Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1882-04-15
MINING JOURNAL.
FRosTBuRG, MD, APRIL Is, 1882.

II
A VAST amount Of stuff is retailed
by the amateur press OF country
cities about the legal rights of en-
ployer and employed, just as though
everybody was as ignorant OF such
judicial lore Us the editors Themselves
are of equitable and noral rights.
employers and employed" occupy
all the srace within their range OF
vision. Not long ago preacher pre-
faced sermon upon the parable CT
the Prodigal Son somewhat as follows:
Tn commenting upon this topic vast
majority OF ministers will elaborate the
s,nfnl character of the son who wasted
Lis erbstance in riotous living, etc, and
ovtol his repentant return to the home
stood The aged father, re.snting his
oondempation of the prodigals conduct,
rooo,ves full attention. Even the fatted
oolf comes in for share of glorification.
shall not to-day follow their example.
7 shall attempt to tell you something OF
that mean, sordld, low, piratica. son, who
,,o;d at home and carried on the farm, etc.
Tn much the same style newspaper
readers are RECALLED upon the vices OF
the "partiea of the first part" and the
virtues of those of the second part,
but never word about the wonderful
"third party" who steps in, slmplifes
and settles all dificulties-the immac-
ulate blackleg-the modern traitor to
his class, yet the subject Of a SPECIAL
egis, and the pet prctese OF the State
This character deserves much more
notice that that given in the meagre
statement that "new labor, probably
Poles and Swedes, will certainly be
introduced, unless" etc. He is fac
tor too important to be ignored. de
is tho single, the exclusive, the abso-
lutte arbitrator of oapital-labor dis
mites. He is the only court, the
only iuryman in our system who can
legally constitute himself the benetl-
oiary of his own decreea. With all
this favor, all this power of command,
he appears TO be good for nothing
else than cutting Gcidian knots tied
in the progress Of labor troubles
The thief of somebody's employment,
he provides occasion for exile of life
long citizens, or submission to roign
of fcrce in land Of liberty.
This strain might go on to some
length. But we stop to ask if his IN
PRODUCTION here, as threatened, is re-
ally necessary? Is it proper? Is
it right ? Is it warrantcd by the sit
uation? If SO, is there ne escape2
Come, gentlemen operators, unbend
q little. Is it small matter to rev.
olutionize this population LIS the
conversion Of this region into a mill
tary camp a triaing adventure? Is
the saving Of, say twenty cents per
ton, full compensation to you for the
terrific loss of values and business to
the people here? Is the subjugation
Of this people an investment safe and
permanent as some fair, liberal course
which avoids that venture Enjoy
ing a giants power, is it manly to
usa it like a giant ? to exile those who
will not submit and crush those who
remain?
We are questioning in a realm out
side of legal rights and powers but
scarcely less pertinent. Are summa'
ny proceedings, however lawful as IN
dictated, approved by public policy
a principle which goes far toward the
enactment of law, and which never
iustifes its enforcement, to its OWE
detrimsnt? In short, gentlemen, will
it not lie far safer to giveyourse!ves the
"benefit of the doubt ?"
History has pilloried these who
have forced expatIiation for far great
er cause than exists here for a changed
population. Tt is still its high office
to record Cromwellian antics and
Napcleonic hazards. Indeed, it IL
part Of our own duty to chronicle
passing events, and to the extent Of
our ability we expect to place any
outrage upon the people before the
1ublic in its true significance.
THE Cumberland News tries its
land on q conundrum and fails: