Chinese Miners

PROVINCIAL PRESS – Vancouver Province.

            The danger of employing Chinese labor where intelligence and trustworthiness are required, and especially where the lives of fellow-workmen are dependent upon the exercise of the qualities, is abundantly shown by the evidence which has been given at the inquiry into the cause of the explosion at Cumberland.  The discovery of matches and smoking materials on the persons of the Chinamen who were killed is quite sufficient proof of their use of them during the hours of their employment.  It is true enough that now and again we find instances in which the more ignorant among Europeans have been guilty of conduct of this kind, but the instances are isolated and it is possible to impress upon any class of European people, no matter how low they may be in the scale of civilization, the necessity of putting a check upon themselves where the danger is great and obvious.  It does not seem possible to instill this necessity into the minds of coolie Chinamen under any circumstances whatsoever.  That has been proved too often to require __________.  Under these circumstances their employment in any capacity whatsoever in coal mines should be made absolutely illegal, as their presence at such labor is an endangerment of the lives of white workmen.