The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1892-07-09
ELKTON. JULY Q, 1899.
THE HOMESTEAD RIOT

lHE labor troubles at the Carnegie
Steel Works near Pittsburg eliminated
on Wednesday in terrible riot in
which twenty men were killed and
forty wounded. As we go to Press
the accounts of the difficulty are too
conflicting to Justly fix the response.
bility for this deplorable result. A
large share Of It however must rest
upon the Sheriff of the County who
seems to have made a cowardly
attempt to shift the responsibility Of 1t
upon the Governor of the State. The
most dispassionate review of the situa-
ton that we have seen appeared in
the Philadelphia Ledger OF Thursday
which says.
While the responsibility for Wednes-
days dreadful tragedy rests so heavily
upon the Sheriff, neither the Carnegie
Steel Company nor the workmen can
wash their hands in innocency Of 1t
The measure of the offences of either
of them can be determined only after
it has been fully ascertalned, but it is
clearly discernible, even now, that
there was precipltate, unconsidered,
arbitrary am, forerunning reason
patie'~ 9--.5egfance. The con-
ten \Hween the company and its
-erpioyes was one with regard to wages,
which is one of the simplest and most
easily settled by fair, intelligent men Of
any that is likely to divide employers
and employed. The company offered
to pay a certain wage rate which the
men rejected. The company, there
upon, locked them out, gave them
notice that its works would be temper.
arlly closed for repairs, and that when
work was resumed they could apply
only as individuals, not as members
of their union. The company, as if
anticipating an attack, prepared for
one by erecting barbados about its
property, and the dismissed employees,
as If fearing they would be permanent
thy locked out and their places taken
by union men, set up guards
about the works and commanded all
approaches to them, shutting out even
the Sheriff and his handful of deputies.
This conduct on the part Of the men
was the first breach of the law, which
never should have been made. and
which never would have been made
If the leaders of their organization had
had any conception of their duty as
leaders or citizens.
Without doubt 1t was that act which
induced the company to resort to the
employment of the Pinkerton men: it
had appealed 10 the Sheriff, the constl-
tuted officer the law, to whom it prop
erly appealed and from whom 1t had a
right to expect the most ample protec-
ton, and it was the resort 10 this obnox-
ious force, the Pinkerton detectives,
which precipitated the not and blood
shed. These men however useful they
may be esteemed Tor any purpose
constitute ali actual military force,
armed with destructive weapon of war
fare, whlchls nowhere recogu ED by the
Federal or State Constitution In this
particular case they were recruited in
distant cities, they were armed, not as
a onstabulary, but as military body,
with Winchester rifles AID the weight of
the testimony is to the effect that, being
denied peaceful landing at the works,
which thew were hired to guard, they
fired The first shot, and killed the first
victim OF the riot. II these men were
not duly authorized agents OF the law,
aud the Sheriff calls them the com
pany's "whatchmen." not his "depu-
ties" their employment, armed with
common weapons OF war, which they
were quick to use, was direct incen-
tive and provocation to all that follow
cd