Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-05-27
MINING JOURNAL
FRosTBURG, MD, MAY 20, 1882.

Consolida ion coal company, sent 10,
several mineIG to meet him in Cum
land. Here, it is presumed, the re
suit of the Baltimore convention wa
given out, as the miners were infol m
ed that unless advised by the Got
yesterday that they would early re
sumo work on the companies terms
the Consolidation, sustained by al
the other comp anies, would soon az
possible import lew men. To this
end, it is stated, preparations aIt
making for providing Accommodation
for the new-com ers.
1t is generally believed by exFor
fenced miners that this will be cost.
ly step both for the companies and
men; that the character of our Goa
and everything strata requires a degree
of skillful woIA ST fiji, lent to save the
coal and protect themselves, and
which novices will be long time &C
quiring. This is DOUBTLESS true.
A more important matter, invcly-
ing a question of political propriety,
arises in this connection. 1t is also
proposed, we understand, to call il
the civil power to protect the new
men, although nothing, so far as we
have heard, has been said which i'm
plies peril to their safety or to good
order in this region. We do not think
any violent interference with the pro-
posed immigrants is either contem-
plated or thought Of. Nor have the
companies any reason to fear such
action. Notwithstanding, they will
doubtless avail themselves of a sum
mary Act of the Legislature Of 1880;
the governor will execute it, and this
region will be placed practically un-
der civil duress.
The law is with them. The State
presumably the protector Of its citi'
zens, is engaged to become accessory
to scheme which takes from class
of its people their livelihood and con-
fers the rewards due to residence up
on floating foreigners. The law and
the power OF enforcement admitted.
the question becomes debatabls only
in its moral aspects.
Is it right for the State to loan its
power to force bargain upon its citi-
zens, however unwilling? 1t is no
answer to say that 1t has been done
elsewhere. Were we to admit even
that the miners are wrong, officially
speaking, it would still be no answer
to say that wrong must be met by
wrong. The system OF govern ment
is republican or democratic, as our
friends may choose, but where is there
sentiment in our theoretical ecoao-
my which justife3 discrimination by
the State against class Of It's citizens;
which endorses the use of It's force
against them, even under the guise of
preserving the public peace? For,
say what you will. The whole Issue
boiled down is this: The companies
want tie miners to work aY50 cents;
the miners decline, wanting TO resug1e
at 65. 1t ia a simple case Of ina3ity
to bargain what third party, thsn,
has title TO step in and directly or
indirectly force a bargain If such
party exists and possesses such privil-
lege, why may it not he applied to
making the companies pqP65 cents ?
1t seems poor rule that doesn't work
both ways. Nevertheless, it works
only one way. Why? Now We come
back where We started awhile ago.
The question is not one Of morals, but
Of law, and tho law is all on the
other side.
The introduction Of new labor will
be a most unfortunate exredient IN
every conceivable view Of tile case.
Employment is given 10 unworthy
people old and lifelong citizens ars
thus despoiled, and the gloomy chapter
goes on. Is it too much to hope that
some way Of ESCAPE from an endless
train of calamities may yet be found
A PARAGRAPH elsewhere shows the
progress making in this country TO-
ward an absolute despotism Of capital.
The new penal code Of the greatest
State wipes out the right of peaceable
assembly, right as old as the
Declaration Of Independerce--and
re-eQtablishes system Of white
slavery little better than that des'
trOyed by the late war.
Tho overreaching greed for money
,ettin1 aidol frsouantly nv 10 hop in