Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-05-31
The Miners Mass Meeting
Scenes and Esscislcnfs.-A larg

| spot appointed for the ratification meeting
to be held that day. This crowd was slight
! ly augmented at Borden Shaft Ocean, Mid
land and Il small attendance from the mines
below already on the ground.
1t would be unjust to say that all went
to enjoy frolic, and equally so that all
meant business" A crowd so large nee
cssariIy included the grave and the gay
the thoughtful and hilarious. On the way
down nothing occurred to mar the sober or
rccreatve character of the assembly. The
morning was bright, clear and pleasant
the train swept down through the populous
region carrying banners gay while strains
of CHEEKY music at times won the smiling
plaudits of men, women and children, on
the waysides "Tis passing pity panora-
ma of so much interest should have finally
unrolled scenes of inebriation, riot and
bloodshed. Blu, we anticipate.
On the ground spot was selected, a cir
Gle formed, and the meeting called to order
| by Mr.. THOMAS BRowN who also suggested
| Mr. EDWARD NJ DAVIS as Chairman. This
was adopted unanimously. This gentleman,
in defining the object of the meeting, made
an excellent address He applaudcd the
spirit and composition Of the Address to
the Miners of Allegany," recently published
in this and other county papers, congratu-
lated Mr. BROWN upon its authorship, and
closed by counscling unanimous adoption OF
the constitution
Upon call Of the mines the following
were found to be represented:
Big Vein, Pekin, Caledonia, Constellation
No. ., Midlothian, johnson, Bowery Fur
mace ore and coal, Pompey Smash, Ocean
Miller and Midland
The following were not represented:
Homecoming, jackson, Dctmold, Pickell
Swanton Potomac, Phoenix, franklin,
Hoffman, Borden, Hampshire and Virginia.
During the call representations from va
rious mines indicate that while actively there
is Ostcnsible Indifference to the Union
movement yet really it is regarded favora-
bly, by majority. Those where the ques-
ton had been energeticallI canvassed the
reports were outspokcn in commentator
of the project
! The constitution was taken up. read and
It's divisions adopted seriatim, the only
amendment made being to the "bcnclit
clause, providing aid to bcncfciarics only
after the first weeks disability.
Mr. Brown at this point addressed the
meeting at some length. He recalled some
"reminiscences Of the union of 1853 referred
to the protective organizations of England,
Scotland and Wales to the grievances
prevalent in this region. His whole cNpc-
rience had taught him that "strillcs' were
not fruitful of permanent good that the
interests of operators and men were idcnti-
cal. No action OF the miners should tend
TO impede production it should by all means
I've promoted by steady honest labor, until,
summer and winter ii affords lis unhroEcn,
lucrative employment. Bat we have grey-
auces the means of redress of which lie in
the allot-hoX and legislation, Ventilation
and thc "Nincrs' Lien Law"-thc one de
n3nded statute providing for better pro
lection from bad air, the other must be cras-
/ ed from tie Maryland stalutc-book To DO
this we must unite cschew politics and send
men from our own ranks to represent our
interests in the Legislature etc
Mr. Browns address was pointed.
logical and we'll received
motion ordering each miEe whether
represented here or not, in the beginning of
the coming week TO organize a lodge, and
appoint delegates to attend the county CON
yention to be held at JOHN DoNAiIuE's, in
Frostburg, on Saturday, 3lst inst, for the
purpose of electing officers for the Union
was carried
1t was afierwartl added that each dele
gate be empowered to cast one vote for ev
cry ten men il the mine.
Adjourned at 2.l5, T. NJ, after session of
near three hours.
1t having been understood the train
would not return until 5, p. NJ, large por-
ton of the crowd went to Homecoming, two
miles distant, to pass the intervening hours.
Nearly all efforts to obtain dinner were flu
tile; the next resource was lager" and
blue ruin" The crowd was heAgrv and
thirsty, most likely more thirsty than hun
CRY, but enough of both not to be scrupu-
lous as to the means of satisfaction The
stomach, more sensitive when empty, Piled
with intoxicating drugs thus doubly asserts
the imposition practiccd upon it, A few
severe fights in Homecoming were not unrca-
sonable results of the maddcning draught
We may fail in accurately depicting the
scene which occurred at the switch one
mile above Homecoming, where the train was
awaiting the passage of the regular passen-
ger train before proceeding to Frostburg
but our duty compels us to suppress moth
ing wilfully. 1t was a scene which battles
attempt at minute detail in fact the cy,, #
one could not have taken all in, 50 rapid, 50
numerous and sometimes 50 novel were the
incidents
We had composed oursclf TO rest in one
of the cars some one said they've kicked
up fight out there going to the door we
observed two men preparing for a mill
Friends on both sides crowded and clamor-
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