Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1894-10-27


especially among your old employees in
Ocean and its neighboring vicinities.
We ask this believing that 1t is within
your power to alleviate such by giving them
employment, whereby they may gain suf.
tciency that will enable them to secure that
which will satisfy the hungry longngs of
those wives and little ones, who can look to
them alone for sustenance and protection.
We ask this, believing that you are con-
abiding citizens, good workmen, and men
who participated Ill the late strike because
they deemed their cause a Just one, and de-
sired, if possible, to better the condition of
their families by securing greater remuner-
alton for their labor.
We ask this because we believe that every
man is entitled t. the above privilege and al
though great many of us, like yourself and
Co-operators, believed the recent move an
untimely one, yet we must admit that ito
err is human; to forgive divine"
We must furthermore acknowledge that
one wrong rights not another, and these men
and their families are not deserving of Il con-
tinuance of their punishment on account of
their activity in the past movement.
Therefore, in the name of humanity, rea-
son and christianity, we ask you to alleviate
this restitution and thereby avoid any
trouble that might arise, and show unto
these men that forgiving spirit works for the
good of one and all.
FRosTBURG, Nh, Oct. 10, 1894.
J. J. BELL, ESQ AND ASSOCIATED COMMITTEE ::
Dear SirS The communication asking for
employment for the unemployed men in the
vicinity of Ocean and Midland, signed by a
number of gentlemen from Homecoming and
elsewhere and presented by you, was duly re-
ceived.
regret that | was not in the office at the
time you called, and take this method of pre-
senting my reply,
In the first place, you have addressed the
wrong person, as am under strict instruc-
ton from my ranking officers not to increase
the present working force of the mines. 1t
is. therefore, beyond my power to grant the
request.
AS the wording Of your communication i'm
plies an entire misconception of the COM
liberty of explaining it.
The officers of the Consolidation Coal Com
pany believe that in all industrial enterprises
the harmonious co operation of employers
and employees is far better for all concerned
than any form of antagonism, and for mar Y
years past they have labored to bring about
this harmony between the company and its
employees. Last spring, when it became
necessary to reduce the selling price of coal in
order to retain the trade fully eighty per cent.
OF the company's employees agreed to CO.
operate by accepting their share of the reduc-
ton, and mantully stood to their agreement
through the most severe trials. The history
wisdom of this policy.
After the strike the men who were EN-
ployed were selected from those who were
believed to approve Of this harmonious co,
| operation, and, therefore, most likely to con-
tinue it in the future.
You will, therefore, perceive that this
matter was managed, not with a desire to
punish or be revenged upon any man or set
of men, but simply with the prudent care for
the future which it is the duty of every man
to exercise. The company desires employees
with whom it can work on friendly terms.
Numbers of men who were active in the
strike have been employed by other COM
panies in the region. The influence of the
Consolidation company with these com.
panies is ample to have largely prevented such
employment had there been any desire to
prosecute or punish.
As to the request for the unemployment OF
men who formerly worked at Ocean, which
forms the gist of your communication, the
following difficulty appears
There are about $50 men who come under
this head. There are about $50 men now
employed at Ocean, and the Company does
not hope to be able to give them full work
this winter. If tins $50 unemployed are put
i'll to divide the short work with the men
now employed, it is evident that there will
not be a living for anybody. If the work
were divided equally among all the mines OF
the company, the addition of the men above
mentioned would still be equivalent to a re.
duction of 10 or 20 per cent. in wages, and have
practically the same effect as requiring the
men now working to dig coal at 81 or "a
cents per ton.
There is no reason why these men now
working should be called upon to make this
sacrifice in the interest of any other set OF
men. If, however, thew are charitably dis
posed in this respect, they receive their
money at the pay-car and are at perfect
liberty to devote all or any part Of to the
support Of the unemployed and their families,
but it would be manifestly unfair for the
company to require it at their hands.
As Il practicable method of relieving the
distress mentioned, | would suggest that the
numerous signers of your communication
could contribute quite handsome sum,
which. if properly expended, would prevent
any serious suffering.
would personally take pleasure in con-
trbutng to such fund if placed in the
hands of a reliable and judicious committee.
Very respectfully yours,
B. S. RANDOLPH.
DISS.nnNnlrNcl,