Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-07-21
BEFoRE rnE COMMITTEE.

bEfOhB EhE w" W ffEEs
Hugh o'DonnelI Tells the story of the
Troubles From the workinsmen's
Standpoint.
PIrTsBuRG, July t3.-BefOrc The CON
gressional investigating committee this
afternoon Hugh O'Donuell, leader of
the Homestead workmen, gave testi-
mony. He said he was member of the
Amalgamated Association and president
of the advisory board. lie did not know
even the approximate cost of producing
iron, and that no Improvements had
been made in the tl9-inch mills since
they We're built.
"What moves were made by the men
when they quit work 7"
"A mass meeting was held at which
most of the men not affected were present
and agreed to stay out with us, An
advisory committee was chosen. Com
mittees were appointed who became
| guards, and were placed around the
works outside the fence. The best,
sober men we had were placed on the
committee. They were told not to use
force"
"Werc they told to use violence to
keep men outg"
mo, sir; their purpose was to keep all
out by peaceable methods"
"Did you see the sheriff." ....
al did. On July 5th, think"
"Did he demand the possession Of the
works2" ""..... .
"I do not think be did"
"Where did you see the Pinkertons
first."
"Am compelled to answer?" ~.
"No, you are not"
Mr.. O'Donnell finally said, after stat
ing he was not afraid of the severest
discrimination 81 was awakened
about a. m. and went to the river, ac-
companied by Captain Coons. heard
shots and | saw men with pistols, and
advised them to put them away, Hun
dreds of voices called out to the boats
not to land. got within about 40 feet
of the landing and stood with my back
to the river, addressing the crowd.
There was one rifle shot, followed by u
volley. l am sure the crowd near the
water had no guns"
"Who fired the first shot?"
81 cannot say"
"Do you know anything of the at.
tempt to fire the barges with oil ?"
II decline to answer. At the advice
of many | addressed the crowd later in
the day, in the interest of humanity, to
cease firing"
"Are the persons affected by the pro-
posed change American or foreign born?n
"Amercans."
"Why are working people so generally
opposed to Pinkertons 2"
at may have been in this case due to
the fact that five men had been shot
, dead and many others wounded. They
looked upon the Pinkertons as armed
invaders and as allies of the capitalists.
Also, that if the Pinkertons got posses.
sion they would aid the firm in bringing
in non-union men,"
At 1.30p. m. the conference adjourned
, to meet at p. m.
M'KINLEY LAW TO BLAME.
John McLuckie, burgess of Home.
stead was sworn. McLuckic is mem.
Der of the Amalgamated Association
and employed in the converting depart
ment of the steel works He knew
, nothing of the proposed scale except
+ through hearsay. ! believe there are
three points involved in it that differ
from the old scale. The first is change
f in the minimum; the second is the
, change in the time of expiration Of the
, scale, and the third reduction in wages
The converting department shut dowr
, June 30 on account of disagreement
: between the company and its employees
: MIR. McLuckie had heard there wa.
a some trouble at the mill occasioncd by
. the attempt to land Pmkerton men, bu
i he did not witness the battle. On invi
1 tation of the committee to make any
statement he desired, Mr.. McLuckit
said: 81 wish to be put on record tt
this effect: | think ii gigantic con
5 spiracy on the part of this company anC
: its representatives, aided and abetted by
, vicious legislation, created with a view
IL to depriving the workmcn of this coun
). try OF their most sacred rights under th,
! constitution to life, liberty aud the pur
u suit Of happiness. think that fact ha
, been pretty clearly demonstrated, an(
9 9 if an opportunity were offered thinl
u we would have no difficulty in estab
c fishing the truth. That opinion is based
i on observation and the preparations
9 building of fences and bringing in o
J. Pinkerton guards, and the consequential
= management of that mill.
. "rhree years ago, at this same mill
Z VIC had trouble OF similar character
Between one hundred and fifty and tw,
= = hundred deputies came there to tax
II possession Of the works. The manage
= meut complained that they We're afrai,
:. u their property would be destroyed
u , Those men came in on one train an,
:. were induced to leave on another. Afte
~ considerable trouble the firm tinall
y signed the scale. The capacities of tn
y mill were at that time quite limited
u Then came the Mckinley tariff bill
y reducing the tariff on this very identica
= article on which our wages were based
y viz, steel billets, and raised the tarii
on all other articles of production
!. was gigantic conspiracy to rob TIL
= laboring man of a fair days wages for
II fair days work.
% REDUCED THE TARIFF TO REDuC
d WAGES.
&c Mr.. Oates-Your idea, then, is tina
I, the company, after having obtained
~ scale Of wages based on the marke
81 value of steel billets, caused the dut
q on steel billets TO be reduced +?
Mr.. McLuckie-Yes sir. They shortl
converted the Duquesne works into
Is billet plant; increased the production
le flooded the country SO that prices ma
" be reduced, and thus affect our wages
5r The Duquesne produces large amount
A. of billets.
le Under cross-examination by Judg
m Taylor, Mr.. McLuckie said that his state