Omaha daily bee., 1892-08-07
OATES GIVES HIS OPINION
He Prepares Report on the Homestead
Trouble and Gives it to the Press
IT is A VERY INTERESTING DOCUMENT
He Finds Little to Condemn in the Action
OF the Company-His Report Rejected
by the Congressional Committee
ci Investigation,

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Aug. 6.-Mr Oates,
chairman OF the subcommittee OF the house,
which Investigated the labor troubles at
Homestead and the connection Of the Pinker-
ton detectives Herewith, submitted a report
to the committee which was not agreed to.
No memoef questioned its correctness, its
statements of facts, or conclusions drawn
therefrom, but the republican members OF
the committee would not assent to what he
said upon the tariff and q majority OF the
democratic members thought it impolitic to
make any report until the entire investiga
tion was completed, which could rot be done
before the second session Of congress. There
fore postponement of the report was made
until next wluter
The report prepared by Mr. Oates having
been rejected by the committee. he today
gave IL to the public as his individual opinion
OF the matters Investigated.
synopsis of tho Rejected Report.
The report recites the facts which led up
TO the strike AZ Homestead and gives an
account of the disastrous ending of the at
tempt to land the Pinkcrtons. The report
says that the Pinkertons who surrendered
were bfutally and outrareously treated,
principally by women and boys, and MIR.
Oates is loath to believe that any Of these
women are native Americans. He says that
the indignities to which they were subjected
were disgrace to civilization.
Mr.. Oates asks whether the Carnegie firm
wos justified, in good conscience, In pro-
posing the reduction In wages. ~ answer"
he says, "thnt Mr.. Frick declined to state
the cost of a ton of Bessemer steel bilets
and the labor cost The men were paid sat
isfactory wages, but the work much apbre-
viates the natural period of life and should
be well paid for"
He thinks that the company should have
some OF the benefits of the profits resulting
from the use of improved machinery.
He condemns the Mckinley law for It's
failure to benefit the American workman and
says the promises made to the operatives
have disappointing Had MIR. Frick stated
would have agreed that the proposition to
reduce wages was iustifiable, but they took
issue with him in his conclusion that the tariff
did not cause decline in prices.
Had Been Kind to Its Employees.
Mr.. Oates finds further that the conduct Of
the company toward its employees was kind
IN many respects. 1t loaned them money at
low interest to build them homes and never
foreclosed mortgages, but In the negotiations
the officers did not exercise patience, indulg-
ence and solicitude and Mr.. Frick accord
Ing to the report, who Is business man of
btern, brusque and somewhat autocratic.
Mr.. Oates is persuaded that had Mr..
Frick appealed to the reason of the employees
and shown the state of the company's affairs
the reduction might have been made and no
trouble have followed.
Mr.. Oates find that the Pennsylvania law
combines to prevent Mr.. Frick from employ
ing Pinkerton men watchmen at Home
stead, but says that under the circumstances
IL had not done so. He made overtures to
the Pinkertons before the negotiations with
the men were interrupted and did not ap-
peal to the county or state authorities in the
hrst instance for protection. He asserts
that Sheriff McCeary is very inefficient
officer, but says that had Mr.. FricR aided
him ana joined in his appeal to the governor,
instead of employing Pinkertons, the state
would have furnished sufficient force TO
have protected the property.
Condemns the Workingmen.
Mr.. Oates condemns as unlawful the acts
OF the workmen in turning away the sheriff
and us insulting in hanging in effigy Messrs.
Frlck and Potter. He says 1t was the pur-
pose OF the Amalgamated association to pre-
vent the employ yment of nonunion men, and
he declares that no organization has a right
10 enforce Its wishes by stronghanded deh-
ance of tho law. The men had no legal right
to resist the coming OF rhe Pinkertons and
arc answerable to the Pennsylvania courts.
In conclusion Mr. Gates finds that con-
gress has no power over the question in
volved. The enactment OF Ia atisfactory ar
bitration law Is well-nigh impossible. AS to
whether congress has the power to regulate
or suppress Pinkerton men MIR. Oates SAYS
he has no conclusion to express until the
completion of the Investigate on next session.