Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-07-23

WASHINGTON, ID. c., July 22.-The
PinkertoD brothers were given an op-
portuuity this morning 20 explain ana
defend the working of their system by
the special committee OF the House
Committee on the judiciary which has
been engaged in an investigation Of the
labor troubles az Homestead and OF the
operations OF the PiukertOu system.
MesSrs. HAYES, Deyiin aud Wright. OF
the X. OF l.. were present 70 watch the
proceedings Mr.. Deyliu said they had
prepared questions they desired the
committee 10 ask the Pinkertons. Roo
ert PinkertOn took the stand and laid
before the committee statement that
had been prepared.
The statement recurS TO the founding
Of the PinkertOn Agency in 1880, aud
comes down through It's history. For
twenty years private waJchmen have
been furnished % protect property dur
ing strikes. These men had been Sc
lected carefully as 20 reliability and
character, and they had seldom been
permitted 20 carry arms unless with
authority of proper legal authorities.
PinkertOn men had never wantOnly
fred a shot on any strike trouble, and
only TO protect life. When first re-
ouested 20 send watChmen 20 protect
the Homestead plant Of the Car
negle Company, the PinkertonS
the men should be sworn I'm as deputy
sherifTS before going 10 Homestead.
"We were then assured runs the
statement, 'that the Sheriff of Ale
gheny county knew our men were going
to Homestead 70 guard the property of
the company and protect its wor6men;
that the Sheriff had promised, immedl-
ately upon any outbreak, 20 deputlZe
All our watchmen as Sherif's deputies,
IL 10 became necessary for the prOtec-
tion Of life and property. On that con-
dition only did we consent % furnish
about 800 watchmen. A large number
Of these men were our regular employees
who could be thoroughly trusted Tor
Integrity, prudence and sObriety. The
remainder were men whom we employed
from time TO time, or who were known
md recommended 20 US.
>Thesstatement urges that the Pinker-
ION mh did not go OintO Pennsylvania aS
an aimed force" The arms and am-
munition were shipped from Chicago
and were ordered not to be given 70 the
men unless they were deputized by the
Sheriff. Asa matter OF fact the boxes
we're not opened until the strikers had
opened fire and 10 became matter Of
life and death.
The statement then says: "Kiein had
been murdered by the strikers and
about three other watchmen shot and
wounded before our men began their
tire in self defense. Even then it was
impossible 70 attem pt 10 shoot those fir
ing az the bargeS because the strikers
had made a breastwork for themselves
by placing women and children in front
and firing from behind them. Not a
single woman or child was injured by
our men,"
The beating of the surrendered Pink
erton watChmen is then dwelt upon,
and robbery is charged upon the strik-
ers. The clubbing OF COnnors and the
killing Of Edwards are referred 10, and
then the statement continues:
The acts Of the strikers, after our
men surrendered, would be a disgrace
to savageS. Yet because it is done In
the name Of organized American labor,
sympathy IL not tencouraEementi Is shown
by the part of the press aud by pOtti-
cal demagogues. We do not Shirk re-
sDonsibility for our acts in this or any
other strike. The coming murder
trials ought 60 bring out the truth. Our
actions will tnen be shown 70 have been
legal"
The statement further holds that a
great principle is invOlved-larger than
the dispute between the Carnegie peO-
ple and their men. The PiukertOns
had no quarrel with organized labor
save as 10 attempted life and de6ed law.
III owners might not employ watchmen
then capital is 40 the mercy OF secret
organizations whose tyranny and des-
potism," says the statement, exceed
anything ever known In the history of
the world. These societies iutimidate
communities by threats OF murder ald
are determined upon ruin and deStruc-
tion OF property il their demands, no
matter how unreasonable or impraCu-
cable, are not complied with"
The Mollle McGuireS, the Chicago
Stove COmpany's sJrike, the c., b. * g.
strike, and others, are referred 20 10
detail as basis for the statement made
in Ahe paper, that "every large strike
has shown that cheSe labar OrganiZa-
tiOns will murder aud destroy property
out Of sheer wantOnneSS and revenge.
1t was morally certain" concludes
the statement, "from the threats OF
men themselves, that the strikers at
Homestead would resort % similar viO-
q ke
property Of the Carnegie company, il
any attempts were made 70 supply their
places by nOn-uniOn men,"
The employment all over the country
by banks and private people OF watch
men is referred 20, and then the sub
scribers 70 the statement affirm that
their counsel assure them that they
have violated no law, Federal or State;
that they had the right TO employ and
send men 70 Homestead 90 act as watch
men; that II they were attacked, they
had the right 70 kill, II absolutely nee
essary for self-deiense; that they had a
right to bear arms on the premises Of
the Carnegie Company, in order
10 protect life and private prop
,erty, whether or not they
we're deputiZed by the Sheriff Of Ale
rheny county, that we had the right 70
ship arms from Chicago 70 the Carue-
gle yards at Homestead for the purpose
Of arming our men. II aud after they
we're deputized By the Sheriff; that in
view Of the attack on the barges, our
men had the right to bear arms and
defend themselves and tbss al