The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-09-15
hE P|AKERTOkS' GUNS.
i've Corporations the Right to Hire
Men to Shoot Down Other
People?
resident Gompere, of the FEEDER
alton Of Labor, Believes the
System All Wrong.

heal, State or Federal Authorities Should
BIO Able to Cope With Any
Outbreak.
pecial Correspondence Of TIE IsDEpENDENr.]
New YoRK, Sept. 10.-Few more serious
estions have come up lately for public
nsideration than those which are present
by the spectacle of Pinkerton detectives
ing on crowds of citizens. woundinR and
himine those within range of their IRE
ms. It has happened in the present great
Elroad strike, as it has happened in vari-
preceding strikes, that bystanders who
alleged to have nothing to do with the
ARIEL between employees and employed,
We been wounded seriously. Sometimes
By have been killed.
e seems to be worth while to find out if
ii is proper. Duly instructed, I called on
keral prominent persons to learn what
by thought. Naturally went first to
nkerton, who is the head of the largest
rivate detective force" He il in Albany
command of his men, and talked with
of his Oldest and most trusted en-
Dyes.
As to the legality of it, said this man,
here can be no doubt whatever. The
eriff of county has all possible authori-
to keep the peace and to protect the lives
d property of people in the county. Sup
sing an emergency arises in which he is
able to do this without the aid of other
bn. The law gives him full authority to
ear in deputies. He may select anybody.
may be Russian, or Chinaman, or a
izen of Bangor in Maine, or Oshkosh. or
Francisco. The sheriff is not limited
his choice. Whoever promises to assist
n in keeping the peace is eligible.
AS to the necessity Of it there seems to
no doubt" continued this man. ut
" not be compliment to this civilize-
q we are supposed to enjoy, but it is a
bt that there arise contingencies in which
local constabulary are unequal to the
Eformance of the duties that fall upon
,m. Police work means. politics in all
smaller towns of the country. It
Il it does mean politics in any smaller
ice. You don't suppose that man is
ing to stand up and knock the duff out of
neighbor and friend when that neigh
supposes himself to be doing right,
brely because somebody else is suffering?
isn't in human nature.
AS to the ACCESSIBILITY of it, that is a
estion for somebody else. You ask me
Lether it seems right for man on our
rce to fire at crowd and, perhaps, kill
nobody. I don't care to answer that
|estion without consulting counsel. I do
ow that when strike occurred in vii
70 near New York, year or 80 ago, the
IN that went out because they could not
/ pay enough, tried to stop other men
I'M taking their places. They would have
,pped them, too. if our MEN had not been
ployed to protect the place. As it was,
new men got the work. If they could
along on the reduced wages, why
lldn't the old hands? OF course, it means
sping mans nose on the grindstone, but
It is what capital always does, doesn'tit Y'
n direct contradiction to this view is the
Eviction of Chief Inspector Byrnes, who
;o-day acting superintendent of the po-
. of New York city. The chief inspector,
should be said, is a good lawyer, as it
looves a high police official to be, and
studied the question carefully. He has
oject, but to-day when asked him about
he said: II cannot speak. It would not
proper for me, while this trouble Is pend
!, to criticize in any way the action of
ose who are in authority" eclG
The hiring of Pinkerton detectives fol
preservation of the peace and of pri-
TO property" said Samuel Gompers, the
esident of the American Federation OF
Dor, ''means simply the maintenance Of
) Well enough in the old
ronial times, but it does moi
IMPORT with an age in which we are sup.
sed to enjoy constitutional liberty.
asider it entirely opposed to the genius OF
American law, and 1t seems to me the
oposition can be readily proven. The
vernment of the United States itself has
right to interfere in any trouble inside a
tie unless it is called upon by the COVER
in session. Surely, what the government
the United States cannot do, no private
ny ought to be allowed to do. Swearing
am in by a sheriff is mean subterfupe.
Look at it! The situation is simple
e. We will assume that there is street
awl. or that train is stopped, or depot
attacked. do not justify such things,
y they happen. If the local authorities
not able to quell the disturbance they
Il on the governor. and he can summon
militia by telegraph. If he is not
general government and can have the
1 of the entire United States army. Isn't
at enough to settle any dispute or differ
&c that may arise
But supposing sudden emergency"
<ed.
The law has a maxim,' replied Mr.
.mpers, that it is better that ninety-nint
lily men should escape than that one in
cent man should be punished. Suppos-
we try the reverse of that. I say it il
tier that some mischief should be done
which there is an adequate remedy in 6
it against the commonwea lth, than that
> liberties of the people should be in
nged." DAVID A. CURTIS.
Copyright.