Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1877-12-22
THE MINING JOURNAL.
FRosTBURG, MD, DEC %, 1877.

dues, still seems to be clouded by the
conflicting views Of the miners them
selves. Indeed an itelligent writer
in to-day's JOURNAL expresses grave
doubts as to the feasibility Of provid-
ing remedy for the grievance by
legislation.
Under these embarrassing circum-
stances, it is puzzling problem to
determine exactly the proper measure
to meet an imperative demand from
all quarters of the region. The sen
ator and delegates-elec. are expected
to do something for the miners, while
the latter cannot, or do not, agree
u,on what that "something' is. The
representative are therefore left to
qa1ess what is needful, with numerous
chances in favor Of committing ser
ious blunder, and being held response
Die for whatever consequences follow,
This position is not at all envlable,
anl, for one, we propose placing the
responsibility just whore it belongs
upon the miners themselves.
1t is not just to do this, however,
without suggesting that there is yet
tine for tie miners to harmonic theli
views and settle upon some sallstac-
tor giQn ~ which their coal will be-
we.,,ne>. correctly and pay secured
accordingly. To this end the follow
ing movement is proposed:
Let the miners Of each mine assem-
BILE, say on tho Ssh Of January, and
select one delegate for each two
hundred men, and one delegate foI
any fraction in excess Of two hundred,
as follows:
A mine with two hundred men, or
less--one delegate. With over two
hundred, and not more than fou;
huadrel-two delegates. With over
four hundred, and not more than six
hunlred-three delegates, and so on.
Let these delegates be chosen with
s1ecial reference to their wisdom
experience, GOODNESS and good judg-
Ilent. Then let them meet, say al
Homecoming on the 9th Of January,
and deliberate quietly, earnestly an"
tremendously upon oil the grievances
under which the miners labor. We
think that, with such men, mucl
could be left to their discretion and
good sense, without lettering them
too tightly with Constructions" The
latter would tend to disarm them Of
the very qualifications which made
them representatives,, AID i~pal
very much the prospect n: hr~2ny
Cancellation, compromiao e5aca ~'on-
In this connection, .eaijn4 zine
suggests that at each mine meeting i
be particularly expressed ,'''' eacI
company operating in the Ion be
invited to send a Representatives a'so
to the Homecoming meeting, WHO s!.AlI
enjoy all the right held by any other
delegate.
A convention so constituted, and
meeting from day to day, if needs be
until all differences are settled, coul'
not fail to be of lasting benefit to the
entire region. For the existing
iuncture, if successful, it would carry
weight which would bear down al
opposition, if, indeed, it did not en-
tirely remove it from legislation.
This proposal will be deemed BY
many as impracticable for variou
reasons. If so, the settlement o
questions which have long agitated
and divided the region against Itself
is equally iaapracticable by Legislation
or Otherwise. The cause Of The min
ers is ii their own hands and that o
the companies Is in theirs. 1t is vel
known the latter are ways on han,
to see to their intore.tz, and it be
hooves the former 10 be up and dom!
in the right way osd in the righ
spirit. To sit by now demardin.
weights, without agreeing hoD thei
coal is to be weighed, ia 10 surrende
their grievance to parpetuity, or worse
to larger license for robbery Of the
labor. It is to resign it to the blum
daring tinkering of many who do no
understand thei: expressions, becaus
4: is not sho,o'a By tie miners Memscrc
HOW they are to obtain their d"es.
In behalf of the A.legany COUNT
delegation to the Legislature this ar
ticle is preserved for future use in tn,
event that any "gory LOCKS" are. to b,
shaken at anybody. We intend, i