Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-07
A NATIONAL SHOCK.
Official and Political Circles
at the Capital Stirred
Up by the News.
DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS-
Seize the Opportunity to Make Cam
paign Tariff Arguments.
INVESTIGATION OF THE CAUSES
Of the Strike Demanded by Representatives
in the Eouse.
IN CONGRESS-
INVESTIGATION OF THE CAUSES
VARIOUS OPINIONS ON THE TROUBLES

1
from within the borders of Pennsylvania he
is the deadest politician in this country.
So spoke General Hatch, the champion of
the free silver and anti-option bills. to-day.
He was reading a bulletin regar ding the
bloody work at Homestead, when with
flashing eyes and heaving chest he glanced
up and in response to query made the
startling statement quoted. ''The State oi
which Robert E. Pattison is Governor has
been invaded" continued the General, 'le,
us see if he is equal to the emergency"
According to Pennsylvania State law,
corporations are empowered to police their
works, was suggested.
'Then let the works be policed by
citizens of the State" replied Hatch. "Ii
I were Governor of Pennsylvania the State
would be rid of those janizarries in "a
hours. If they refused to go peaceably l
would blow them out of the water. To.
days work at Homestead is shame, dis
grace to civilized community. 1t was the
direct result OF an invasion by an armed
force Who can blame workmen from re-
senting this menace to their. lives"
Everybody Shocked by tho News.
| The city is in ferment of excitement
over to-day's tragedy at Homestead. The
House and Senate discussed National affairs
in q perfunctory way. Interest was centered
on the reports from Western Pennsylvania.
The news was great shock to everybody in
official and political circles The Repub-
| lican leaders are much disturbed over the
| affray, as they fear its possible result at the
| National election in November.
General Harmer, of Philadelphia, will be
| quoted in Baltimore paper tomorrow as
| saying that he now regards Pennsylvania as
| doubtful State. He fears the wides pread
influence of the battle. Strikes and rumors
| of strikes are common enough. They form
perennial news items But when the con-
flict between capital and labor assumes a
violent phase and results in pitched bat
tie and the killing of many men, an epoch
is reached. An ever enduring monument
is reared from the pinnacle of which poll
ticians of the opposite party can hurl fgu-
rative but most destructive bolts.
All the Republican leaders realize the
gravity of the situation as well as General
Harmer. They pooh-pooh the association
of politics with the trouble. and however
tenable this position may be, the fear re-
mains that workingmen voters will accept
broad results and not bother as to the OBJ
sCuTc posSlUAy CduSt VI tuc IiOts
The Democrats Find Political Capital
The Democrats have seized the opportun-
ity. Representative Camminnetti, of Cal
iiornia, introduced a resolution in the Fl ouse
calling for an investigation of the causes
that have led to the strike. He had this
resolution prepared yesterday but his col
leagues on the. Democratic side opposed its
presentation. But to-day they no longer
opposed it.
Representative Williams, the famous
Mugwump of Massachusetts, informed the
DISPATCH correspondent that tomorrow
he would introduce resolution inquiring
into the constitutionality of a State law
that permitted corporations to send an
armed force into community for the os-
tensible purpose of protecting property but
with the additional purpose OF defeating q
strike.
Mr. Camminnettl regards the Homestead
fight as eloquent evidence that the tariff
does not fix wages. 'Several years ago."
said Mr.. Camminnetti. II travelled through
Pennsylvania for the purpose of comparing
the condition of our laborers with that Of
the laborers OF Pennsylvania The iron in
dustrv is the highest type of the so-called
protected industries. Our mining industry
in California is type of the unprotected
industry. Everything used in the pursuit
of this industry is taxed. Yet our laborers
live better, work fewer hours and get better
pay than do the laborers of Pennsylvania
CamIninnetti's Resolutions.
Following is the full text of the resolu-
tions presented by Mr. Camminnetti:
WHEREAS. The Republican party has con-
tended that one of the main purposes of its
tariff legislation was the protection of Amer
wage earners in protected Industries:
whereas, contrary thereto, industries pro-
tected by such legislation have, in many in
stances, instead Of increasing the pay of
wage workers therein actually materially
reduced them; whereas, the Homestead
mills, controlled by A. Carnegie and his asso-
,ciates, operating an industry that has re-
ceived the fostering care of said legislation to
such an extent as to typify it as an example
OF the results thereof from whatever stand |
point it is viewed has promulgated an or
an extent, 1t is alleged, of from 20 to 60 per
centum: whereas. contrary to the position |
assumed by said party that the protection
so afforded regulates the price of labor, it is
stated by ii. Z. Frick, manager of the said !
mills, that I'VE made scales to suit trade and |
mechanical conditions and gave no thought |
Whereas, Following this announcement |
its employees have refused to accept said re- |
duction and strike is at hand and, |
whereas, it is asserted in the public prints |
stockade having attached thereto pipes en- |
abling hot water and steam to be turned ON
at a moments notice, and surmounted with |
wires capable of being charged with elec-
t.icitv, all this supplemented with strong
search lights, have been resorted to by said
company to enable 1t to enforce its reduced |
scale OF wages, thus inaugurating q condi-
tion of feudal despotism; therefore, be it
Resolved, That Il select committee OF five
be appointed by the Speaker to in
vestigate and report on the causes of this
strike, the conditions producing the same
and the effect OF said legislation on wages
and labor: and for that purpose to have
power to send for persons and papers.
Raking Up an Cd Contract.
It is understood that tomorrow when
this resolution comes up for discussion, as
it probably will, an amendment will be
offered asking for information from the
Secretary of the Navy, as to whether he did
not several years ago award So, 900, 900
armor plate contract to the Carnegie firm
without advertising for bids This, it is
said, was done. There are two bureaus in
the Navy Department that are not, under
an old law, required to advertise for bids,
the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery and
the Ordnance Bureau. This law was passed
when the Ordnance Bureau purchased little
but powder. In the last naval bill the
Ordnance Bureau was required to advertise
Tor bids The awarding of g., 900, 900 con-
tract (without bids) to the Carnegie firm
was regular enough, but the Democrats are
an nxious to show to what extent the men,
oers of the Carnegie firm are benefciaries
If the Governments tariff legislation.
Representative Dalzell calls Mr.. CAM
minetti's resolution "a mis-recital of facts. -
He says: ''When you resolve to do any