Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-13

Oates-What is the actual cost of making
| ton of steel billets without taking into
consideration the interest on investment?
A. don't think that is fair question.
Oates-If you object to answering, will
refer it to the committee for consultation.
Taylor-Would you answer the question
taking in all expenses?
A 1 decline.
Boatner-You don't care to give away
any of the secrets of the trade?
Oates-Would you state the labor cost?
A. That is the same question.
Oates-We will resume that question.
Now, as result Of the disagreement, what
happened?
In answer to this question Mr. Frick
read the statement of the firms side of the
case that appeared in The DISPATCH of
last Friday, which was filed with the COM
mittee.
Oates-After the Sheriff went to Home
stead with q small number of men you say
that these Pinkerton men were secured.
Did you or the Sheriff apply to the Cover
nor for aid?
No Application to the Governor.
A. No, SIR Our experience of three
years ago convinced us that the Sheriff was
powerless to protect our property, so we
concluded to have watchmen to guard the
works and not go off it. Through an agent
of Pinkerton we made an agreement to pay
S. per day for 300 men. After June "a,
when the workmen refused to come to
terms, we decided to hire others, whether
union or non-union men, that we could deal
with individually. On June 25 sent this
letter to Mr. Pinkerton:
THE CARNEGIE STEEL Co.. LrMIrEn
PITrsBURG, Pa, June 25, 1892. (
~, DEAR EAR SIR am in receipt of your favor Of
We will want 800 guards for service At our
HOMESTEAD mills as q measure of precaution
against interference with our plant tt start
the operation Of the works on Julyf6. 1892
The only trouble we anticipate is that an at
tempt will be made to prevent suc1 OF our
men, with whom by that time I've will
nave made satisfactory arransements,
from going, to work an4 possi-
uDon the part of those whose pl4ces have
been filled, or most likely by a4 element
which usually is attracted to srtch scenes
for the purpose of stirring up trouble. We
are not Gesfrous that the men you send
shall be armed. unless the occasion properly
calls for such measure later bn for the
protection of our employees or property. We
shall wish these guards to be Elaced upon
our property and there remain Unless called
into other service by the civil authorities
To Meet an Emergency
that is not likely to arise. These guards
should be assembled at Ashta abula O., not
later than the morning of Julyf5. when they
may be taken by train to McKee's Rocks or
some other point on the Oliio river below
PittsburP, where they can be transferred to
boats and landed within tlIe Enclosures Of
our premises at Homestead. WE think abso-
these men, so that no demon nstration can be
made while they are ell route.
Specific arrangements for movements o +
trains and connection with boats will be
do c Nvo fv,v f,f I,
certainty of moving the men at Ashtabula
at the time indicated. As soon as your men
are upon the premises We viii! notify the
Sheriff, and ask that they be deputized at
once, or Immediately upon an outbreak
OF such character as to render such step
desirable. Yours very truly,
To Robert A. Pinkerton. Esq, New York
City. n. Y.
Oates-That letter was written before the
works closed down.
A. Yes, the men were to arrive here
July 6.
Oates-These men were to rendezvouz
at Ashtabula before hostile demonstrations
had been nader
A. No, sir. July our works were sur
rounded by the men and watchmen driven
off
Boatner-At the time you wrote the let
ter what had you to show that the men
would not permit you I'd operate the mill
in your own way?
A Lesson Of Experience.
A. 1 can't say there was anything special
except the experience Of three years ago
when Mr. Abbott, through fear of property
being DESTROYED, was forced to accede to the
demands of the association.
Oates-Did you not build stockade
around the works?
A. We contemplated for long time to
build fence around the plant.
Oates-In anticipation of trouble?
A. Yes
Oates-Didn't You line barges with iron
to protect these guards?
A. hired boat and barges from Captain
Rodgers. We sent the men by river to
avoid taking them through the streets and
attracting attention and violence. Here is
a notice served on our assistant superin-
tendent by the Advisory !Committee of the
Homestead lodges:
JULY q 1892
E. f. WooD-It has been noticed that the
gas is burning in two open hearth furnaces.
This has excited many of our men as 1t is pay
day and If the gas Is not shut Off we will not
be responsible for any violence committed
by them.
This was two days before the Pinkerton
men were rendezvoued. We had arranged
to stop them at any time if not needed.
Oates-In your letter, you stated that
only on a contingency the Pinkertons
should be armed. When did the con.
tingency arise?
A. The arms and uniforms were boxed up