Frostburg mining journal., 1880-07-10
OUR CORRESPONDENCE.
LABOR ST,RIRES-1HEIR ORIGIN
AND REMEDY-A COMPRE.
HENSIVE REVIEW.
FRosTBURa, July 6, 1880.

FRosTBURa, July 6, 1880.
Mr. Editor Allow me through
the columns of the MINING JOURNAL,
which l know are always open in the
public's interest, to express my opin-
ion regarding the situation as I now
find it existing between our miners
and their employers. In the outset I
will state that what have to say is
only my own private opinion, and if
l stand with the minority, or as q
solitary individual, 1 claim the right
of an American citizen to express
that opinion boldly and freely as 1
may see fit or as the circumstances de-
mand. Belonging to no combination
or corporation, I have exercised that
right in all matters during my man.
hood and intend to do so regardless
of consequences.
In the first place, there has scarcely
been week this season since our
coal trade opened that troubles have
not arisen at some of our mines with
the drivers, by which the miners en-
ployed at those mines have been
thrown idle. As the public knows,
the drivers are an important and
necessary factor in the prosecution of
our coal business, and when they stop
work everything comes to a stand
still. The question is, then, what is
the cause of all this trouble with the
drivers?
In one case it was question of
wages amounting to two cents per
day, when at the same time the par
ties were getting the largest wages
paid in the county. But one hund-
red and fifty men lost one day and
halfs time through this trouble. In
another care | fin the boss miner dis
charging driver for what he con.
ceives a neglect of duty, or some
other misconduct. What is the re-
suit? The other drivers make COM
mon cause with the one discharged
and quit work until he is reinstated
in his employment, and thus set
themselves up as judges of their fell
low-drivers misconduct or neglect of
duty. The question then presents
itself to the public's mind-who is
the judge or boss in this matter?
Had the inside boss right to hire
this driver? If he had, his right to
discharge him cannot be disputed
right as sacred as Holy Writ and as
old as the everlasting hills. In the
case now pending at the Georges
Creek Coal and Iron company'a mines,
the facts of which l laid before the
readers in the last issue of the JOUR-
NAL, I find upon further inquiry that
the inside boss had no authority to
demand damages of the drivers for
broken cars. The Superintendent in
forms me that he never thought of
such thing. All he claims is the
right to dispense with the services of
any of his employees when in his
judgment their services do not suit
him. The miners deny having any
thing against this. Ask them, "why
are you idle ?" The answer is, "the
drivers are on strike and we have
nothing to do with it. But let me
state that the public does not believe
one word Of their statement. They
believe their actions sustain the driv-
ers in their demands. Had they gone,
or should still go, to the mine and ad-
wise them to return to their labor,
then the public would exactly know
where to place the responsibility. I
cannot believe that the miners of our
coal region are SO Indifferent to public
opinion as toput it at defiance. His
tory proves that it is not wise under
any circumstances for any class to put
itself in this position. "a decent re-
spect for the opinions of mankind"
has commended more than one public
movement to popular favor. They
have an example, indeed, of this in
their struggle last fall for fifty cents
per ton for mining. There is not a
we'll informed miner in either county
but knows that public opinion, mould.
ed and sustained by that fearless and
independent paper, the FRosTBURa
MINING JOURNAL, assisted them
through that contest and give them
the high moral standing they occupy
as class to-day. I repeat it-that
as class th9y cannot afford to be in
different to the great forerunner of
all reforms and revolutions, and the
sooner the miners of onr coal feld