Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-05-26
THE Big have stated their objectio

THE Big 4 have stated their objections
to the late lamented ventilation bill.
If they honestly believed that Sections Is,
90 and % ofthat bill should be amended why
did they not propose those amendments or
offer their objections in the early part Of the
session. and not wait until the last week of
the session when they knew that any amend
ment, no matter how trit1ing, would cause
the defeat of the bill ?-Lonaconing ReUieW.
Why was it, indeed, that all the
miners did not know and did not care
about the provisions Of the bill? ? We
will tell the RerieW. 1t was because
they were too busy digging coal at
80 cents per ton to bother themselves
about the enactment of needless reg
ulations,
But when the companies saw that
it was only the professional working
men who had time to agitate and
who wanted the bill--men who make
their livelihood out of coal digging
bv the sweat of their chins-the idea
struck them that they would pit four
honest, good, true diggers against the
non -diggers and see what effect that
would have upon the Legislature.
They selected the frst four they came
across, and in them they found bold,
outspoken, honest, honorable fellows
-"may their tribe increase who
''dared to do right!' Do you hear
that-men who "d0red to do rightY'
Stand up, ye cravens-you who af-
feet to deride these brave men, and
point to Il single act in your own
lives that emits spark Of courage in
either direction-right or wrong,
that is worth record in fadeless print.
We dare you to show it. Not an act,
we affirm-yet hear the authority
above quoted give vent to this wall:
They (The Big 4) We're aware that any
| amendment to the bill would kill it, and DC
matter what explanation they now offer, the
knowledge that they were largely instru
mental in defeating the bill will never be for
gotten by the miners of Georges Creek.
Beg pardon. They were aware OF
no such thing. There was plenty OF
time for the bill to pass, and the fact
that it reached the necessary tests in
House and Senate after amendment
is in proof. All it lacked was votes
enough on the last round.
The Revie,c's concluding prophecy
bears upon its face significator OF
partial fulfillment. The Big twill
never be forgotten" for wherever the
gospel of gallant performace of duty
is preached in this region shall this
deed which they have done be spoken
of in memorial of these intrepid men,
If it is not dead, the sckest thing
! in this realm of disease is the ventila.
ton bill. That is, if we may leave
out Of view the doctors under whose
auspices and care it went to the
Legislature. These we must never
overlook in any observation which
involves the i'll fated patient. But the
same sanguine consumptives talk O
the future with an assurance beftting
the final triumph Of better prop
osition. "All is vanity" however
saith the preacher. The measure
cannot become an entity, and the
Legislature should never again be
diverted thereby from its Legitimate
routine. Hence, the suggestion O.
Hawkesworth comes in here witt
singular force and propriety:
think that all quacks should be prohibited
from healing their incurable patients by ac
of parliament.