The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-07-08
And Even 0pulent Tariff Barons
Must Be Taught to Respect
r Them.
That Sterling Democrat, Senator
John M. Palmer, Lays Down
the Law.
Tho Mon at Homestead We're on Ground
They Had = Right to Defend
Voorhees' Speech.

WASHINGTON, July 7.--Palmer's apeech in
the senate to-day on the resolution for an
inquiry into the battle at Homestead was
remarkable for the advanced position taken
by the Illinois senator in maintaining the
right of factory and railroad employees to
continuous employment at reasonably fair
rates of compensation. Voorhees, spoke on
the same subject. his speech bsing made up
principally of IN attack on the republican
party and the policy Of protestion. to which
he ascribed labor riots all over the country.
Hale, in replying criticised him for con-
ve' ting suoh . grave matter into partisan
politics, defended the republicans from 70.
sponsibility for the conflict, and assumed
for that party and the policy of protection
tho credit Of building up such great indus
trial establishments ~ those at Home
stead and Bethlehem. 49,.
Palmer said the presence Of Pinkerton
armed force at Homestead was in contempt
Of the authority of the state Of Pennsylva-
mia. 1t is difficult for an American oitizen,
whether right or wrong, to be driven by an
armed foroe. He maintained. however,
that citizens of Home stead were in the
right. According to principles of law which
would hereafter be applied TO the solution
of such troubles, they had right to be
there. Those large manufacturing estab-
lishments would have to be regarded as
holding property subject to tho correlative
rights of those without whose services their
property would be utterly vslueless; that
there il only conceded to them the right to
a reasonable profit ON capital invested in
their enterprise. He maintained, ia, ther-
more. that workmen, having spent
their lives in particular line
of service. had right to
insist on permanenoy of employment, and
also on reasonable compensation tor their
services. He maintained that at the
time of the assaults the people at Home
stead we're where they had q right to
be and on ground they had right to de-
fond. Their conduct was on the line of
their rights. Manufacturing establish
ments are public Institutions, just as rail-
roads are. because they work for the pub
lie, employ the public, and because men
in their service become unfit for other ser
vice. While concedinR the right of the
capitalist to the contro! M of his propsrty and
claimed that laborer had right 10 per-
manent employment dating good behavior.
OF course the laborer is compelled to submit
to the emergency of business. Where profits
are small parties would have to divide the
loss, and whore they are large they would
was the law to-day, because law is the per
fection of reason.
Voorhees, made fiery speech in which be
attributed the labor difficulties to the re.
publican policy of high protection. He
said the republican party said tho great
manufacturing barons had to be protected
against foreign competition in order to pay
high wages. Had they done so? Carnegie
got protection of 80 per cent on iron and
more than 70 per cent on steel, and instead
of paying workmen higher wages he notified
them of a reduction Of flom - to 40 per
cent. The benedcia,ies of the tariff system
respond by the employment of an armed
mob. Pinkertons mean mercenaries,
and those of them killed were killed by
workmen in self-defense. His only regret
was that Carnegie himself had not been at
the head of the squad, instead OF skulking
in his Scottish castle.