Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-07-23
PINKERTONSHEARD
The Noted Detectives Before
the House Committee.
KNIGHTS OF LABOR ASK QUESTIONS.

Robert Pinkerton Replies to Each One in
Order-The Story of the Homestead
Riot gain Retoid with the Connection
of the Detective Agency Therewith-A
Statement Submitted Giving the Other
Side of the Casa Non-Union Mill
Goes on sympathetic Strike-Palmer's
Views Endorsed by the Strikers-
WASHINGTON, July % The house COM
m ittee which Is investigating the Home
stead troubles had -Biliyn and Robt. A.
Pinkerton before it yesterday. 1t also had
present Deviin, Hayes and Wright, OF the
K of l.. who had string of twenty-four
questions they wanted the Pinkertons to
answer. The committee considered the
questions in executive session and con-
cluded that it would use them, especially
as the Nessrs Pinkerton had not the least
objection To doing so. The first three
questions were routine ones, as to the
names of the members of the firm, loca-
tious of the offices, and nature of business
transacted.
Getting to the Homestead Matter.
Questions four and five wanted to know
how many guns, ETC., the agency owned
July 4, 1899, and where they were and the
number of persons in the agency's employ
on same date, with names, etc. No. 6
wanted to know what authority the
Pinkertons exercised over their employees
whether the men were required to go
wherever ordered and perform whatever
service, and in prosecuting this inquiry
No. asked for copy of any contract
with an employe in writing. Then No. 5
asks complete information rs 70 the agree
meut with Prick ct al TO perform service
at Homestead.
The Men on the BarEes.
This inquiry is prosecuted farther in
Nos. 9 and 10 and Nos. II, Il, 13, II, 10, 10,
Il, IS aud 10 asked all about the number
of men on the barges that went to Home
stead, whether the barges were irorclad,
why barges We're used instead of the orGin-
airy modes of travel, number of men on
each, how the men got together at or near
Pittsburg, why there were so many fire.
arms on the barges, whether the men
were not instructed to take life If it were
necessary to obtain possession of the
works and variations OF these points.
The Last Four Questions.
The twentieth question asked whether
the Fiukertons knew that 1t was their duty
to apply to court before they employed
force. No. ~ asked whether the agency
tried first to get the authority of the execu-
tive of Pennsylvania before taking armed
men into the state" No. % asked whether
Pinkerton would not have the same right
to place lO,OaO armored b3rgcs on the waters
of the United States equipped" etc, as the
HoEeste2d barGss were. The last question
was as follows; 'How many human lives
have your enployes taken since your
agency first entered upon the business of
supplying men to protect the property of
corporations and employers against So
called Strikers or to make effective So
called iock-outsg'" Robert Pinkerton
testified FIRST.
Replies to five OF the OnerieS
Witness in reply to the first three ques-
tions said that the National Pinkerton
agency was controlled by Robert 4. and
William Pinkerton, with their main
offices in New York and Chicago. The
former was operated by Robert Pinkerton
and the latter by William Pinkerton.
They also had six other branches in other
cities The nature of the business Of the
agency was to furnish watchmen to pri-
yate business firms, race courses, fairs,
etc. Replying to question four he said
that the agency had about 200 rifles, 400
pistols, clubs, etc., deposited at Chicago.
In reply to question five he said that the
number of persons employed did not ex-
coed GOO in all parts of the country, in
Guiding clerks, stenographers, etc, and
to the best of his belief, the nu mber of men
employed by them never exceeded 500 at
one time.
AS TO THE MEAT OF THE MATTER.
what Is Required of the Mcn-The Home
stead Affair.
To questions six and seven Pinkerton
rerlied that the agency was simply an
employer as regarded their men, who were
required to be sober and industrious; the
agency exercised on authority over its men
except that if an employer; the men were
not required to bear arms or to go where
they were ordered, if the service did not
suit them; by his lawyers advice he
refused to show contract with one of his
men. Coming down to the specific
matter in hand he said the Carnegie COM
pany had asked for about 800 watchmen.
Queries About the Barges.
The company wanted the neil by July
6. and they were supplied from New York.
Chicago and Philadelphia, and knew what
rhey were wanted for. He didn't believe
the barges were ironclad, and would not
have let his men go on them if he had
thought they would be attacked. The
barges were used because is WAS expected
that they would be permitted to la.s
upon the company's property without
breach of the peace. The sole purpose of
the barge movement was to avoid meet
inc the strikers Had the agency known
that the men could not land without a
fight IL would not have moved without
authority from the governor or sheriff.
Instructions to the Watchmen-
There were about $40 men, $50 rifles, and
800 pistols, ammunition and night clubs
All were under charge OF +. ID. Hines,
trustworthy, prudent, and reliable old em-
Move of the agency. They met at Ashta-