Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1886-12-04

DltumiDOuS coal uhS given rise 10 some
quiet discussion among miners of Sc
curing through the proposed combina-
tion an increase of wages to so cents
per ton.
So far as the matter has reached
the hare has been cooked before
caught. The pool is not yet formed,
and when it is consummated some
time must elapse before its power can
be measured, or its stability assured.
Hence, any talk of advanced wages
on that basis is premature, if not very
inj.dicious. 1t will tend to weaken
when even q passive policy would
strengthen. The companies are scatter,
ed along the outposts of trade, near the
lines of "our friends, the enemy"-the
consumers. The latter, naturally a
unit for the lowest prices, must be met,
in skirmish and general engagement
alike, with an alignment equally i'm
movable and nnbreakable. Other
wise. the TO, mer must fail /; in fact, a
single broken link will destroy the
chain Of defense. Add to this disaster
a war in the rear and defeat is doubly
accomplished.
Another thing. When the success
of the pool arrangement is assured
great care should be taken to invest
demands" for an advance of wages
with the proper tone. The JOURNAL
is free to say it would not in this con-
nection employ the word, demand"
at all, or any of its synonyms. Fifty
cents a ton, desirable and needful as
it is, does not occupy the standpoint
of debt. On the other hand, it is
not gratuity to be begged or given.
1t is something between these--some-
thing resting on the ability OF the en-
ployers. Hence, a cable dispatch of
Tuesday reads:
Mr.. John Bright, writing with reference to
the removal of Nottingham lace machinery
to districts where wages are lower, expressed
the hope that workmen will soon discover
that il Is not their true interest to demand
higher wages than trade can Fay.
There may be yet a better word, but
the best We can think of now is ire
quest" This presumes equality be-
tween the parties, as does also its
response, compliance" or denial"
1t would appear to be well, there
fore, that we bide the issue of the
current effort to consolidate forces
against the consumers before asking
for what we ought to have. The fight
the companies are making is partly
ours, aud it deserves to win. Then
we may with propriety ask for di-
vision of the spoils and, as Otway
says, ''torture them with softness"
until, to get rid of us, they will have
to pour whole loads of the red-hot
embers of kindness on our heads.
THE answer of the State Public
School Association touching the es-
tablishment of mining schools in this
county appears to be both conclusive
and indefinite. The order to establish
such schools hinges upon the presence
of surplus of $1,000, or levy of that
sum by the county commissioners for
that purpose. When, therefore, will
there be surplus of $1,000, or when
will the commissioners levy that sum
By the way. it strikes this paper that
the school commissioners should ex.
hibit in their annual statements the
financial condition Of the board-in
other words, a table of assets and
liabilities, so that the people may
learn in an official manner how much
they are in debt. We hear from time
to time vague statements of the fact
that the school board is in debt in
deed this is a reason which is said to
embarass the board in its solution of
the mining school problem. Had such
exhibit been made in definite terms in
the last statement it is possible the
agitation at Homecoming would not
have taken shape.
And this brings us to observe that
fault has been found with the gov
ernor for vetoing the Holle bill be-
cause, as class legislation, it was un-
constitutional. That bill contem-
plated taking the burden of such
schools from the county and laying il
upon the broader shoulders of the
State. The executive objection was
probably we'll founded, but it held as
we'll against the bill signed by Gov.
McLane. And it holds against n
hundred other laws that exist and are
enforced every day.
Still the board cannot we'll establish
a mining school at Homecoming, and
let Barton, Frostburg, etc.. go without.
Homecoming is very good place we
don't know that a prophet was ever
stoned there or anyone killed who had
been sent to rebuke the town for its
wickedness, or warn it of danger, hut
it has no more need of a mining school
than Pompey Smash.