Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1885-05-23

PERHAPS it is not possible of
achievement now, nevertheless Paul
wrote to the Philippians to edo all
things without murmurings and dis
outings" In that day, however, all
debates, agltations, lockouts and
strikes doubtless turned upon the
question a. to who was right re-
ligiously. Paul's advice was there
fore sound, because it implied dec
orous treatment of what seemed to
many a knotty problem.
The same issue is up to-day in
more material phases. 1t is not who
is right rsligiously, but who is right
politically, and especially who is
right in the great debate between
capital and labor-whether the form
er receives too much as a basis and
the latter too little as factor in the
development Of wealth. This Is the
open, burning question of the hour.
Paul's advice in this lower juno
turs is quite as pertinent as in the
higher. 1t argues peaceable, friend
ly methods; more than that, traternal
action in its most active and broad
est sense. "Do all things" said he.
Like the great problem which
doubtless disturbed the Phillippian
classes, the economic issues of this age
are Understandable by passion or war.
These but infame and sunder the
parties to the compact.
If any man tell us that strike or
suspension in this region ever settled
any issue involved We will answer that
the history Of this region in its en-
tirety is yet to be written. All adj
yances and reductions have been
temporary. From 1856 to 1866 the
price of mining fuctuated between
80 cents and 81 per ton; from 1865
to 1885 between 40 cents and rs
cents. Every change within these
figures was the result of a demand on
one side or the other and the out
come of quarrel. And still the rate
Of wages is said to be unsettled still
the operator cannot give stated
price and the miner cannot live upon
a lower.
We do not argue that q figure can
be fixed as the permanent wage for
digging coal, for the great purchas-
ing world outside has its troubles
also and it's say.
But we do mean to urge that an
open compact can be made whereby
wages can be raised or lessened as the
price Of our product varies in the
market.
We say can be, for there are per-
sons, diSlncline0 to do the square
thing, who will affectedly laugh at
the proposal as an absurdity. Yet il
he be an operator he will plead in
conference that the price of coal is
too low to justify an advance; or if a
miner he contends that the price is
higher than quoted and sufficient to
afford him larger share.
So that to ':this complexion it comes
at last. The selling price of coal
is the acknowledged ultimate basis,
both for claim and denial. ..
And there is selling price, real
and nominal. The latter, never low
er than the former, is always accessi-
BILE and may be safely taken as the basis
to figure upon. Here, with plain
addition, all other rates understood,
it will be easy for operator and miner,
both honest, to meet and determine
the value of the coal at the mouth Of
the mine and the share of each in
that value. This can be done with
out "murmurings and disputings."
Some such arrangement, once es-
tablished, will form u nucleus for
satisfactory adjustments of kindred
matters also III dispute, all of which
are indispensable to the permanent
peace and prosperity of the region.
Otherwise, we will grumble along,
vexed and ve1ing, from bad to worse
until the region will not be worth to
owner or resident It's area in sand.
Ell AAHDI of the Cumberland
Times some time ago had something
to say Of the coming campaign in
this county. The JOURNAL quite