The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-04
REPLY OF THE PINKERTONS
Robert and William Tell Why Their De-
tectives We're Sent to Homestead.
POwderly's Charge that They Employ Crimi-
mails Denied-New York Central officials
Reticent About the Trouble on Their Road.

United States senate investigating COM
mittee. Robert A. and William A. Pinker-
ton AVE prepared q statement in conDec-
ton with their testimony before the COM
mittee as to the nature of their bust
ness and the occurrences at Home
stead on July 6, 1892. The state
ment was given to the press tonight,
and it contains about 1000 words. and be-
gins by reviewing the trouble at the Car
negle mills at Homestead and the causes
which led to the battle between Pinkerton
men and the strikers on July 6 last. The
statement says that before the Plnkerton
watchmcn had started from New York or
Chicago the Carnegie company applied for
protection tc the high sheriff of Allegheny
county. He conceded that he would be
practically powerless to handle such a
large strike and to protect the lives of non
union employees if any attempt should be
made To send such workmen to Homestead.
Even then the agency refused to send men
unless the sheriff would promise to depu-
TIE them. Referring to the state of affairs
at Homestead at the time the watchmen
were sent, It says:
AS soon as the strike was declared, before any
Pinkerton men had been sent from Chicago or
| NOW 1Ofk, Tile SO-cdlieQ duNlSOry ccmlulttto u
the strikers took possession of Homestead. ana
placed pickets, guards and s%entinels on the
different streets and roads and at the works.
The advisory committee virtually declared mar
| tial law, and took possession and control OF the
property OF the company.
In substantiation of this it quotes at
length from ChIef-justice Parsons in
structions to the grand Jury. Referring TO
the object Of the strikers. IL says:
There was only one vital principle at stake in
the contest between the Analgamated Associa-
ton and the company, namely, whether the lat
ter should be allowed to employ non-union men.
This the Amalgamated Association and Its adj
visory were determined to prevent
by force II necessary. Tue company refused to
a~rbitrate its differences. because its officials de-
sired to manage their own business, and more
particularly because twice before they had
arbitrated and the Amalgamated Association had
refused TO abide by the decision OF the referees.
As to the accusation of the strikers that
the men sent by the PInkerton agency were
criminals, the statement says:
The men we sent were carefully selected.
More than two-thirds were well known 10 us
and our superintendent, for they were either In
our employ at the time or had previously been
employed by us as watchmcn In similar work.
We felt that these men could be thoroughly
trusted for integrity and sobriety. The remain
der were men recommended to US, and their
written applications and references are on file
In our office. Mr.. POwderly. who is at the head
OF the Knights of Labor. charged that we employ
men of bad character, although lie admitted
That none of our men have ever been convict
ed of a crime. His testimony before the judi
cl1ry cOLltllItc6 OL II I1OuscO Il Representatives.
would have resulted in his conviction for per-
jury IL given in a court of justice. and Its falsity
would have been easily shown mad he been cross
examined by any one familiar with the facts.
The remainder of the statement is devot-
ed to refuting assertions made by Mr.. Pow
derly and to the history of the Pinkerton
agency, so far as il has dealt with labor
strikes, beginning with the miners strike
ut B~raidwood. ILL.,, in 1866. In all the agen-
cy has dealt with seventy strikes, and in
nearly every instance its men have been
assaulted and stoned. But in all that time
it's men have killed only two men-one &C.
cidentally and the other In self-defense.
New York Central Engineers.
NEW YORK, Dec. 3-The officials of the
New York Central Railroad Company are
very reticent concerning the visit paid to
them on Thursday by @ committee of
locomotive engineers. This unwillin gness
to speak is interpreted by many as an in
dication that the relations of the company
and its engine drivers are severely
strained. Such facts as have Leaked
out in regard to the meeting
would seem to corroborste this view of
the situation. Previous to last Thurs
day, whenever a member of the
Brotherhood felt that he had q grew
ance against the company be sought
redress by complaining to the LODI &c with
which he was connected. The lodge
would then send one or more delegates To
the master mechanic. and if he was una
die to adjust the difficulty sstisfacto-
rily IL was referred to William Buchan-
an. superintendent of the o~ompany's
rolllng-stock and motive power. There
never was q case" said Mr.. Buchanan,
of all parties" But the course
pursued on Thursday was different.
Instead of q delegation from the single
lodge desiring the redress of some grew
ance. real or fancied. MIR. Buchanan
was visited by q representative of
each of the thirty : five lodges
of the organization. and the delegates
had formed themselves into What they
to me-" Mr.. Buchanan said. and
presented q proposed contract between
themselves and the com pany.. l gave them
my decision. and they retired to consider
asked me if should object to
their submitting the proposition TO
President Depew. i said. Certainly not
and they took their departure" This was
7 all that Mr.. Buchanan would say. When
asked what was the nature of the
proposition made by the board of ad-
justment he replied evasively: They took
their paper away and i don't remember
just what they did propose" The Snperin-
tendent then went on to say that be could
not see the use of a board of adjustment
to either of the parties interested.
Mr.. buchanan denied emphatlcaily that en-
eineers were compelled TO side-track their
trains for any protracted time, and the
men while thus idle were unpaid.
lie as positively denied that any talk of
striking was INDUCED In at the meeting,
and said that the rumor that the brother
hood would unite with any labor organiza-
ton was without the slightest foundation.
Mr.. Depew was closeted with several of
the directors of the company for three
hours this morning. MIR. H.. &. Duval
stated. however. that no reference to the
trouble of the engineers was maze at the
meeting.
UnioDizing Glass Factories.
MLLvuLE, n. j., Dec. 3.-From lnforma-
ton that was made pm blic to-day. it is evil
dent that the United Green-glass-workers'
Association Of the United States and
Canada intend to look horns with
the non-union glass manufacturers
of South jersey. and. If possible,
nnionize the factories. President AIRING
ton arrived In Bridgeton yesterday from
MassiIlon. o.. and held a secret conference
with a large number of non union glass