Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1881-03-19

tons. So much for the system that
employs all hands with less hours of
labor against the old theory of more
cars and less men.
Now, Mr.. digger" this is the
practical working of the two systems;
which of them will an intelligent
miner adopt to better his condition?
But let me pursue your theory
little further and see where it will
lead in the end. Now, suppose that
one Thousand of the miners in this
region were to be discharged, thus
giving the other two thousand all the
cars that they could load night and
day if they wanted to work. What
would be the result? The one thous.
and discharged men have stomachs
depending on their labor for support,
and the laws of nature have decreed
that those stomachs must be fed, and
to enable them to fulfill their duties to
their offspring What are they to doun-
der the circumstances II they steal
they will go to the penitentiary and to
save their own lives and those of their
families they offer to mine coal at less
price per ton: The employers let the
two thousand know that are working
that the one thousand that were dis
charged has offered to mine coal at
that reduced figure. The answer in
ninety nine cases out of hundred is,
well, if they can do it we can, and
the price Of mining is reduced next
day. 1t is flashed over the wires
that the price of mining is reduced
on Georges Creek the operators Of
the other bituminous coal regions in
form their men that they cannot
compete in the market unless they
mine coal at a reduced rate. The
miners strike; the labor market is
full of hungry stomachs that need
employment the thousand discharged
from the Maryland coal field swells
the number; hunger compels them
at last to accept the employers terms.
Who is responsible for this state of
affairs? No one else than the advo-
Gates of the more cars and less men
theory, that are to be found in every
coal region in the country. Can they
deny it? I defy them. Your system
has filled the labor market with bet
ter men than yourselves, and, more
over, you have the impertinence to
call those men that your system de-
prived of living blacklegq, because
they and their families will not lay
down and die so that you may get
more work. If one Of you should
ever apply the epithet to me under
such circumstances / would advise
you to settle your accounts.
The true policy is to reduce the
hours of labor; then every man will
be employed at fair wages.
digger" asks how it is to be done?
By less cars and more Fay. A mi
ner's capital stock consists of his
brains, bone and muscle; he does not
live upon the interest of it every
stroke of the pick and every blow
with the sledge is diminishing the
capital stock. What is the reason
you find large number Of miners at
the age of fifty unable to work ?
Simply because they struck too many
strokes and blows with the pick and
sledge; in other words, they drew
too heavy upon their capital stock.
This is the whole truth in nutshell.
1t is the grand mistake that miners
as a class have made and they never
will better their condition as long as
they practice it.
I have heard great deal of talk
amongst miners about the evils Of
monopoly now, what is a yonng,
strong, robust miner, that does the
work Of two men, when his neighbor
is going idle, but a monopolist to the
extent Of his physical power !?
Brother miners, if we ever intend
to work out our own salvation we
must work less and get more pay
when every man is employed there
will be no striking, and then the bat
tie is won; but nothing short Of
unity Of action will secure it.
The watchword now is competition.
What is competition from the point
of view of tho workman? In the
language of well-known political
economist, ut is labor put up at auc-
ton"
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