Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-01-22
sEVI-MONTHLY PAYMENTS.

quest tor semi monlhly payments, or |
viii the operators treat it with silent
contempt?
think if it We're possible TO free
the discussion OF the questions grow
ing out of the relations of labor and
capital from tie distracting elements
Of passion, prejudice, and unrea ity
hat are made to veil it and seek
solution through an Impartial inves-
tigation and exposition of the truth,
much that now seems dark would be
made clear, and evils many hold to be
without remedy would be found capa-
Bile Of easy adjustment. Those oh.
stacles, however, will always exist to
retard human progress; at any rate,
so long as the contest betwee1 cb-
strsct right and the might OF the strong
arm continues, or unit! mankind reach
hat perfection of neral growth in
which, as individuals, communities
and nations, they will recognize prac-
tically, as they row do only theoret-
lcally-the wisdom Of doing unto
others as they would that others
should do unto them" Until that
time the contest mus continue, and
there aIe AID will be the useful, bene-
icent workers who, in the face Of
such obstacle, seek 10 keep so much
Of the truth befcr re the people az will
prevent letrogrea sion, and secure at
least some measure Of progress.
We admit there has been some
progress in the last year. There was
not one unjust demand made to this
we attribute cut success in removing
some Of the tyrannes that were OPP
pressing Us so much. There is much
to be done yet if the workers would
not faint by the way.
| would draw attention again to
the vt%aticus su! ject that seems to
agitate he minds Of the thinking men
Of this county. I mean the semi
monthly pay subject. | hope the op-
orators of the Georges Creek coal field
will consider that the necessities Of
their employees at this time demand
that their request should be granted,
for he following god reas, rs
]. 1t will almost, if not quite, do
away with the attachment evil, for
whore is the official that wants to be
running somewhere making oath to
cow much a man has earned. Semi
monthly pays would do away with it.
2 TIE change would do away with
tie necessity Of paying tao debts of
those that contract them with the in-
tontion never to pay; hence those who
arc compelled to deal on the long
credit system have to make NJ the
deficiencies, OF the store keeper would
have to close his doors.
8. We verify believe that the de-
sired change v ould enable us TO give,
as the better impulse5 Of our hcart'
would dictate, Of on means o chart
table purposes that come before us,
and do aw with the syste..l Of can
wasting tn ough The mines ana shops
in our midst, even for the very paper
III t is to cn.ighten ug and make our
lives worth living for.
Furthermore, we jadge that semi
monthly pays would keep the family
treasury supplied, aud think tile
cash in the use Of good wife is
about the Eest inyestiEent a poor man
can mike. She can mike cash 90
lne-thiid further than credit. Fierce
comp tition in town stores compela
the most and best to be sold fer tho
least but the long credit system will
continue to pluck twenty-five per
cent. more for every hing, though
there be thousand stores around
selling for twenty-five per cent. less.
The elias! es Of trade have no effect on
the credit store The workman must
stand the fleeing; he oanrot help
himself he has no money 10 20 else
whore.
Enterprise also favors SD. Many
articles of food come TO the door at
twenty-five per ceat less, hut the cap
tive al the credit sore is helpless
hence, the fa,me has to tl9de at the
store, and the storekearer fa2cas both
the miner and The aaer.
Nov suppose nay has c-mo semi.
monthly; the god wife will have gone
to town; she will have been at the sale
and brought home ten dollars worth
Of things ior five. Five dollars saved
/ for home Tor the family, and five dol
las worth Of lator saved to ligEten
the workingman's tolls. Then lit
Tia cash 1t home makes the cid man
feel Independent cheer glows on the
face Of mother vixen che IS conscious
Of a little cash slowed away in some
corner ready lor the chances of to-day
or the runs Of tomorrow. But when
the credit store system runs the purse
strings Of home, the old folks are
gloomy many a little com ort is DC
MED and the aspirations Of youth are
chilled and blasted by the poverty and
dependence that the credit stores have
slowly brought on the families Of he
poor.
These are few of the reasons why
this county demands semi-monthly
pays. We would like to hear those,
if any, why we should net have th-m.
! WATCHMAN.