Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1890-11-01
Whit MIGHT Have Hccn.

An ardent, intelligent republican,
| living on the creek, takes occasion to
say in letter renewing his subscrip-
| ton that he ''does not like the JOUR
NAILS attempt to show that Mr.. Nc
Comas' position on the tariff implies
unfrcndlincss to this region and this
people," He wants to know-''what
| Mr.. McComas could have done more
than he did to take care Of coal p
Our friend states the case perhaps IA
little too strongly. But let US see.
We have held that Mr.. McComas
claims more credit from these people
than he is entitled to. He says he
saved the tariff on coal at its present
ratc-7J cents per ton, and the jour
| NAL contends that that was not
enough. 1t insists that he should have
maintained the equality Of coal with
all other dutiable articles that were
enhanced in price by the new tariff
schedule, and that in failing TO do so
he Disseminated against this region.
He was actively in favor of measure
which undeniably raises the cost Of
living at least - per- cent, and content
to leave the purchasing ability of his
mining constituents just where it was.
In other words, the miners will pay
an average of Is per cent. more for
store goods and still dig coal for 80
cents per ton.
If they cannot pay the advanced
prices they will eat less and wear the
old clothes nearly two months longer
each year.
"What else could he have done ~
If he is the man of national prom
inence that he and his friends claim
if he could pass a pension bill over the
Presidents veto, and if he could
"break the record" in forcing stub
born House to pass an appropriation
bill, why could he not make this short
speech to his o,rn party, and stick to
it ,
Gentlemen, make the rate on coal equal to
the average on woolens, cottons, leather
everything, in fact, that miners consume,
orno NrHm1cy bill for my peopie!
Had he done so there would be no
Mckinley Act in force to-day! A
dozen other republicans at his side, in
similar boats, would have ranged
al, Il
leadership.
Had he done so, no power on earth
could have prevented his success here
or destroyed his prestige as a national
personality.
Had he done so, there would be
there could be no possible doubt of
the sincerity of his ELUSIVE friendship
fol the miners.
But, as one
Not made to rule,
But to subscrve where dict,m bears command,
He voted Il higher premium to inter
ests outside his district, already hand
somely bonused, at so much additional
working people.
SO that, if anybody wants to find
the real benefciaries of Mr.. McComas'
tariff labors in the current Congress,
they must go to the factories Of New
England, the iron works Of Pennsyl-
vania and the unborn makers of
American tin plate. If any of these
guilds are benefited in his own district
it is on a small scale, and whatever or
whoever they are, their fortune is the
corresponding misfortune Of the
miners and the other working men
who consume the favored goods.
1t is as certain, therefore, as the
night follows the day, that no man
can show how the miners gained any
thing in Mr. McComas' speeches and
votes in behalf of progressive tariff
votes which make coal conspicuous by
leaving it III the lurch.