Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1888-05-26

is aware only of the fact that if it
happened in the Legislature, he en-
joyed remedy; if afterward he as
serted an independence Of work
which he cannot maintain he should
not growl. If the companies ever
told HIM to ''paddle his own canoe" ="
it Is his own fault If he has to nav
lgate his sea Of trouble in scuttled
boat.
10 all the right-thinking, honest
miners the statement of The Big 4
is entirely satisfactory.
For that large class it was design
ed in order that all possible miscon-
ceptiOn Of motives or conduct might
be dissipated.
Saving the reference contained in
Its conclusion no portion of the state
ment was designed as Il recognition of
the malcontent minority even as Il
factor III the business worth consider
ing.
Nor was such an object desirable.
The Big 4 did not then and do moi
now aspire to win applause from the
tai-ends Of our industry. They do
not want their approval. even in its
mildest form, and, if necessary.
would beg the disgruntled to bestow
the light of their countenances and
shed their smiles of favor on SOME
body who can stand up under the
blight and live void of offence to
good morals and common sense.
The situation is satisfactory. The
skies are bright and Frightening.
The price of l-diggin 9 is so cents
per ton, and the JOURNALS charge
for aid i'll maintaining that rate is
$l.5O per- a'lHun.
Could we be happier under Il min
ing law which would stand as a rock
df offence between miner and oper-
ator Whose benefits, If any, would
have to be waived by the miners in
large measure in order to carry on
business ?
No, a thousand times no.
IF the companies want to maintain
the peace and prosperity Of this re-
gion they should also go into the
mining bill business. The Knights
of Labor have long enough enjoyed a
monopoly Of proposing radical alter
ations in the current system of under
ground operations they have long
enough assumed to themselves the
panoply of right founded on nebulous
grievances, harassed the trade ben-
nially at the vital moment-the con-
u dCb pei lOu vi luc otdSOu. L nelT
complaint is loud and deep that the
present law is imperative because it
lacks penalties, and they grow very
virtuous and indignant over such a
fatal lapse of statutory integrity.
But there is another sid to this
subject, and the companies know it.
In their own interest, in the interest
of the vast majority of the men of
the region-those who are good and
true, and even in the interest of the
Knights of Labor-who know not
what they want, or, like the murder
ers of Stephen, "know not what they
do"-in the universal interest let the
companies formulate bill to offset
the so-called ventilation bill, "late of
Allegany county, deceased" but
which, it is understood, is to be revived
again. In the matter of penalties
let them make 1t fair and impartial
bill-a sword with two edges-which
will cut, as Pompey said, "a gwine
and a-comin." If there must be
penalties on one side, there should
be just as many on the other, and the
"wilful negligence" of "a miner ought
to be as easy of proof as that of com
pauy. "What is sauce for the goose
is sauce for the gander," or should be.
Now gentlemen, of the Noble
Order of N. A., it will be very funny
if the JOURNAL does not keep up
with the N. o. of North America.