Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-07
Bloodshed at Carnegie's Works.

Bloodshed at Carnegie's Works.
There was a battle and bloodshed at
Homestead. Pa. yesterday. rs the out
growth of the lockout OF the employees
OF the Carnegie Steel Company.
Up TO Tuesday there had been no appeal
to the law either by the company or the
men: but on that day the managers Of the
works induced the sheriff of Allegheny
county to send thithcr ten deputies. but
when these attempted to enter the works
great numbers Of the locked-Out opera
tives stood at the gate and oyerawed the
deputies and finally compelled them 10
leave the town. Then the CaRSEGIEs re-
solved to install within their fortified
establishment 800 of PINKERToS's dctec-
tiyes, and then the real trouble began.
PIyEERToS's men have become very odious
all over the country in affairs of this kind,
and unless the CARNRGIrs deliberately de-
signed to incite the workmen TO acts Of
violence it was exceedingly foolish for
them to invoke PISEERroN's aid.
Homestead Is six or eight miles above
Pittsburg, and is on the south side OF
the Monongahala river. The detectives
made the trip from Pittsburg to Home
stead on barges. but were not permitted to
land. Between the detectives on the
barges and the wOrkmen assembled in
greRt force on shore q fire was kept up at
intervals throughout the day, and con-
siderable number of persons were shot.
Finally the detectives position was made
so perilous that they We're compelled to sur
render.
The Carnegie Steel Company is but one
of Mr.. CAENEGrE's enterprises, though IT
employs nearly 1000 men. He is interested
in a number OF other works. and Is really
the head of the great trust or combine
which controls much Of the iron and steel
business Of this country. American pro-
lection has done great things for him. 1t
has made HIM enormously wealthy and
enabled him 10 buy castle in Scotland.
his native land. II has also enabled
him and hls associates 10 contribute
hundreds of thousands of dollars TO the
campaign funds of the Republican party
whenever tariff reform was On issue to be
decided. At times he has found leisure
from politics and money-making to play
the part of author and preach phllsnthro-
ply, especially as applicable to the rela-
tions of employer and employed.
The trouble between the Carnegie Steel
Company and its workmen IL with refer
ence TO the scale of prices. The former
wanted reduced scale, the latter wanted
the old scale and failing to come TO terms
3s5 men immediately interested declined
10 sign an agreement for the next SIX
months. and about 5000 fellow-workmen
went out with them. IL is understood TO
be the position of the company that 1t
will hereafter have no dealings with or
gained labor.
What was asked was reduction from
S25 TO S23 for 4xi Bessemer billets, and
reduction in tonnage rates at several fur
naces and mills where 1t IL alleged that
important improvements have been made
md new machinery has been added. in
creasing the output. All of this was de-
manded Of the operatives ostensibly be-
cause of the low prices prevailing IN the
iron market. II is, however, said that
these low prices have in large measure
self. with the intent of crushing out the
new iron industries that have arisen in
many of the southern States. However
that NAV be, the operatives are Disguised
with Mr.. CARNEGIE and his party,
and in the past few DAYS 500 of them,
most Of whom have heretofore affiliated
with the Republican party. have formed a
Republican, Democratic lclub," aud have
declared against high tariffs and high
fences the latter being an ailusion to the
tall, close board-fences with which the
works OF the Carnegie Steel Company
have beon recently surrounded.
According 10 the theory of the Carnegie
Steel Company 1t is no longer responsible
for the condition Of affairs at Homestead.
having turned over it, establishment TO
the sheriff and demanded protection; not
the protection of the MCKINLEY bill,
but security from intruders and from in
reference on the part Of the strikers with
ruch new men as they should obtain TO
take the place Of former hands. The
sheriff has been asked to bear in mind that
6 the result Of the riots and destruction
of property which took place at Pittsburg
In 1871 the county Of Allegheny had TO
pay the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company
Si,000,0OO.
II does not, however. appear that the
CARsrGIE works at Homestead have been
IN any danger. They are fortified with
high fences, electric wires. hot-water hose,
&c, aud manned 10y u considerable num-
Der of persons who hold official relations
20 the company and whom the Pinkertons
were hired TO reinforce, but IT IL unioubt-
edly true that access TO the works has been
denied by the old operatives 10 all persons
suspected Of going there with intent TO
take their places. A collision was expected
later on when the company attempted 20
introduce "scab" workmen. but was not
looked for yesterday until the rumor Of the
coming OF the Pinkertons was noised.
For the present the strikers. or rather
locked-ont operatives. are in complete and
triumphant possession Of the field.
The sheriff reports that 1t IS hopeless for
him 10 attempt to got sufficient posse to
march into the works. but there is not
likely TO be more serious trouble or any at
tempt to injure the CARNEGIE property un-
less non-union men are brought into town.
Il is safe 20 say that such men cannot now
be found, for the experience Of the Pink.
srtons affords a warning which will not be
disregarded.
The situation suggests the exercise on
the part of Mr.. CARsEoIE of some OF that
conciliatory and philantdropic spirit which
he has commended in his magazine arti-
cles. Arbitration may lead him out of his
difficulty. but il would seem that force
cannot.
General LoS0srRKRr has paid Mr.. p. ).
MosAs. one Of the Atlanta Constitutions
staff. tho compliment of selecting him TO
revise his war history before it goes into