The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1882-06-03
Life Among the Strikers.
Especial to the Americana

FRosTBURG, May 27.-There are
many features of life among the
strikers, which are developed day by
day to the stranger in the region, not
the least interesting of which are the
numerous incidents tending to illus
trate the vast power and influence
which the knights of Labor WELD
oyer the community at large. This
subject furnishes an almost inexhaus-
] tible fund of variety; and. after weeks
of careful study in all its phases, one
only arrives at the conclusion that
the knowledge of the true inward
ness ofthe order possessed by those
outside of the mystic circle is de-
cidedly meagre, and far from salts
factory. Each town in this valley
has its assembly" of Knights, who,
1t is no exaggeration to say. represent
the law and order, as well as the re-
verse, features of the mining life.
This body regards the morally feeble
and numerically weak constables, in
whose persons are concentrated the
majesty of the law" popularity sup
posed to bespread all over the valley,
with an indifference that is simply
sublimely beautiful. Here in Frost
burg, for instance, the assembly, to
all intents and purposes, yields an
authority derived no one seems to
know or care where, beside which
that of the City Council is dimly in.
significant. The latter are nearly all
members of the knights of Labor,
and consequently controlled by that
body and even should they pass an
obnoxious ordinance, it could never
be enforced without the sanction of
the allpowerful organization.
1t is but just to say that this ascen.
dancy of the knightly rulers has not
been gained by deeds of violence, but
simply by a species of threats, which,
if enforced, would strike a crushing
blow at the most vulnerable spot in
human nature, viz; the victims
pocket. An occurrence here a few
days ago will serve to illustrate. The
various clerks in the stores of the
town inaugurated an "early closing"
movement for the summer, and en-
deavOred to obtain the consent of the
proprietors of the stores to close up
every evening at 1880 O'Clock. Now,
many will agree with the clerks in
their belief that this is as late as they
should be expected to remain on
duty, but that question does not enter
into the point under consideration.
The prOprietOrs refused to comply
with the request, and everybody
thought the agitation was at an end.
The clerks, however, were wise in
their generation, and nearly all of
them being knights of Labor, the
matter was brought before the local
assembly. The result was seen in the
appearance shortly afterwards of mys
FERROUS hand-bills posted all over the
town ordering the prOprietors to close
their stores at 1880 P. M, and release
the clerks from duty, or the IN
designed would never deal with
them again. The circular was signed
"Knights of Labor" On the very
night that circular appeared every
store in the town, with three excep
tons, was closed at 1880 o'clock and
since then one of the trio has sue
cumed, leaving only two stOre-keep-
ers who have the nerve to control
their own business. Sitting on the
front porch of the hotel to night my
attention was called to a remarkable
spectacle.
I Far up the street the sound of a
bell was heard gradually growing
nearer, and 1 discovered a boy about
fourteen years old coming down the
street ringing the bell loudly, and
occasionally stopping to cry in shrill
voice, "Half past seven close up"
Instantly old men and Young were to
be seen hurrying from the stores and
commenced putting up shutters and
screens, and it was evident that every
body was shutting up in response to
the mandate of the knights of Labor.
AS the ragged, barefoOted, little en-
issary of the knights passed down
the streets light after light disappear
ed. and In ten minutes there was not
a store open in Frostburg, save the
two honorable executions before men,
toned. Yet. the stOre-keepers of this
town, as a class, are well'educated,
courageous and good business men.
Imagine boy passing down Balti-
more street and ordering the stores
to close at an hour desired by the
clerks and. even more improbable,
imagine the proprietors yielding Obe'
dience to an authority which asserts
itself only in anonymous, printed
orders,