Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-07-08

uuoeI enILo meow " noeihb enao v"
are the officer Of registration.
Very respectfully yours,
DAVID w. SLOAN.
The States Attorney for Allegany
county.
Tho Knights of LaJOr-Another
Defence from "Atbion."
The closing remarks Of "a Friend
Of the Miners" in the supplement
of The Sun of June &c. seeking to
disparsge the Knights of Labor by
showing up the misconduct of the
Ancient Order of Hibernians prove
at least the irrolsvancy Of his state
ments when it is known that the
Knights of Labor are distinct and
separate from and have not been
occasioned by either the Ancient
Order Of Hibernians or the Miners
and Laborers' Benevolent Associa-
ton. Then what have the actions
Of the one or both of these, bad or
good az they may have been, to do
with the knights of Labor, OF what
have the knights of Labor to do with
them ? All loyal citizens have given
their verdict with righteous indigna-
ton against the outlawry of the Mol
lie Maguires wherever it existed.
But why brand the knights of Labor
as an evil because the two said or
sanizations have had bad men among
them? Many secret organizations
have proved to be of great benefit.
The knights of Labor, but child
in years, growing to giant proportions,
has proved itself a necessary good.
1t is certainly not wise to brand the
organization as evil, and nothing but
evil when THERE'S no evidence of such
evil. y
The Knights Of Labor are increas-
ing in numbers and respectability-
"a popular educator and public
opinion, like the flowing spring
tide, is rising in its favor. Canute
proved no more his folly command
ing the waves to retire than do the
companies in fighting against fate
dcmandinga dissolution ofthe Knights
of Labor.
The companies think now they have
just cause for attempting to break up
the knights Of Labor. The organi-
cation thinks otherwise. Who shall
Judge? Public opinion favors the
right of organization. There is no
proof that as an order they favor ras
cality, or that they will hold to men
who damage the companies property.
In what way "the Knights of La
Dor are dopriving to-day the miners
in the Cumberland region from going
to work at so cents per ton" the pub
lie would DO glad to know. Certain
ly there has been no violence offered
to the newcomers. The police would
be able to protsct any old hands who
desired to work as well as the new.
1t there has been any threat on any
one it has not been made public.
"a Friend to the Miner" in his
last letter, states that "it affords me
pleasure to notice that the miners
during the present contest in the
Cumberland region have thus far
acted in quiet and orderly way.
The miners have right to work for
what wages they please" and who is
hindering them I? Is it not because
"they please not to work fcr so
cents per ton that they are not work
ing2 If "they please" they can 90
to work. The knights Of Labor do
not prevent them. They are freemen,
among free people, in free coun-
try. Fifty cents PER ton and five tons
per day will not make SIS rer day,
and five tons per man is declared 10
be enough by the men who know.
Az to the Knights Of Labor "wring-
ing out" Of the operators prices for
mining coal which will not Justify
them to pay on account of the low
price, &c., has it not been evident
that it is not the price alone that the
miners are fighting for2 It is against
the twelve hours and its curses. 1t
is for their union that the companies
have threatened to break up. Price
is the secondary consideration. They
feel they cannot live by money alone.
They need daylight-time to read
the papers and general literature,
and for free speech on mining topics
as well as religious and political.