The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-11-30
SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION
or the Homestead Rist-H. G. FFick and
Ex-President wsiho Testify Before lhC
Investigating Committee. t

or the Homestead Riet-H. G. FFick and
Ex-Prasident wsihe Testify Before lhG
Investigating Committee. i...
PITTsBUReH, Nov. 24.--H, c. Frick
was on the stand for over two, hours
yesterday. He said the company em-
ployed foreigners from necessity, but
he preferred Americans when they
could be had. He7 said the firm em-
plovcd over 30, 900 men IN the different
, branches airl Al 'Ius 90 ip1r c'ns. were
native Americans 1--WE base s..e maxi
mum and minimum wages upon the
selling price of our product and pay
every two weeks. We employ watch
men during a suspension of work from
our idle employees when possible, Our
experience with sheriffs in Fayette,
Westmorelnnd and Allegheny counties
is that they cannot furnish protection.
We have not employed armed men from
this or any other state"
Mr. Frick then submitted copy OF
his letter to Robert A. Pinkerton, OF
New York, in which he said. 800 guards
would be needed TO protect their prop
erty and workmen, but stating that
It was not desired that they be armed.
The letter explained the plan for as
sembling the guards at Ashtabuia, o.,
TO be brought TO McKee's Rocks and
there transferred to boats. Mr. Frick
then continued as follows: Our ex-
perience was that we could not expect
protection from the local authorities
We did not employ armed men. The
guards would not have been brought
had we foreseen such conflict We
took every precaution TO prevent
trouble, and this is why we conveyed
the men TO the works on boats so they
could be landed on our own property.
"We have reduced wages occasionally
and advanced them frequently. They
are higher now and the hours shorter
than In 1880. We went TO the Pinker-
ton agency because II, was the only
means of getting men on short notice
We have not been In the habit Of en-
ploying private detectives, disguised as
workmen, but we have done 80 as a
means Of protection. The whole trouble
arises from lack of the enforcement
Of tho laws. The officers should see
that man has a right to work and an
employers property Is protected. l do
not think compulsory arbitration would
work we'll The wages range from 81. 40
to sl2, the average being about 90. The
cost to the men In this strike in wages
was about 81, 900, 900. As to the loss to
the company cannot answer"
Ex-President Weihe, OF the Amalga-
mated Association, described the range
Of wages Of the Homestead mill men,
placing the average at IS per day. He
explained the associations methods OF
holding conferences and said concilia.
tion was always praoticed when posi-
BILE.
81 think" said Mr.. Weihe, that the
Carnegie company could easily have
paid the old wages to the mon affected
by the reduction, and be largely ahead
to-day. The reduction affected four de-
partments, about 800 men, or less than
one-tenth Of the whole number. Most
Of our labor troubles are caused by for
eignsrs who cannot speak the English
language and arc unacquainted with
American ideas, and who cannot be
taught the highest duties Of American.
ship think the general government
should take prompt measures 10 stop
unrestricted immigration The labor
organizations would sustain any party
In enacting law 10 remedy this evil
William @. Roberts, ex-vice president
OF the Amalgamated association and q
prominent member Of the famous ad.
visory committee of Homestead. did not
approve Of the action of July Q. The
men thought the reduction was In
tended TO force q strike and looked
upon the. employment Of Pinkerton
men as an unfair way Of enforcing sub
mission. The Carnegie company has
blacklist" and refuses TO employ men
who took part in the strike. Hatred for
the Pinkertons caused the trouble on
July 0, but the fact that the workmen
don't share adequately in the profits Of
big concerns Is what caused the reck.
less spirit
Compulsory arbitration established
by the government the board having
full power TO enforce its decisions, Is
the best method Of adjusting wage dis.
putes know that the offer Of the
Homestead men TO protect the com
pany's property was made In good