Workmen's advocate. (New Haven, Conn.) 1883-1891, 1888-08-04
ABOUT DETECTIVES.

Occasionally II capitalist paper
manages to get in grain of common
sense when treating of Organized
Labor, especially when the chief
editor is out on vacation. But one
has to search among the chaif to
find the grain. Last week the Oil
city Derrtch had something to say
about detectives and their methods
in connection with labor organiza-
tons, and we reproduce the article
for The delectation of our readers.
Says the Derrick:
"The confession of a Bohemian in
Chicago strengthens the probability that
| the restless Anarchists are still plotting
for revenge on those whom they have
adludgtd to be guilty of prosecuting,
condemning and executing certain of
their fellows. AS long as this continues
to be the case the police force OF that
city are entitled to due credit for watch
ing the proceedings Of these dangerous
classes with "A Nigllant eye, and making
timely arrests to prevent the schemes of
vengeance from being carried into eff
feet. II must be confessed, however,
that a city that has suffered as severely
rs Chicago from such an outbreak il H.
able to be supersensltiVe, and that pub,
lie alarm may be easily excited for the
gaining of private ends \ wide distinc.
tiou should be drawn between American
railroad engineers and Bohemian Anar
Chlsts, \ man by being an Anarchist
assoriating with Anarchists or sympa-
thizing with anarchy, is a.proper object
of suspicion from the very circumstances
of anarchy and its fruits There il
nothing about an American workman
whether he be ON strike for higher wages
or under any other circumstances I
proper object of suspicion on account OF
his principles of conduct. lie is nativ,
here and has sympathies and interest iii
reCtly i'll harmony with the public pol
,, icy Of his nation. He il a part of tn,
nation, partalcr III its veal or woe
1t is scarcely conceivable that Skille,
workmeu such as railroad engineers
; should be guilty of such dabolsm as I,
resort to dynamite to destroy the prop
r erty of their former employers. 1t vii
take proof of the most conclusive kinI
to raise the slightest belief that this i
| the case, On the contrary. detective
are tricky. The courts in Illinois hay,
Judclally decided that they are not t,
, be trusted, that their business is decei
and their word not to be relied ON. Il
light of such declarations 10y the court i
is easy enough to account for every cir
cumstauCe that hats Vet been shown
| against the Burlington engineers am,
they still he innocent men. They mus
be- considered to bt innocent until the,
are roved 10y competent evidence t. III
guilty at least Ihelr strike has beer
unusually long and we'll sustained. Tina
a feeling of bitterness EXISTS ON the par
Of the company and It's present cm
plu)V> against the striking engineers, 1
Too plain from collateral facts t. lraN
room iur reasonable question. l. WouI'
he much to he regretted II tins lrttm
has led to the crime of Juu>pIra,N {,
punish these men Wine have struck fo
what they hcl,'vr to he night for uc,I
tIous crimes alleged maHc,ou>y agam~
| them and proved only iN the rlrvuu
: manufactured 10y thos, W hose business
= is to collect evidence Of crime. U>ua
mitrr> should hc ierrcted uut and ml
ished wherever found, hut due Tar
= should he exercised at the same TIM
that the innocent are not made the II,
tins of popular prejudice. skIllfulI
[ played upon 10y designing men.
p 4 rpadnr nf that nap.,- N.ry- mart