Show GETTING THE SHORT END in most every circumstance sympathy is extended to the under dog but when the under dog has waited patiently for many many years for some sign of encouragement has fought with all his strength without recognition he begins to wonder what kind of a game he is up against in this case the mining industry is the under dog and the national government the force which is responsible for the fact it has been po anted out many times that without mining and agriculture the whole commercial fabric would crumple up and collapse the importance of agriculture has long been recognized but mining second only to the agricultural interests of the world has been almost entirely ignored the hon john G mchenry of pennsylvania made an eloquent appeal tor for the mining industry during the closing days of the last congress he said in part some day the people who do things those who produce the wealth of the country like the farmer and the miner will demand of congress that their interests shall be given more consideration from the vast appropriations made by congress than heretofore has been the custom especially is this true of the mining industry when we think of the wonderful wealth production of odthe the mining industry of this country and that our national government government has never nev er yet given this industry direct recognition until the last congress the palpable neglect of our our government in this connection is strikingly apparent and when we see the annual figures showing a higher rate of mortality among our miners as compared with the mine operations of europe it can only be described as a crying shame upon the part of our government the records show an average of ten deaths by accident in american coal mines every day the very least the national government should do is to maintain a bureau of mines and supply it with sufficient means to carry on s scientific investigations the appropriation for which we are now asking is only yet in spite of this small amount as compared with the aggregate of our total appropriations and considering the vast importance of the mining industry toward the development and prosperity of our coun try we find republican leaders fighting this measure forgetful of the fact that but a few months ago through their platform and in the columns of the press they were begging for the miners votes and assuring them of their undying support 1 I attended the recent mine owners convention held at pittsburg and while there inspected the government experimental station no one can visit that station and witness the scientific tests and experiments being worked out and fail to be impressed with the very righteousness of such a work to say nothing of its economic value it seemed to be the hand of fate that just on the eve ve of the pittsburg t convention the country should be horrified by the terrible disaster which occurred at marianna pa killing miners why is it mr chairman when the miner or the farmer or the workingman lays his plea before congress for the betterment of his condition that his prayers are pushed aside unheeded but upon the other hand if a great railroad or a mine or timber owner or trust magnate wants special leg the lobby machinery is all set in harmonious motion and usually they get what they want we have been busy here spending a billion dollars of the peoples money at this session of congress while out of this amount the committee has appropriated for the mining work an amendment is now offered asking an increase of to carry on the work we spend days here over the most trivial things and now when a matter is brought before the house for consideration with reference to the great mining industry of the country but thirty minutes time can be allowed for its consideration we are asked to give money for foreign missionaries we are asked to give large sums for various expositions and commissions and yet when a measure comes before the house for the conservation of the properties and lives of our mines and mine workers must it be said that we were without heart or conscience or intelligence the hon mchenry put it up to our money spending congress rather strongly but it if he had u used sed a club he might have made a better impression apparently there are not enough Mc Henrys to turn the i trick for the mining interests but a combination of these interests before another election is due might develop into a factor so powerful as to demand just recognition |