Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-06-05
NJ ININ G JOU r n 4 L.
FROSTBURG, MD, JUNE ., 1915.
j. Is. ODER, Editor

ONE OF our correspondents cnaTSeS VI,
among others, with being "remiss' in the
matter of agitatins earlier closing hours for
stores Answering for ourself we find by
a review of our files that VIC have on sEE oc-
casions referred to the existing eXtortion of
time from statesmen, and urged some abate-
ment of the excessive strain laid upon their
patience and health, saying nothing of 9th
or and more vital sacrifices sustained by
them in the name of duty. But the fact
that these men for whom we have spoken
for whom our correspondents are so for
cibly plcading-seem to be wholly inditler
cnt to all assertion of their rights, has gone
very far toward defeating the measure de-
signed specially for their good. Indeed,
without meaning TO be harsh, the system
of late business hosifs may be reasonably
laid to the unprotcsting statesmen. No
matter what the rivalries of trade, or jeal-
ousy of merchants, the statesmen hold the
KEY to the position. BY united, persevcr-
ing, iudicious prosecution Of this now anti
quatcd proposition, backed by the large
influential sentiment outside, they might
have long since enjoyed immunity from
ovostasked lives. This could have been,
and cap be, done without violent resorts,
for our merchants are more reasonable than
they sometimes get credit for. In this mat
ter many of them feel the need of more rest
from the wear and tear Of daily business,
and it would probably require much less eff
fort to obtain a general agreement to close
earlier than is commonly supposed. The
evil, therefore, goes on involuntarily, simply
because those who, feeling it, suffer uncom
plainingly; who, suffering know their
rights, and, knowing, do not maintain them,
though they are strong, handsome, chival-
rous, intelligent gentlemen 1t is vain to
dcnounce that proclivity Of human nature
WHICH pockets profit $50. called from bones
and blood. Every man who buys the most
of anything for the least money is more or
less a tribute taking Cpsar-ip many as
pests sad characteristic. But how much
saddcr that which perpctually gives to
Caesar that which Is not Caesar Slime, lib
crty, thought elements which make every
employees realm the peer of his employers
Why, in this free country, where every
mans equal rights are sovereign, should
there be a vassalage like that which free
born statesmen yield to Frostburg merchants
to-day? There is no possible reason for it,
yet we might ring this inquiry from week
to week until we GREW tit for nothing else
without seeing i. abolished. 1t remains for
those most involved to agitatc and move
to move wisely, after accomplishment as
well as before Then the town paper will
not be hindmost in assisting the emancipa-
ton of those who. being able show dispo-
sition to achieve and preserve their liberty
Now the Piedmont Independent, after
two weeks dclibcration, concludes that
the term, "coal regions" is correct 1t then
persuades us into believing that these re-
giQns are not "Cumberland coal regions"
Well, we have once more ceased disputing
about the number of these regions. Our
last protest i'll this regard was against OK
tending the canal from Cumberland to West
crnport Through the coal regions" In
this we are humancy aided by the Ne,es
which energies from its retreat with the
broad side of its feet foremost, stamps, and
says the extension "wont be built at State
expense" This settled the settler.
However, the Undergraduates tacetig re-
minds us that it is just coming in on mis-
homer we had made the subject Of poor
Cumberland parancc) jokes" before the
Independent was born, aye, when its editor
wrought, ate, lived revclcd, basked in the
benecence of this great, tirst-class fraud
Cumberland coal That was not time for
IVORY, fretting, tuning" with the Inde-
psndents coming man" No, no. whole
tracts of Cumberland coaf' might have en-
tombed "Cnmberland miners" until their Sc
pdlchre could be computed by acres, with
out disturbing his then unwavering loyalty
to the farce of "Cumberland coal"
Nevertheless, we rejoice over the hdc-
pendent's final regard for nominal propric-
ties. In no more deserving topic can it
"sheathc the blade Of truth in the scabbard
of wit than in that lying epithet, Cum
herland," as applied to the regions and coal.
We conclude with the expression of
heartfelt hope that we have not earned an
other illustration.