Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-09-12
Journalistic and Otherwise.


1t is a sort of political millennial
dawn paper, beating "all round the
rosy bush" of populism, and then
capering dangerously near the edge of
the precipice which overlooks the
abyss of anarchy.
And so on.
That which most rivets attention is
a marked paragraph announcing the
receipt Of list of 345 subscribers, the
shadow of "the getter-up'' of which
impresses the editor as ga hero"
Then by an unusual process of ratioci-
nation Mr.. Fish connects the shadow
with a lawyer, and when all the clouds
OF his rhetoric have rolled by the name
of"J. Semmes Devecmon" shines out of
the ETHEREAL depths of "a higher life"
The price of the paper is so cents a
year, which is remarkable, and yet
not so much so as the standing fact
that when subscribers do not "notifl
their postmaster when they wish the
paper stopped, 1t costs us (Mr. Fish,
SO a week and an immense amount of
i'll feeling"
1t is this sort of rhetoric applied to
discussion of the money question that
makes populism political quantity at
once picturesque and evangelic. 1t
attracts the unthlnking now and then
converts a lawyer and makes ga heron
of its proselyte.
Later.-Another paper-the Eastern
Shore, published at Easton, Md, reek-
ing with populism, is also at hand
Its motto is mo Division. To Every
Man the Wealth Which he Produces"
This abolishes buyers and sellers and
puts everybody to raising and consum-
ing his own garden truck. And so on.
Still Later.-Over a year ago j.
Semmes Devecmon wrote an Article
which the JOURNAL declined to publish,
believing it improper pabulum for the
diseased minds whose mission in this
region is one of dissatisfaction under
any and with all conditions. Mr..
Devecmon has at last succeeded in
finding publisher in George Ever
lasting Boomer, editor of the Eastern
Shore. 1t is appearing by instruments.
So far, however, the quotations from
the JOURNAL show that the great
paper has the better of the controversy.
If necessary, future appearances will
be cared for
There is one good feature about Mr..
Devecmon-he has but a single speech
on any subject. This disposed of, his
resources are essentially defunct."
The features which discourage a con-
troversy with him, however, are Cd a
fatiguing habit on his part of repeat
ing his lires, and CO a predisposition to
repud ate acquaintance with proof
after it has been introduced to him.
For instance, he AYERS no less than
eight times in seventeen lines that the
JOURNAL has not and cannot 'prove"
that the tariff is not subsidy to the
railroads. And yet the JOURNAL did
this by citing three credible authorities.
AS imam cannot live by bread alone
argument is at an end with con-
troversialist whose whole stock in trade
is a revolving yell for "proof."
Still, the JOURNAL may summarize
the argument ON each side and give
Mr.. Devecmon some more "proof.'
Depends on the necessities of the
case. however, which at this writing,
are not imperious.
Latest-The second instalment has
arrived and still the legend, "to he
continued" keeps the great paper
Changing on the ragged edge" With
ordinary luck the ordeal will be over
next week.
Last.-Not so. Two more weeks
have elapsed and now the agony may
be regarded as .fnis-translated some
years ago by Titus A. Brick as '.f for
figs, for jigs, and for knuckle-
bones; ! for Jack who broke his back,
and for Susan JONES'" All of this
article preceding this paragraph is
over three months old.
Very Last.-All of the Eastern Shore
series has taken shape in 1G page
dodger entitled "Does the Tariff on
Coal Benefit the Miners ?" and several
thousand. the JOURNAL understands,
will be distributed in this region.
The JOURNAL is not inclined to take
further notice of it more than to say
that. with all his figures and "beliefs,'
Mr.. Devecmon has not established his
case.
He endeavors to make it appear
that the illusions to Pocahontas wages
are foreign to the subject, not in issue,
and all that. But Pocahontas wages
are nominally the same as those here
the only difference arising out of the
fact that coal over there is not weigh
ed at the mines.
The Norfolk and Western receiver
ship is a conclusive establishment of
the claim that local was carried too
low" and since thar proof developed
the BaltimOr and Ohio has faIlen