Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-06-03
A VERACI0US REPORTER.
M. Stanley Fletcher Revie,ced.

Two weeks ago the JoUHhAL pun
lished an article ridiculing the
achievements Of the city reporter in
gathering and publishing news con-
corning our labor trouble. Reaching
the eye of Mr.. Stanley Fletcher, cor
respondent of the Baltimore Amert-
can, etc., his soul revolted as one who
felt that the apsis and plersss of the
reportorial circle were to be found in
his own brilliant constitution. Had
ho been personally and particularly
assailed his indignation could not
have been more thoroughly aroused,
or his egotism more deeply wounded.
He fastened to vindicate himself, and
at this writing pursu.s UNIV eariedly
the apparently difficult task.
The first letter of this tour appear
ed Saturday, May 81, containing
long rigmarole of possible and impos-
sible sensations, the most promi- emf
being the following:
The men believe that several of their
number are in the pay of tue companies
and furnish the latter with information of
all tn ir plans. In view of the fact hat
the companies have always been thorough
ly posted this theory Of the mIners is not
at all irrational. A few days ago they be-
came susi icious of printer employed on
the MINING JOURNAL at Frostburg, ana
finally committee waited on Mr.. j. B.
Oder, the proprietor, and demanded the
discharge of the man, claiming that he
was spy for the company 1t is signifi-
cant, as showing the influence of the min
ers in this region, that their request was
at once complied with.
There is hut shadow Of foundation
for this statement. Some umbrage
had been taken by a number Of min
ers at one of our employees. A friend
gave US the information as learned by
him from street talk and expressed the
fear that it might eliminate in formal
request for his discharge. While dis.
approving the indiscretions complain
ed of, we determined to await events.
So far, we are glad to say, no "com-
mittee" has waited upon US.
In Sundays issue Of the american
Mr.. Fletcher attempts a correction,
but the last state Of his canard is
worse than the first:
In making the statement in to-day's
american that Mr.. ]. B. Oier, the proprie-
tor of the MINING JOURNAL at this place,
had discharged printer in his office on
the demand of the Knights of Labor,
your correspondent was mislcd by com
mon rumor and did Mr. Oder injustice.
When the Knights of Labor demanded
the discharge of the party Mr.. Oder re-
fused to do so, but subsequently the print
er referred to rendered his resignation.
The man ID still in the employ of the
JOURNAL, and may not leave for several
days. The report that he was discharged
was occasioned by the fact becoming
known that he was going to leave, which
taken in connection with the knights of
Labor's demand, naturally led to the be.
lief that his retirement was compulsory.
The reasons for the persecution of the
printer by the knights of Labor, l learn
from good authority, are that on the night
OF last Thanksgiving Day he witnessed
fight On train of the Cumberland and
Pennsylvania railroad company, in which
a number Of Barton miners, members oil
the order, were concerned. He subse.
quenty appeared AGAINST them as a wit.
ness Nhen no one else cou d be found TO
brave The wrath of the order, and on his
testimony the risters were convicted and
sentenced.
In the first place, according to Mr..
Fletcher. our employee became odious
because "he was spy for the com
panies." In the second, because he
was q witness in the trial Of brawl.
Mr.. Fletcher's authority, common
rumor," is frequently guilty of dis
crepancies. Common rumor" eau
easily introduce a gentleman as I
"spy" in the ranks Of the knights Of
Labor who does not belong to that
Order. The old jade is just mean
enough, too, to fool city reporter
into stating that 1.-THE printer rendered
las resignation" Printers die, In
fact one occasionally commits suicide,
but they never indulge in an expedi-
ent at once 80 heightened and fatal as
rendering resignation" Two
really did once emigrate from this
ofice-one with the editors coat and
the other with his boots-but to this
day neither has rendered his resig-
nation r As the matter stands, any
Of our employees may cease work
without red-tape proceedings.
In the same Issue Mr.. Fletcher
illustrates" the "power Of the
Knights of Labor" as follows
The yorious clerks in fhe stores ,f The