St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-07-14
The Millionaire Mogul Of the
Iron Regions Dodges ALI
Questions.
Reluctant Admission That He
Arranged for Armed
Pinkertons.
Weihe, O'Donnell, McLuekie
and Others Testify on
the Situation.
interesting Testimony De-
veloped on the Part OF
the Workers.

IHfSBURG, IA, July l3.-When the
CONGRESSIONAL committee resumed its
investigation of the Homestead trouble
this morning about fifty persons were
present, including Mr.. Frick and Messrs.
Welhe, OsDonneH, Carney and other
members of the Amalganfated assoeia:
ton. MIR. Boatner opened the examina-
ton, and Mr.. Frick. i'll answer to a
question, said the arms were consigned
to the Union Supply company and by
it delivered to Capt. Rodgers. His ar
engagements to obtain Pinkerton men
were completed July l.
did you have anything to do with
furnishing the arms?". asked Mr.. Boat
ner.
II am not sure" replied the witness.
Il may have had. but cannot say.
may have, and likely did have, with our
New York agent"
but you should know. Did YOU or
did you not?"
well. l have answered that ques-
ton"
Mr.. Boatner thought not, and upon
appealing to the chair, Mr.. Oates said
the witness could answer more speci6-
ealiy.
Mr.. FrIck then said he thought he had.
Mr.. Boatner then tried to get the wit
ness to answer directly whether his firm
had advised Pinkerton that arms would
be necessary, but all Mr.. Frick would
say was that he believed he had.
Frick slippery Duck.
Mi. Boatner--ln the employment Of
these men was 1t stipulated they were to
be armed?
mo. sir;-I think not"
well, that is ALL" said Mr.. Boatner.
HE has evaded this question all
through"
At Chairman Oates request the wit
ness again made an explanation of the
sliding scale.
Mr.. Prick said that prices paid for
similar work at Homestead were higher
than any other place.
did you join in the request for
troops?"
No, I did not till Sunday night, when
l wired the governor that believed the
troops were necessary. This was I'M
| known to the sheriff"
Witness said the Introduction of im-
| proved machinery would increase the
cost of production Is per cent, and that
| the men worked about go days in the
year.
Capt. Rodgers was then called, and
| told of the arrangement made with him
| by Mr.. Frick to take the barges to
Homestead. Capt. Rodgers said he met
Deputy Sheriff Gray at Davis island
dam. who said he was to accompany the
| tailed the story of the fighting, and said
that the first shot was fired by the strik-
| erS.
Sheriff McCleary was next sworn and
| testified that counsel for the Carnegies
had notified him week before the men
went out that there would be trouble,
and that the company had arranged to
send 300 men to Homestead and they
wanted them deputized. His efforts to
secure posse were detailed at length.
He was notified the night the Pinker-
tons went up. and he. tried to persuade
them not to send them, as he feared
trouble. He was finally induced to
send Col. Gray along to try and prevent
trouble. The sheriff said he had not
authorized Col. Gray to deputize the
PinkertOns.
Weihess Testimony.
President Woihe, president OF the
Amalgamated association, was the first
witness sworn for the iron workers. He
also explained the working of the slid
ing scale" Of 1889. and then pointed out
the Objectionable features of the new
scale as prepared by the firm. The
men objected because they could not
stand the reduction in wages averaging
about Is per cent, and they did not
want the year to expire in January.
Witness then told OF the conferences
with Mr.. Frick, stating that the firm
had set date after which no confer
ences could be held. The Amalgamated
association has $4,000 members: the OBJ
jectS of the association are to obtain fair
remuneration and see that no advantage
is taken.
MIR. Taylor Why do the workmen
think they are justified in taking pos
session of the miIl?f
II do not think there are men ip the
association who do. l think the men
would have protected the milis.''
Are you willing that the state or con-
greSS shall pass an arbitration bill to
settle all questions of this character?1
81 cannot answer for the association.
The history of most arbitrations, l
would say, has been against the work
plusory arbitration would be success
full. The trouble in estimating wages
is that the firms will not show up what
the exact cost OF production is"
O'DonnelI Has No Fear.
Hugh O'Donnell was then sworn and
said he was a member of the Amalga-
mated association and president of the
advisory board. He did not know even
the approximate cost of producing iron.
what moves were made by the lnen
when they quit wOrk?"
"A mass meeting was held, at which
committees were appointed who be-
came guards and were placed ground
men we had were placed on the COM
mittees."
"Were they ordered to use violence to
keep men out?"
- mo, sir: their orders were to keep all
oft by peaceable MEANS"
Where did you see the Pinkertons
first?"
IAN / compelled to answer"
mo. you are not"
Mr.. O'DonnelI finally said, after stat
ing he was not afraid of the severest
cross-examination:
Il was awakened about a. m. and
went to the river, accompanied by Capt.
Coon. heard shots, and l saw men
with pistols, and advised them to put
! them away. Hundreds of voices called
out 10 the boats not to land. 1 got
within about forty feet from the land
ing and stood with my back to the river.
i addressing the crowd. There was one
rifle shot. followed by vOIey. [ am
sure the crowd near the water had 10
guns"
''Who fred tie first shot?'
Il cannot say"
The Closing Incidents