Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-10-29
j. u. ODER. EdifOr.
comments.

In Its discussion OF the taflH tnt
JOURNAL has conscientiously endeav-
ored to contnc its comments to the
subject as it relates to coal, and to
avoid the general issue.
Tie careful reader, we believe, will
bear us out in testiiying that we have
succeeded. and that in no case has the
Mckinley Act as whole been cited.
or quoted. except to Illustrate, en-
phaSize, or enforce the contention that
the current tariff rate on coal is al
ready down to the revenue basis, and
not likely to 90 lower under policy
of tariff reform.
1t could hardly be otherwise. With
such an alien principle as reciprocity
incorporated in the Mckinley Act.
any exhaustive discussion of any item
thereby threatened would inevitably
involve comparisons With other items,
and 50 on. As well try to discourse
upon the doctrine of election without
reference to its counterpar', prcde-
termined damnation
Having endeavored. therefore. TO
discuss the coal tariff situation from
au economic aud not a party stand
point, we have made no war on the
superstition that ''prntectlon has done
this and that great thing. As well
might we hayc employed logic against
the omen. entertained by some people,
that the new moon. first seen over the
left shoulder. presuge- an evil lunar
period.
But we must take notice, briefly as
we can, of a criticism. a comment and
an inquiry that have come in during
the week
|. a letter reads
There has never been a time since have
taken your paper that have not read it with
interest and instruction. But do not lust
see what you are driving at in this last issue
in which you assume that the tariff of -
cents on coal is only "inCdental protection.
Call it by what name you will, it protects all
the same. and the argument of free traders
that it doesn't 30 to the worlingmen you
acknowledge to be false, for you say he gets
~ out of the - cents II may he "incident-
al or accidental, but it protects all the same.
And as the consumer is not kicking to any
extent, is it not better to let well enough
alone? Your paper is above the petty level
of political lodges keep it so. You have
been working for your people irrespective of
politics; don't spoil 1t now. For the race can
never be won by an unconstitutional tariff"
wagon. drawn by an ''lmpos,ble free trade
horse and Il "tari1:for-revenue-only" harness.
This estlmable gentleman makes the
usual mistake of blaming the Jour
MAJ. for telling the miners that they
are getting from their employers all
that the law provides; that among
protected workers they are blessed
above the 80 per- rent. of workers who
are not getting their share of the margin
OF profit which the tariff is said to
furnish for them.
Our friends erroneous premise
naturally lands nim into another com
mon mi uStice-that Of assuming for
the whole what is true or false in part.
The so-called free traders may say,
and say truly. that labor en- moS~e does
not get what the tariff as IL whole pro
vides, but they cannot atfirn it of the
single item of the miners share of the
tariff on coal. Any admission of this
fact, therefore, cannot fairly be tor
tured into an admission holding good
all the way through.
Then as to our amiable consumers.
Our friend does not know them. They
are the most cultivated, accomplished
and refined "klckers" in the world.
In fact. they are artists in their line.
as is sometimes said Of high kickers'
in another field Of professional in
dustry. Hence, it frequently takes
good deal more money to sell a ton Of
coal than to dig aud load one
ITO let well enough alone"-that
is precisely where we are with you,
but our friend evidently does not know
where he is at The lowest average
named under the Mckinley Act Is 90
per- rent. ad rol0rem. Coal is at % per-
cem.-less than half the average ;there-
fore, at the revenue basis. But this
rate, low as it is, is imperiled at this
time by only one contingency-th
danger of getting on the free list
under the reciprocity principle of
the Mckinley Act. To ''let well
enough alone" then. is to repeal that
Act and restore coal to the place it
occupied before a discriminating reel
procity measure became a law.
y venerable friend of the JOURNAL
leaves with the great paper this com
ment:
Humbug.
Which is fully equal in conclusive
ness to all other deliverauces on the
subject we have seen or heard of. 1t
has the advantage Of most of them.
however, in that it does not cumber
much ground.
The Journal is especially requested
TO comment on the conviction held by
Il respectable citizen that