New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-04
THE HOMESTEAD AFFAIR.
ROBERT A. PINKERroN MAKES A REPORT
THE HEAD OF THE DETECTIVE BUREAU AN
sw-Rs THE SENATE INVESTIGATING
COMMITTEE-No WAR WITH
TRADES UNIONS.

sw-Rs THE SENATE INVESTIGATING
CoMMITTEE-No WAR WITH
TRADES UNIONS.
In accordance with their promise made to the
United States Senate Investigating Committee weel
AGO Yesterday william A. HnkertOn and Robert A.
Ffnkerton, propretors Of PnkerOn's National Detcc
tive Agency, have prepared statement concerning inc
nature their business and the occurrences AT Home
stead, PENN on July 6. The statement was made
pubic last evening. 1t Is addressed to the JUDICIARY
Committee OF the United States Senate Referring to
conditions that led to the unfortunate Homestead
affair, the statement says In part
During the month OF Juno. 1o02, it became probable
that upon the termination of the existing arrangement
between the Carnegie steel Company and It's workmen
some disa agreement would result 70 the scale OF
wages. The company's officials knew from past ex-
perience-what the whole community knows-that IN
they failed TO accede TO the terms VI
their workmen and the dictation OF the Amagama'eu
Association, there would be sudden and concerted
cessation OF work at given signal or Order and "'
tempts made to prevent other labor from niihe the
vacant places. II the plants shut down uhul the
strikers fit to return TO work. or to permit others
40 fill their places great and rreparable injury would
result involving the temporary abandonment 10 com
.petitors of trade and business which had taken
millions Of investment and years OF labor 10 estaosh
On the other hand the works could be operated with
out loss or cessation by the employment Of non-unon
who would certainly be attracted to Homestead by the
exceptionally high wages paid by the Carnegie Com.
pany.
While the negotiations were pending with the
Amalgamated Association. which In case OF disagree
ment would inevitably in strike similar to that
OF 1880. the Carnegie Company applied to Pnkertons
National Detective Agency to ascertain II the agency
could supply in case OF necessity, 300 watchmen
The reputation and responsibility OF the agency guar
anteed TO company the character and conduct OF
the men TO be sent.
Before final arrangements were made or the watch
men had started from New-York TO Chicago. the
rCarnere Company applied for protection 10 the High
Sheriff Of Allegheny County lie conceded under
stand that he would be practically powerless TO handle
such large strike and to protect the lives OF non
union employees II any attempt should be made TO
send any such worknen TO Homestead. In or about
fttsburg Homestead no adequate force could have
been obtained. The Sheriff then knew that the
company proposed to employ watchmen at their own
expense protect their property and agreed 10 swear
in these watchmen as deputies II that became neces-
sary The agency refused TO send any watchmen With
out the knowledge and approval OF the local author
ties and they sent upon the distinct understand
ing that the men should be duly deputized.
The statement declares that the final orders to
send watchmen from Chicago and NewYork We're not
given until after the advisory committee Of strikers
had taken possession OF Homestead The advisory
committees promise to protect the Carnegie property
Is called ridiculous In this connection is quoted the
charge Of Chief Judge Paxson, OF the Supreme Court
Of Pennsylvania to the Grand Jury OF Fttsburg The
statement then continues The conduct Of the
strikers prior to July showed, beyond bubble
or doubt, that they were determined. peaceaby
forciby. to take control Of Homestead and the Car
negie Company's works, and to prevent the employ
ment BY the company Of non-union laborers skilled
or unskilled. Had they shown any In
tenton disposition TO act as law
abiding citizens, the company could have coun-
fernandez It's order for watchmen. As matter OF
fact, however, 1t would have been the extreme Of
folly to have relied on the good behavior of the
strikers, for the Sheriff himself defed. and the
whole community of Homestead coerced and terrified,
as the statement OF Chief Justice Paxson clearly
shows.
The men sent carefully selected. Moro
intc- dents, for they either In employ at
the Pc or had previously been employed by us as
could thoroughly trusted for integrity and sobrety
Our men were sent at night by barge IN order to
that the strikers would fire on the barges the men
In charge would have refused TO start from Pitts
burg. and no attempt would have been made To 60
TO Homestead unless under the orders and command
of the sheriff, and after our men had been duly
deputized.
The sent from Chicago TO the Union
supply Company at Pftsburg. Our instructions we're
first sworn in as deputies by the sheriff Of Allegheny
County, and the men would not have been sent,
un0cr any consideration. unless the sheriff had dis
tney promised to depuuze them. In nearly every
strike men have only carried after having
been The at 5s SS h Gspy Gs Gray to
company our men Befere the barges reached ,he
Hnde capable and responsible man. who had been
In our employ for ten years. was In charge OF the
to Gray to swear them In, but Gray refused, saying
that 1t would be time enough when they got 10 the
e river and s S e % t5 bank Of the pv IN
property Of the Carnegie Company Gray again
d dpp1 lie Gf that It %o GS be t me os
when our men landed. 1t was not until after Gray
sheriGs promise that any arms were Distributed
Twelve rifles were handed TO OF reliable
m Snk An s na wl m 'he enc mage so Gs on the
strikers at once renewed their attack by firing
Including Hinde, Who was hit BY two rife balls; and
Kline. who killed. Prior to this not single
S The nat attack F made not the strikers were
suddenly excited or eNaspe?otgd at ne preSence OF
The labor leaders constantly attacking the char
most vinIlcnt Of these men. and the man who is,
perhaps. closest to Mr. Powderly namely. Master
Rochester for blackma and extortion. Mr. Powderly
and the knights Of Labor have repeatedly abused the
saving him from serving his term of Imprisonment.
This man Hughes We are informed, originally
and burglar. He has terms Of imprisonment
1t In prison that no was forced TO learn the only
He is now the president in .he United states Of The
United Clothing Cutters and Tiors District Assembly
No. 231 Of the Knights Of Labor, and National
ganzer Of Assemble les
y. We know Of complaints on the part Of
pOyers as the integrity. SObiietv and behavior Of
our watchmcn engaged In these strikes. None Of our
watchmcn have. far We know, ever been
victed OF a crime.
The statement refutes Mr.. Powderly's CHARGE
against Pnkcrton men. His charges are taken up
In detail and considerable evidence is given 10 show
that they groundeSS. To show what public
opinion is the labor question, editorials printed
in several newspapers quoted. Continuing, =
report says:
1t 10 pretended that there would be acts OF
violence during these strikes II they not caused
by the PnkertOn men the evaporation OF the
strikers at their presence. This sOlemny urged
before the House Committee Yet, shortly otter
the occurrences at Homestead, and while the labor