Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-10-07

Of those who have by their industry
and frugality established for them
selves home that perhaps would
not have been done they kaown that
they would have no protection by
the law Of their rights and property
were to be set aside as valuslsss or
az not to come within the understand
ing of our institution of protection
to all through the power of making
laws and having them Justly carried
out
believe there ar laws existing
in the statutes of Maryland at the
present time for the security of the
miner when in the mines and an In
spector to visit the mines at least once
a month. I lsarn that this i, not done
| and l also learn that it makes no diff.
ference as to what danger the miner
is placed in he has Chat is, according
to the operators autocracy) no right
to make any complaint. and if he,
from his experience at mining, should
presume to know that his life was in
danger and should refuse to remain
at work or to go to work in q danger.
Gus place, he can make up his mind
that discharge is his only altsrna.
tive and that too upon the terms of
not getting "tickst of leave" that
he may get employment in other
mines. Some may think this is hight.
as is often the case, that without both
sides Of a question many there are
that can find argument to justify all
their transactions of whatever nature
when adding to their accumulstions
irrespective of the rights of others.
1t is right that employers have the
right to employ su ch as they may
prefer, but is there any statute or
other law that allows Of their conspi-
ring together for the purpose Of de.
priving such persons as wish to have
the rights the laws give them of a
means of earning livelihood by an
agreement to not allow them work
in any one of their employment? 1t
may be said that these psrsscutsd
people yet have the laws for their
protection. They may have, but it
is my opinion that the laws afford no
protection. If any person in the en-
ploymsnt Of the combination should
appear as q witness he will have to
take the same dose.
1t is claimed by the operators. as l
learn, that any fault found with the
workings of union by the miners
that deprive them Of their just dues.
or makes their occupation more dan.
gerous or disagresable, is taking from
the companies their right of conduct
ing their business to suit Themselves.
This may be all very true and every
man should have right to conduct
his business to suit himself, but when
it interfsrss with the right of another
to conduct his business in like man
ner then naturally comes the ques-
ton as to which is of the greatest i'm.
portancs, and a. property cannot re-
place life we must conclude that life
is Of the most value, and, consequent
ly, if the miners interference in the
operators manner Of conducting his
property, the mine, for the protection
of life, the interference must be jus
tifabls and any attempt to the con.
trary should be denounced as regard.
less Of the public good. I lsara as
an example Of the manner that the
operators have been conducting their
business and NJ an effect of not allow
ing the miners to raise their voice
against evils, that in the short season
of tho run Of the mines fince work
was resumsd that there have been
over twenty persons injured by acct
dsnts more or less serious, one at
Homecoming resulting in death and
that told after there had bsen objec-
lions raised to the employ ment of an
incompetent driver. The people out
of danger must have control of mems
lives as we'll as their property
and the press of this district seeming
ly dare not tell tie whole truth.
Then, again, I have heard a great
deal of talk about certain job that
has got to be done at Phoenix mine.
There is some roof coal that the oper-
ators want taken out. 1t is usually
considered a good job to take out this
coal when the danger is not great,
but in the case of the Phoenix mine
tba ro;naro aov IL almn.t fakino q