Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-06-20
GENERAL ITEMS.
Unions and BOYcOttS.


over the country are having a
very serious effect upon the pros
perity of every interest that requires
capital and labor. Capitalists will not
invest where they cannot control
Organized labor has some things to
learn. First to interfere with
any mans liberty and privileges. Sec
ond-drop the boycott. for it smells
of rot and anarchism. Th~d-the
walking-delegate, the arch-chief of
strife, contention, dissatisfaction, the
enemy of women and children; he is a
bird of ill-omen; his croakings are
forebodings of distress; he is spread
headed viper, fork-tongued andpoison,
ing to society.
All the labor organizations should
adopt the plan of arbitration, unlock
the doors of their halls, let out the
herds of mystic goats and butting-
rams and let in the merchant, bank
ers and fully discuss in open court all
questions of interest to both labor and
capital decisions made behind sealed
doors, and under the bonds of secret
grips and signs are vicious.
Workmen should adopt a platform
large enough to take in every interest :;
make it up of such principles that
every man, rich and poor, capitalist
and laborer will stand side by side
and work for the good of our COM
mon country. Whenever boycotting
principles are no more, the idea 81
won't and you shall not" and the
freedom of each individual to work
for whom he pleases with molestation,
then the great majority will take sides
with right and justice in all questions
pertaining to labor and capital. Re-
member that times are always good
when capitalists are controlling their
own enterprises and are making good
margins. Mill owners must make
money or they cannot pay their en-
ployees. If railroading is not profit
able then one of our great industries
is at stand still. 1t takes large
means to accomplish great ends.
The country is large, opportunities
are many. but not enough to make
Vanderbiits IN every household. Let
the corporations make money out Of
their investments, for the more they
make the better chance there is for
labor to get paid. Go to-day to the
coal fields of western Maryland, where
the walking delegate has lost his job,
and you will find the most prosperous
mining region in this country men
and bosses have no grievances every
body is happy plenty of work good
pay and no contention. They bought
their experience about eight years ago
at price they can never forget. The
knights of Labor at that time con-
troled the district. Whenever their
leaders and walking delee ates would
be seen in the little towns holding
consultations, the result was strike,
boycott, rule or ruin, and at the end of
six months it was clear case of ruin.
The business men and many miners
knew that striking and boycotting
only bring disaster to the region, but
dared not express an opinion in op-
position to the Knights of Labor.
When the ST. ike was broken thousands
had been lost in wages and property
valuations had decreased seventy-fve
to eighty per cent. Women and child
rem had suffered for bread, merchants
were bankrupt, distress was visible on
every hand and in all such cases the
innocent had suffered while the leaders
and walking delegates were fed at the
best hotels. The FRoSTBURG MINING
JOURNAL, published in the district,
took bold stand against the walking
delegates, strikers, boycotters and
labor leaders (; it was fight to the
finish. The victory was on the side of
individual liberty, and now its fruit is
hapVagf q
miners are happy and contented the
"Great Paper" is in the twentieth year
of its existence and is still weekly send
ing hot shot into the camp of the
striking agitators, boycotters and all
law breakers.
The first cause of business depression
is lack of confidence. Men who con-
tract must furnish bonds forfeits must
be paid If agreements are not carried
out to the letter. Who can take the
risks against dozen organizations?
A strike of either one and the structure
is left, and or all that the strikers
care the owls aud bats can sit on the
unfinished walls and bid each other
good night.
Business men and working men, is
this city growing more prosper
Gus under the organized labor
system of boycotting enterprises that
don't conform to union rules The
answer is in the minds of nine -tenths
of the people, but they are afraid to
talk out in meeting. When valuations
and business begins to slip away then
is the time everybody will say-"I
told you So"
We hope soon to see the strifes be-
tween labor and capital settled by
arbitration and justice done to both
sides. What is bread for capital is
meat for labor. HONEST OPINION.
Evening Mail.