The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-08-03
PowpERLYs TESTIMONY
Before tho Congressional Investigating
Committees -Ho Urges the Passage OF
Law MaIiAk Arbitration Between En-
ployers and Employees Compulsory.

Before tho Congressional Investigating
Committeer-Ho Urges the Passage OF .
Law MakiGk Arbitration Between EN-
ployers and Employees Compulsory
WASHINGTON; July So.-Mr Powderiy'
master workman of the X. Of L., ap'
peared before the Pinkerton investig'-
ton committee yesterday. He said lie
had some personal knowledge OF cases
where violence had been exercised by
the Pinkerton men and had heard ot
other cases from what he considerei
good authority. He read statement
denying the allegations Of the Pink'r-
tons before the committee as to the high
character of their employees. One OF
them, Webb, was charged with VIE
murder, four with burglary, two WIN
wife beating and one with arson. Mr..
Powderly continued by showing that
the Pinkertons acted as spies and OBJ
tanned admission to labor councils on
false pretensea
Mr.. Powderly said that the statement
made by the Pinkertons that but three
mon had been killed by the persons en-
ployed by them during the last twenty
years was incorrect; seven lives, ne
thought were lost in the East St. Louis
strike. The Knights of Labor, he said,
never prevented non-union men from
accepting work and he thought employ
ers could replace union men oy non
union men If Pinltertons were not en-
ploycd.
Mr.. Boatner asked how non-unlon
men were kept away. Witness replied
2 that they were met by labor people and
persuaded to remain away. He saio
< that organized labor did not justify the
e use of force to keep non-union mer
r away. He thought that many OF tn
8 labor troubles could be settled withou
3 the loss Of life If Pinkerton men were
y kept away. Each state and locaht.
+ should care for its own affairs
y Mr. Broderick asked If law wer
10 passed prohibiting the transportatio
/. of armed men from one state to anothe
% Il IL would not meet the trouble.
3 Witness replied that he thought
III WOulu ana SJdJeu tiuO Ni"" WV
70 the labor folks wanted.
G In reply to further questions by M
n Broderick, he said that the labor peop
o. urged the passage of law making a
o. bitration between employees and on
ployers compulsory. The government
IN he said, by its law (tariff) prote cted u
Mt Carnegie company and he thought thl
n it should go farther and protect u
n laborers. The bone OF contention, WI
100 ness said, was the Pinkertons. II
ne labor people did not want to extern
he nate them If 1t could be done by law.
u Mr.. Oates asked witness it the col
n mittee we're against the PinkertoI
re their hire and transportation, II, in
OF opinion, there was any use OF takil
M ing further testimony. Mr. Powder
replied that there was not.
Mr.. Ray asked II there was any &C
nection between the Homestead trout
In and the tariff. Witness replied IL
there was not, unless it was that
af- Carnegie company was becomi
'as wealthy and got arrogant with its mt
the Mr.. Ray asked him II in the hor
to stead matter the strikers had Il mo
not right TO take possession OF the prope
vas of the Carnegie company and prev
rip non.union men from entering
at Witness replied that he would
Wit Justify the strikers in preventing n
Iult union men from entering the works
lice any way but persuasion. He also
ooo' mitted the right Of the owners to I
less tect their plant but was against
OF bringing of irresponsible men to prot
fel- the works-men who were picked
Iult anywhere and who sneaked off n
lied tho trouble and were not held respo
BILE
:, Q, Mr.. Ray questioned witness about
euu et right Of the company TO discharge
1ar sons in It's employ with whom 1t did
.ses .S agree. Mr.. Powdorly recognized
@ rights, but said they were frequel
~ Uttered by contracts or agreements
.sn' 's tween companies and their men
~. Mr.. Powderly, In conclus ion, sale
~ believed the government should
the railroads. This, he thought, W.
20 a long way towards settling the ID