The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1892-07-20

Sheriff McCleary-To preserve the peace.
He had not authority to deputize the men.
He had authority to demand peace as a
deputy sheriff.
Mr. Boatner-Did you make any actual
effort to put Mr.. Carnegie into possession of
his mills?
Sheriff McCleary-I was not able TO make
an effort My - deputies were pushed away
from the works by 1000 men.
Mr.. Broderick-Did you notify the strikers
that you would take possession of the works2
Sheriff McCleary--l did. I told the men
that would send about 80 deputies to guard
the mills.
The Sheriff said he had given Col. Gray
authority control of the Pinkertons in the
event of Il retreat being necessary
Mr.. Bynum-Iou did not go TO Homestead
until after the trouble on the day the Pink
erton men went there?
Sheriff McCleary-I went to Homestead
about midnight Wednesday. The Pinker-
tons were then in rink. | could not get a
possee and would not have had influence
to stop the trouble. My presence, as sheriff
would not have had any influence upon the
men at Homestead
The sheriff was asked why he could not
get a posse ComitatuS.
Suppose the citizens were afraid of being
killed?' was the reply.
Mr.. Rynum remarked that the people Of
Allegheny county did not seem TO be of a
warlikc nature. The sheriff then left the
stand.
President William Wcihe was next called.
Questioned by Chairman Oates he described
at some length the scale arrangement which
had been in existence previously and also
the scale which has caused the present dis
pute. He said the time the scale expired
was of vital importance to the men. In
reference to the company's claim that with
m nRh ttsIi ipIn Rfna IN ha t.f l,n
men would be able to make more money, he
said he did not know what such machinery
was. but at all events the men did not be-
lievc that the improvement in the machin-
cry would make up for the reduction in the
wages
What is the object of your association ?"
asked Chairman Oates.
"To protect the workmen and in such
cases ms this to see that they are not inn
posed upon. We make it n point to watch
the market and in that way see Just how
much money we would be entitled to re-
ceive."
In answer to the question put by Judge
Taylor as to what the workmcn thought
their rights were in regard to taking posses
sion of the mill President Weihe said:
There may be some of the men who think
they have the right to take possession of the
mill, but that is not due to any teachings of
the association" lie could not enlighten
the Judge as to how the men justified them
selves in taking such stand; he merely
knew that the men, or certain of them, had
stood guard at the mill gates and refused to
allow any one to enter.
Hugh O'Donnell was next called and
sworn. Chairman Oates asked him:
"Do you know what new machinery the
company intends to put in ?'
mo. sir; there have been no improve
ments in the 190-inch plate mill since il was
constructed. 1t stands to-day as it did on
the day II was built"
Was there any order in your lodges to
quit work on account of this scale ?n
1T was understood that we should do So"
"After the mills were shut down, did the
workmen take possession of the mills"'
1--WE called mass meeting and the men
who were not opposed agreed to stay out.
Then the lodges had joint meeting and
certain number were appointed by each
president 10 form themselves into an advis-
ory committee, of which | was appointed
president. We knew that we had to deal
with many irresponsible people and we ap-
pointed a number of men to guard the prop
erty and see that no one did anv damage to
the property of the company. The best men
we had formed that advisory committee and
the guards were instructed to use moral sua-
sion only"
moral suasion upon whom ~
Upon non-union men, whom we had un-
derstood had been engaged"
Ibid you see the shering'
"Yes, sir; | saw him"
"Did he attempt to gain possession of the
works ?"
II don't know that he did saw from
my room the crowd, and when went down
the street met Deputy Sheriff Cluley and
he asked me to protect him. ] escorted him
to association headquarters with the others
of the posse, and then decided in the face of
the circumstances they had better return to
Pittsburg. will say for myself that we did
everything to preserve order"
DO you know whether the persons on
the barges or on the banks fired iirst?'
81 cannot answer that question"
'How long did the fight continuc'
"About five minutes.
"How was the surrender eilected?'
81 tied handkerchief on the end of
rifle barrel and waved 1t over the pile of
beams behind which we lay. The men had
promised me that i'm case the Pinkertons
surrendered they should not be shown any
violence. When waved my handkerchies
one of the guards come out ON the barges
and waved his hands. As soon as he
appeared one of our men jumped from
behind his bnrricade and exposed himself to
the fire OF the Pinkertons. | walked down
the bank and said to the man who had
come out on the barge that | thought the
thing had gone far enough and he said
he thought 1t had gone altogether to far.
He then accepted my proposition that his
men should make an unconditional sur
render and should give up their rifles.
While the rifles were being unloaded the
crowd began to assemble on the barges, and
i am free to confess that during the
march from the barges to the rink
the Pinkerton men were shamefully abused
by the crowds, hut we took care of them
that night and saw that they got out Of town
safely
Mr.. Boatner--You are one OF the skilled
workmen. are you ,not2'
Yes. sir"