Year: 1872

their forces in every county in the State
where coal mining was done, and elect coal
miners as surveyors, who were competent
to see the law efficiently carried out Do
this, said he, and you will make this part
of the bill much better than it could have
been with one man as inspector for the
whole State. The recognition of the prin-
clples of protection to the miners by the
State had been the aim Of his life for the
last fourteen years. He had suffered much
personal abuse for his adherence to this
cause, and allowed it to pass unresented
rather than endanger the passage Of this
bill. 1t had been stated III the Legislative
hall that he was demagogue, and had
learned for himself the curses Of the mi
ners instead Of their blessings" (No, no /.
came from all parts of the room He did
not believe the statement was true. He
could not believe it. The miners never
cursed him and their reception Of him
here, gave him another proof that he still
had their respect. He thanked them for
their kind attention TO him throughout his
long discourse and hoped the minecs and
workingmen generally would see to elect
ing men from their own ranks to represent
them, and not bankers and capitalists. This
was the great obstacle in the way Of legis-
latiOn for the people, both in the State and
general governments. If they desired to
have their full share Of the laws for their
own good, then they must change their
tactics and have men to represent them Of
their own class, for capitalists would legis-
Late for capital and not for working1nen.
The speaker resumed his seat amid the
greatest applause.


The following resolutions were then sub
mitted and UNANIMOUSLY adopted


WHEREAS, Daring the pending Of the Mi
ners Bill commonly known as the Hineh-
chtfe bill foI the better regulation Of our coal
mines and protection Of the lives and limbs
and the preservation of the health Of
our operative miners, certain statements
we're made in the House Of Representative
derogatory to the motives Of Mr.. Hmchcliffe
and the other friends Of the bill, who have
assiduously labored in its behalf and urged its
passage intact these statements being defam-
atory Of the good name Of these gentlemen.
and tending to create an impression in the
minds Of the coal miners that the prime incen-
tive to the part they have taken in regard to
the measure was political pTeferment. and not
the higher and nobler one Of humanity as pro
fessed by them. Be it therefore


Resolved, That We, the miners Of Braid
wood and vicinity in mass meeting
assembled, protest against such state
ments, and unanimously tender to Mr. Hinch-
clitfe and all friends tO our bills and the cause
Of humanity, our unabated and most implicit
confidence in him and them, believing A. we
do that they have been governed in their a.
tioD in this matter from the desire to do JUS
tice to the miners of this State, and to meet
the wants Of our fellow workmen az set forth
in our several petitions and memorial present
ell to the Legislature by our representative az
Springfield And he it further


Resoircd, That although the bill l.
by no means as perfect as we had
nOped II would he, SUN We are none the less
grateful "a the friends who worked for it, and
trust that they will 90 on and struggle for and
with us until We have such laws established
for the regulation Of coal mining as experience.
science and the arts have demonstrated &
the most humane the safest and the best And
he it further


ResoIrrd, That the hill pending. in
troduced by the Hon. John Hinch-
cliffe, providing for the collection Of wages Of
laborers, wOrkmen, workwomen, and mechan-
les, when discharged from employment, on de-
mand made thereafter. has our full approval.
for without giving workmen any a.lvan-
tage over our employers, it will remove one
cause Of injustice to which we are often srh-
lected. and compel only that which rightfully
belongs to US to be pald over at the proper
time


A vote of thanks to the Chairman and
three cheers for Davis and Parker termi-
mated the proceedings, and the meeting lis
persed.