The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-07-21
QUIET AT HOMESTEAD.
Militiamen Control the Situation and
the Works to be Reopened.

Homestead on Tuesday, the 18th inst. and are
at the present time resting on their arms
When they first arrived they were so treated
by the strikers as to create mutually friendly
| feeling Hundreds of the soldiers are coal
miners or mill workers, and mutually have a
feeling OF sympathy for the strikers, and many
Of them have openly declared that they would
rather desert thar to guard the mills against
the strikers or act as escorts for non-union
| men.
An amusing incident happened on Tuesday,
when committee appointed by the strikers
| waited on Gen. Snowden to tender him the
freedom of the city and to invite the officers
| to q stand up lunch, the idea being to convince
| Gen Snowden that the strikers would not SUBJ
NIT to illegal authority, but acknowledged the
authority of the State. Upon learning their
| intentions Gen. Snowden responded, saying
| that he was at Homestead as soldier to do his
duty and not to accept Inequalities. The
champagne that had been provided for the occa.
sion was taken off the ice and returned to
Pittsburg.
| The meeting of the Congressional Investi-
| eating Committee was attended by about so
| persons, including Messrs. Frick, Weihe,
0'Donnell, Carney. and other members of the
| Amalgamated Association. In the examination
| of Mr.. Frck he evaded answering the query
| as to whether the Pinkerton men had been in
structed to come armed. Sheriff McCleary
testified that the Carnegies had told him
week before the men went out that the COM
| pany had arranged to send 300 Pinkerton men
to the scene, and they should be deputized.
Rumors of the coming of non- union men, or
"black sheep" as they are called, were rife On
Tuesday. and caused some excitement
Mr.. ODonnell stated to reporter that in
his opinion the whole fight was directly
attributable to Mr. Tricks antipathy for labor
organizations. and that Mr.. Carnegie was
friendly, having expressed his opinion that
workingmen had much right to combine
and form trades unions as manufacturers to
enter into associations and conferences with
their fellows.
Upon the resumption of the investigation by
the Congressional Committee on Wednesday
the labor element was well represented. Mr..
Frck testified as to the number of men in each
branch of the business who were reduced, and
being questioned as to why the proposed re-
duction of wages was suggested, stated that it
was on account of the reduced prices received
for the product, and by reason Of the increased
tonnage by the introduction of improved
machinery, which increased the pay of the
men, they being paid according to tonnage.
He declined to give any information on the
question of cost. His examination was closely
pressed by the members of the committee, and
something of the expenses and profits OF the
Carnegie concern. At o'clock the committee
adjourned, it having been decided. that the
concluding session should be held in Washing.
ton.
While martial law has not been declared in
Homestead, it exists. Gen. Snowden made
strict investigation of the unauthorized arrests
which had been made, and has determined to
take rigorous measures even to the length Of
declaring martial law.
On Friday morning two furnaces we're lighted
in the armor- plate mill, and il was evident
that preparations were being made to house and
feed the coming non-union men within the
works Cots and supplies were taken in the
mills, and caterer from Pittsburg quartered
inside. When the steam first began to issue
from the pipes, sensation was created among
the workmen who rushed from their honses to
the gates of the mill. company Of the Eighth
Regiment was guarding the gate. great deal
of jabbering was done among the mob that had
gathered, and at length some of them started
across the tracks as though they intended to-
enter the works. As soon as they reached the
picket lines they were ordered to halt by Capt.
Hutchinson, and he called in his reserve and
threw them across the gates and gave them in
structions to charge if any of the strikers made
advances. The mob, seeing that the militia
men meant business soon dispersed, and no fur
thcr attempts were made to enter the mill
During the day the ultimatum Of the CON-
pany was posted on tho nov famous fortress
fence about the mills, aid is as follows:
NoTIcE-Iudividual applications for employ.
ment at the Homestead steel works will be re-
ceived by the General Superintendent, either by
letter in person. until p. IN. Thursday July
81, 1892 1t Is desire to retain in service all
Of our old employees whose past record is satisfac
tory. and who did not take part in the attempts
which bavo been made to Interfere with our right
to manage our business.
Such Of our old employees as do not apply by the
time above named will be considered as having no
desire 10 re enter ous employment. and the posi-.
tons which they held will be given to other men.
and those fret applying will have the choice Of
unified positions for which they suitable. This
notice will he the last given 10 the employees Of the
works, aid after non com pliaDce with this the
places will be filled with non-union men.
In addition to this general notice. each of the
$500 l0cked.out men received through the
msils letter, Of which the following is
copy:
THE CARNEGIE STEEL COMPANY QIMITED), I
HOMESTEAD STEEL WORKS. July Is, 1892.
morning July Is 1892 We wish you 10 return to
your old position. Work 70 commence at the
usual time: respectfully.
There is very little hope of arbitration, and
with the company holding every trump it is
hardly thought that the strikers will be able
to do anything for themselves SO long as the
town is under control of the military forces.
A large number of Pinkerton men were on
hand at the mills on Saturday and still larger
force Is expected to be stationed within the
mills before Monday morning, when operations
are calculated to begin. It is unfortunate that
other men could not be obtained to care for the
mills, as the people of Homestead fairly rave at
the mention of the name PinkertOn, and
another conflict such as was recently chronicled
10 possible.
Everything was very quiet on the field of
action Sunday. A mass meeting was held at
the rink in tho morning about 400 men being
ment and the day laborers. The action of Mr.
Prick in inviting the old men back to work
was discussed, and set of resolutions were
passed, expressing their sympathy with and
loyalty to tho Amalgamated Association, and
their disapproval Of tho insult inflicted upon
the strikers by asking them to work under
guard.
On Monday, Secretary Lovejoy, of the Car
negie Steel Company, appeared before Alder
man McMasters and made information against
seven of tho strikers. Hugh ODonnell, the
leader; John McLuckie Burgess of HON estead;
Sylvester Critchlow, Anthony Flaherty. Samuel
Burkett. James Flanagan, and Hugh Ross
charging them with murder. Warrants were
Immediately issued for their arrest, and con.
stables were sent to serve them. Owing to the
absence of Mr.. ODonnel. one of the alleged
murderers, q great number OF persons have
animated that Secretary Lovejoy purposely
served the information against Mr.. O'D0nnell
during his absence TO create the opinion that
he had heard of the informati0ns and tried to
evade arrest. Friends of O'Donnell, however,