The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-07-07

PINRERToN INVESTIGATION.
The first actual result OF the agitation
oyer the affair in Congress was the no
tice given by Colonel Oates, Of the COM
mittes on judiciary, that on Friday
morning next his special committee
would begin an investigation into the
Pinkerton detective system. The reso-
luton for this investigation was intro
duced months ago by Representative
Watson, of Georgia, one OF the most
conservative and influential Farmers
Alliance members OF the house. II
made NO headway, however, until the
bloody results OF summoning the Pink,
ertons to Homestead was resurrected
into the subject. Colonel Oates noti'
fed Mr.. Watson to make q statement
OF what was alleged against the Pinker-
ton system. To your correspondent,
Mr.. Watson said:
~ have held that body Of men such
as the Pinkertons are using at Home.
stead amounts to an army and Is IN
violation OF the provisions OF the federal
constitution. :.
"For months, I have been trying to
have congress take some steps to stop
this infamous Pinkerton business. First
introduced bill very sweeping in its
provisions, Whichwouid haveanhihitated
the Pinkerton agencies. Next l intro
duced a resolution to investigate the en-
tire Pinkerton system. But the bill
and resolution went to the committee
on judiciary where they dragged along
for months. The bill has never seen
the light since the committee got hold
Of it, but the resolution was reported
favorably after combining the scope Of
the investigation to the Pinkerton sys-
tenn as applied to interstate commerce.
Even in this restricted form the investl-
CATION has hdng fire and no step has
been taken to hear witnesses until this
awful occurrence at Homeetead this
morning,
"Wlthin an hour Of the time the
news first reached the house, Colonel
Oates came to me and said he would
begin the investigation. 1t looked
like locking the stable door after the
horse was stolen. My idea is that Con
gress has the power TO wipe out this
entire Pinkerton system, notwithstand.
ing the objection that we as federal
legislators have no right to interfere
with state constitutions. hold that o
body OF Pinkerton men such as were at
Homestead this morning is an army,
and under the constitution no state
shall keep troops or ships Of wal. in
time Of peace.
1.-THE right OF maintaining troops is
expressly reserved to the federal gov
ernment,"
THE CONSTITUTION.
The section referred to by Mr.. Wat
son is found in article /, section 10: mo
state shall, without. the consent OF Con-
gress, lay any duties on tonnage, keep
troops, or ships OF war in time OF peace,
enter into any agreements or compact
With another state, or with foreign
power, or engage in war unless actually
invaded or is in such imminent danger
as will not permit of delay"
Mr.. Watson continued: Gan army
may consist OF 800 men or 5000 men,
and the Pinkerton force Of 300 at the
Homestead mills to-day is Just as much
an army as though it had been enrolled
and had sworn alleeience to some ruler.
The state of Illinois Incorporates and
authorizes the Pinkerton system, and
we, as federal Legislators, have right
to interfere and see that this authorize
ton OF armies in times of peace is
brought 10 an end. No man has a right
to raise or maintain band of hired
mercenaries who, under the guise Of
deputy sherif1s, can shoot down the cit
liens OF the United States. 1t estab-
lIshed the provision that disputes be-
tween capital and labor shall he settled
by force. l will 20 and get my braves.
you will get your braves, and we will
fight it out. What need is there for
our elaborate judiciary system if We are
to return to the days of the feudal
baron2"
Mr.. Watson has asked Col. Oates to
summon Master Workingman Powderly
to give evidence of the operations Of
the Pinkertons at the extensive st.
Louis strike, and also the names Of
prominent labor leaders who are
familiar with the work of the Pinker-
tons during the New York Central
strike. :