The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1892-07-15
THE HOMESTEAD AFFAIR.

THE HOMESTEAD AFFAIR.
No further disorder has occurred at
Homestead, Pa, since the fatal atfray,
last week, between the discharged
workmen and the Pinkerton detec-
tives. Governor Pattison, after being
entirely satisfied that the Sheriff OF the
county would not or could not pre-
serve the peace, in ease of another
outbreak, ordered out military force
of 1000 or 5000 men. On Tuesday
morning the troops arrived in Home
stead and were received with respect
by the workmen, who declared that
they were willing to submit to the
regularly constituted authorities, but
would resist to the last any attempt
by Pinkerton detectives to take pos
sion of the Carnegie works. A few
minutes after the troops disembarked
from the cars they were in peaceable
possession of the entire place and the
owners of the mill property had con-
troll of it.
The Carnegies, it is said, declare
they intend to resume operations and
will employ any of their old workmen
as individuals but will not recognize
the Amalgamated Steel Association.
The workmen, on the other hand, say
no non Union men will be allowed to
work in the mills. 1t would be the
part of prudence, perhaps, for the
Carnegies to let things take their
present course for awhile, and not pre-
cipitate another conflict of arms.
The Carnegies probably see the
fatal mistake they made in sending
the Pinkerton men, with no authority
of law, to overawe their former work
men. and the result will be, or at least
it ought to be, the downfall OF the
Pinkerton Agency, as at present con-
Quoted. The idea of a standing army
of hireling mercenaries in this country,
whose services can be purchased for
any purpose, by any one having
money enough, is so repugnant to
every iberty-loving citizen and so
dangerous to our government, that 1T
ought not be tolerated for a moment.
1t is to be hoped that moderate
counsels will prevail on both sides
and that the difficulties between the
Carnegies and their worklnen may be
arranged ON mutually satisfactory
basis
The root of the entire difficulty is
the Mckinley tariff law. The work
men were made to believe that if it
could be made law and maintained
it would protect American manufac-
turers and American labor from for
eign competition, raise wages and en-
sure general prosperity. If it has not
had the effect of securing greater
profits to the Carnegies, who feel, there
by, the necessity of cutting down
the wages of their employees, the Nc
Kinley law is failure. If the Carne-
gies' profits have not been cut down,
under the operations of the tariff their
treatment of their workmen is an
outrage.
In either case the Mckinley tariff is
the cause of the Homestead affair.
No wonder it causes the Republican
managers great concern. The ARRAY
at Homestead is now costing the State
of Pennsylvania $4,000 day, for the
pay and expenses of the troops. The
money cost to the State, the loss of
valuable lives and the general dis
order and distress will very likely af-
ford Pennsylvania Republicans food
for thought, and may cause the Key
stone State to wheel over into the
Democratic column for Cleveland and
a fair tariff, in which the rights and
ed.
The New York Eeenillg Post, which
has strenuously upheld the abstract
right of the Carnegies to do as they
please with their own property, says
that the universal sympathy for the
Homestead workmen is because the
country is at last awakening to the
Infamous abuses which go on under
the name of protection" 1t adds:
''The people are induced to tolerate
this sort of legislation by the claim OF
the manufacturers that it is intended
for the benefit of their workmen, and
this claim, in common estimation, es-
tablishes partnership between these
parties. The implied terms of this
partnership are that the profits deriv-
ed by the manufacturers from tariff
legislation shall be shared with their
men, and when manufacturers fall
back upon their legal rights and say
that they will discharge whom they
please, and employ whom they please,
and pay what wages they please, the
the feeling is irrepressible that they
are stating their true position, and
that their plea for American laborers
was a mean and contemplate pre-
tence, designed simply to enable them
to enrich themselves by utilizing the
credulous patriotism of the American
people"
Everything is quiet now at Home
stead. A congressional committee is
investigating the affair thoroughly.
The workmen say the military can
not be kept there forever and when
they leave the situation will not be
materially changed. 1t is reported
that several of the leaders will be ar
rested. The latter declare that Prick
and Pinkerton will also be called upon
to answer in court to the charge of
murder.
The House of Representatives in
one day. last week. passed the tin plate