Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-11-05
\ Few Direct Questions.

Tree DluutIS lNIIlt'
The two former articles are directly
consumed by miners; the two latter
Indirectly, and all tend Immediately
to the cheapening Of their living
Why, then. should they punish a
representative who sought to lower
the costs of living ?
And what are their good - Pc, ced.
wages worth to them if they 90 on
endorsing the 60 per- rent. draft upon
Now, miners, to you-whv so tOuchy
concerning your wages, based on Il
low rate, and 50 careless. not to say
wilfully suicidal, concerning the costs
of your living, based on rate over
twice as high?
Why pay so strict attention to what
you get, and then destroy the happy
outcome of your industry by voting a
Il bigger and more industrious drain
upon your hard-earncd 80 cents ton
Why see particularly and jealousy
that your houses are safely supported,
and then vote for system that insid-
iously but surely undermines the
supports?
Speaking Of houses-fault is imph-
edly found with Mckaig for absence
when the free lumber vote was taken,
and this leads us to ask miners why
they want their houses to cost big
Or why they should want to pay the
higher rents caused by big building
costs
Did you ever look at the lumber in
terests around here and admit that
they had any extra claim upon your
earnings for their own support?
Do YOU know that the high protec-
ton which lumber enjoys has so effec-
tually sQuelched competition in that
commodity here that. on the word of a
reliable business observer. made in
the presence of a builder who did not
deny it, we affirm that it costs . PEI,
rent. more TO build house in Frost
burg than to erect the same establish
ment even in Cumberland
Why should Mr.. Mckaig have voted
for high-priced lumber, costly houses
and big rents Mr.. McComas did it
and Mr., Wellington says he will. but
why should McKaig? Especially why
should 90" miners mnde him do it. or,
rather, punish him for not doing it
Again-what are your good wages
worth to you if your representative
must constantly vote and work to keep
yonr living expenses at high-water
mark
And when you insist on continuing
policy which confessedly robs you of
the cream of Your wages, do YOU not
admit that You get too much wages
But Your newspaper advisers and
platform eNhortcrs contend that be-
cause Mckaig voted to lower your
costs Of living he must likewise vote to
destroy your wages.
This is false in premise and false in
conclusion.
The conditions are wholly different.
Your wages are protected by %
per- rent. rate.
The pay for your shelter, clothing
and food is protected by q 60 per- cent.
rate, and it is the people who get this
pay whom the Chicago platform is
after-these and no other. We mean
more distinctly that the Chicago plat.
form is in full tilt after those employ
ers of labor who do not give to labor
the taxes levied in labor's name for
labor's advantage.
There IS no surA employer on Geo,ycS
creek
Consequently the Chicago platform
aims at nobody here. for coal is
already down at level lower than the
lowest possible average.
The miuer. therefore, who votes
against Mckaig at the sepulchral be-
hest Of the tree trade spook, and gulps
down reciprocity, STRAINS at gnat
and swallows camel"
And the miner who votes against
Mckalg on the presumption that he
(Mckaig) must support free coal. and
for Wellington on the pledge of dcvo-
ton to reciprocity, will have jumped
from mythical frying pan into a fire
where the worm of actual free foreign
competition dieth not.