, the mine inspector would be
| made the instrument of retaliation and
| at times he would be obliged to neglect
| his duty, for which the state pays him.
/ There can be no doubt in any I'M
| prejudiced mind but that it is an un-
| mitigated evil to expose the inspector
to the caprices of such conditions and
! detrac cts from the dignity of this inn
/ portant position.
1t should be clear to a candid mind
1 that such a condition tends to develop
an artful politician rather than fear
I less inspector.
Let us have system where the can
| didates are examined under the prin-
| ciple of civil service reform, by an e&-
aiming board. removed from the in
/ fluence of either miners or operators;
then let the governor appoint accord
! ing to merit
| The question is. why do we view the
safety of our lives and limbs with less
concern than the petty interest of self
! interested leaders, who attempt to
/ hoodwink US by claiming that they
wish to give US the referendum. We
: have had some experience on the ref
erendum in our ranks that is disgust
/ ing to all free-thinking people.
! At this time, a certain element in
/ our midst conceived the idea that if
they can get control of the mine in
spectors office. it would make their
| forces stronger. That is one of the
| reasons why this present agitation.
| The personnel of the inspectors Of
| flee today is as good as it ever has
been l will admit that errors have
been made. We are all liable to err;
! Yet 1 find that Mr.. Fred Geen and his
| ton has been improved and kept up to
the working-face during the past two
years better than at any time during
the history of Kansas coal mining
For this reason. our mines are in
better and safer sanitary condition
What has gone wrong? Is it possible
that Mr.. Green refuses to be dictated
| to in enforcing the law or is it that
some of your followers have not got
their fest under the pie-counters yet?
| If our officers wish to give to our
| members the right to vote on mine
/ inspector. it would be only reasona bic
\ to expect them to let US vote on who
would be our choice on the mine ex-
aiming board. on travelling auditor
and our lawyers on our Legal staff
| 1 realize that since that constitution
committee that was appointed by
/ Howat had placed the gag rule in our
constitution. that I may be expelled
from membership and denied the right