Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1899-09-02
The TpuC Reason

proposal to issue $4,000 additional bonds in
1898 to improve and complete the water
works.
And yet, he adds, in substance, that
1t must be apparent to everybody that it
was great mistake to disregard the advice of
the JOURNAL.
"Where are we at p
He then accounts for the mistake in
this way:
The scheme was fresh in the peoples minds
that the JOURNAL fathered years ago the
scheme to force on the people a measure
ment in a board with life tenure, with
power to elect its own successors.
This measure was net "fathercd by
the JOURNAL,' but by nonresident
Of the town, and that ii was half
through the Legislature before any
body here knew of its provisions, is
proof that the JOURNAL nerer "took
good care to have its editor one of the
commission"
Again
If the JOURNAL and its friends had not
been so grasping for power and pichingS
Frostburg might have to-day as good water
system as any town of its size in the State.
Which shows that the Forum knows
nothing of the provisions of the meas
ure it is denouncing that it does not
know, for instance, that it provided
for mixed commission of eleven tar
paying republicans and democrats,
who were to serve. not only acHhoWt
pay, but were distinctly prohibited
from enjoying ''pickings.' None
could be interested in any contracts
or work done for the system. The
JOURNAL, for instance. acaS shut of
completely from doing any printing for the
cOmmiSSi0n!
Hence, if we may adopt Forum logic,
this wholesale discrimination against
the JOURNAL was so wicked that
1t was right that such an unreasonable bill
(Act should be killed by a vote ofthe people,
and an overwhelming one at that.
AS to this only 353 of nearly 700
votes were cast-One-half of the peO-
pie attesting by silence that they were
not so much outraged by the perpetual
commission feature as the Forum
imagines. Then, as occasionally hap
pens now, it was the politicians, who
1
who worked to have it voted down.
Without distinctly approving OF
disappearing the Act, the JOURNAL
supported it because it was then the
only present means Of obtaining at
once the indispensable supply.
That this action in 1880 had any
effect in 1898, however, is almost too
absurd for serious notice.
If it had, why did the people ) years
later, ratlfy the Act of 1890, providing
for the loan of $4,000, which the
JOURNAL supported with twice the
energy and strength it did the Act of
1881?
And why, I years later, did they
ratify the Act of 1892, providing for
the loan of $l5 200, which the JOUR-
NAL also supported warmly?
The Forum, therefore, places the
people of Frostburg in this singular
position
|, They voted down the perpetual
commission Act because the JOURNAL
supported it.
>, They ratified the loan of 100000
because the JOURNAL-opposed it?
No.
3, They ratified the additional loan
of $l5, 900 because the JOURNAL-op-
posed it? No.
t, They then forgot all about the
Acts of 1890 and 1892. providing for
the loans aggregating $55, 900, and, re-
membering only the Act of 1854, last
year voted down the $40 900 proposal
on account Of the JOURNALS support and
no other reason.
But it is apparent by this time that
the Forum, perhaps purposely, mis-
states the reason-a reason that may
be CLEANED from the fact that c. f.
Nickel. whilom loud spoken antago-
mist of arc light recklessness, suddenly
became, as a candidate for Mayor, ac-
ccptable to the 5-year contract people.
And the fact that II of each 100 peo-
pie who voted defeated the proposal so
overwhelmingly shows that there was
no mistakiug the popular determine
ton to prevent the towns little masters
from capturing the snap of eXpending
that $4,000.
The real reason, therefore, was not
II, I, nor years old. 1t dated back
no farther than to the slaughter of the
towns interests in the tive-year con-
tract, ard no later than April 1, 1898,
when, with nothing else to do, less than
half the people went to the polls toen
dorse Mr.. Nickel's flop.
That is to say, the true reason was not
over months nor less than day old.
The JOURNAL goes to this length i'll
this matter to show that it is not only
improbable that the Forum should be
able to represent the JOURNAL fairly,
I,,t Il