Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1873-10-11
Labor Reform Audrcss.xxThe

Labor Reform A0drcss.-The
announcement Tuesday morning that Capt.
r. F. TREvELLIcK, of Michigan, President
of the National Labor Union, would adj
dress the miners and workingmen of this
place in Po,ter's Hall in the evening Of the
same day, on the subject of the Rights of
Labor and the Present Financial Condition
of the Country" drew large assemblage
The meeting was called to order by Mr.
THOMAS RooNEY, who also named MIR. f.
NJ. DAVIS for Chairman-a suggestion
which was adopted by an unanimous aye
The object of the meeting being explain
ed and the orator introduced by the Chair
man, Capt TREvELLICk made an address
occupying over two hours OF rapid delivery,
embodying a mass of thought, of winch,
with our restricted space, it would be inn
possible to give a fair synopsis. We. will
therefore, attempt to furnish only brief
outline.
In the outset he announced his hatred of
political parties, and hoped to see the day
W hen the taph--''dicd OF its own rotten
ness'-is written over their graves. The
record shows that, escaping tyranny in Eu-
rope, the emigrant laborer himself had
founded an oppressive empire in America.
The Connecticut Blue Laws and the at
tempted passage OF tyrannous enactment
in the Ohio Legislature We're alluded to as
showing the early outcroppings of social
and capitaljstic intolerance. Politics has
always failed to afford its promised protec-
ton, and unfultilled pledges and violated
principles made America in no respect
preferable to Europe The fraud originally
used in obtaining possession of the land had
transmitted itself and the contempt for la
Dor and ahorers had grown with our
growth. The flop and drone of society was
savagely dashed for deprcciating the inte!i-
gcnce and social stature of those who mine,
tunnel, mould, build, till, ctc.--who make
the country what it is, grand and glorious
in its productive, mechanical and agricultu-
raj devclopmcnt--good enough 10 make
everything but our laws. \ workingman
is chronically deemed unfit TO leyislatc--in-
competent to look after the interests CEN
tired in his own trade The legal profession
necessary blot upon the body polite, was
severely eXcoriated for its selfish assump-
| ton of sole qualifications for official posi-
ton. The end of the whole matter is, for
practical legislation We want practical men,
Labor is tiiG gree. productive power OF
the country. AS such there is war Win
capital The $24 900, 900, 600 ofproperty in
the United States is more the result of labor
/ than capital. Yet labor adds annually only
81 per cent, while money demands 6, 8, 10,
and - per ceIt Scotland since 1916, when
"a, 900 people owned the country, has ad-
ded one sixteenth of one per cent, annually
with money rating at 3 per cent, the land
| has been mortgaged and sold until nine
Soutlel'and the remainder.
In America the average annual wages is
Jess than S500-the value of production
| over 81 ,300-who gets the difference? The
lsborcr who clears 81 per day for forty
years is worth ST., $50 the 81 of the CAPT
talist with interest for the same time swells
to over $4,000. Yet some have the ASST,
rance to assert that cap tai, with its iniqui-
tous nslry makes no war on labor!
His references to the existing panic and
suggestions of remedies to prevent rccur-
Il ,;r IL, TIn ;p
posed to resumption of specie payment as
restricting circulation below the business
wants of the people, yet every paper dollar
should be as good as the gold it represents
Several specie experiments had been made
resulting in failure, the memorable panic
and crisis of 1857 being the most notable
for widespread disaster yet occurlng in the
hcy-day OF specie circulation. He desired
to do away with the sliding-scale between
gold and paper. Let Congress mortgage
the entire property of the country as basis
for circulation and make the medium re
ceiyahle for all public and private dues is
sue bonds at a rate less than 81 per cent
the ratio of productive increose-and pro-
vide currency sufficient to meet the wants
of trade No fluctuation is possible; mid
die men, the curse of the present system,
must work or starve; the people will nat
urally appreciate it because, added to the
love of country will he that other fervent
patriotism which gravtates resistlesslv to-
ward the pocket. If one finds he cannot
make 3 per cent. out of his money it is at
once convertible into bonds that will accrue
at that rate.
The address was replete with happy allu-
sions, humor, sarcasm, and was well receiv-
ed.
Capt. T. spoke at Homecoming Wednes-
day; at Barton Thursday at Westcrnport
last evening He will address the citizens
of Frostburg again to-day at 7.30, p. m.
Excitement at Drug StOres.-
There has been general rush the last month
at the Drug Store of MCNEILL & WINGERT,