Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-08-08
MINING JOURNAL.
ROSTBURG MD, AUGUST 8, 1891.
The Walking Delegate.

The JOURNAL mas frequently re-
ferred to this itinerant apostle of
counterfeit labor reform in terms
which have brought out circumstances
from friends as extravagant and
severe.
But we have better known our man
than have those who think our pie
lures of his mission in life are over
drawn, and we will prove it by an in
stance detailed in the New York SIN of
July %.
The following account explains the
paradisiac situation in Tennessee be-
fore the serpent entered:
heard to-day bit of the history of this
disturbance, which is fine study in labor
agitation As has been said, these miners
and their families, being so far from civil
ization, have peculiar and simple manners,
tastes, and habits. They have made good
wages in the Mines and have been able to
earn enough to spend some part of their time
in idleness. This trait of character is most
exasperating to energetic men who want
their employees to work all the time, and
cannot understand content with ease and
small earnings. The miners have never
changed their habits, perhaps because there
is no chance to spend much money. Their
relations with their employers were pleasant
and seldom rutfled.
Now note the change which came
over the spirit of this dream of
Arcadia :"
A year ago last January there came from
the mining camps of Pennsylvania miner
who was idle, so far as productive labor was
concerned, but who was most industrious in
running about stirring up discontents and
strikes. He told these miners that as they
were entitled to a check weighman under the
law they ought to have one.
The miners at first said they did not want
check weighman, as they felt sure their EN-
ployers did not cheat them but when the
stranger had talked about rights and that sort
of thing a good while he prevailed upon the
simple drinkers of corn whisky. They de-
manded a check weighman, and when the
company granted it they appointed Mr..
Agitator the weigher. He thus made 81 a
day from the pockets of the miners, and
did nothing but set the scales and watch the
coal weighed.
Mr.. Agitator was Il bitter enemy of capital,
He raved and cursed against it. He played
malicious tricks. He interfered with the
work. He filled the heads of the miners with
insane ideas and made them feel that their
employers were their bitter enemies. When
he broke some OF the machinery wantonly the
company gave the miners the alternative of
bouncing Mr.. Agitator or of seeing the mines
closed The miners stuck to their friend, the
newcomer, and the mines closed. Then came
the unfortunate agreement which the en-
ployers wanted the miners to sign. They
refused because the agreement was really
hard and unjust Then the convicts were
employed and the fight was on.
The JOURNAL has elsewhere shown
how a lying notion of the injury to
honest labor inflicted by the convict
lease system has brought the sovereign
State of Tennessee to knuckle to
class, and very small class of its
citizenship.
Fortunately, there Is time yet for
the thougntful people OF the state 10
get their second breath there is time
yet for them to see ere the Legislature
meets that the interest of the walking
delegate and the convict are well nigh
one and the same.
But, readers, think of a Pennsyl-
vanian going into Tennessee and
creating a rumpus which threatened
bloodshed and has so far terminated
in abasing the State and making it
the laughing-stock of the country
Give him and his latest row an al-over
view and you will haye fair picture
of tramp that would be tolerated no.
where but in America