The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1892-07-14
THE PULPIT.
A DISPASSIoNATE ARRAIGNMENT BY A
MINISTER IN A FUNERAL SERMON.
The People, the Press, the Pulpit in
Bonds of Common Sympathy. -

town, which rarely sees a carriage, save that
of the mill superintendent. They We're go
ing 10 ard from funerals. Brass bands filled
tie quiet air with the measured music
of the dirge. In many houses women were
weeping. The village undertaker's shop was
a busy place. There were many men dead
and there were funeral services to he held
! The funeral CT John +. Morris, a young mill
hand, who IVES shot dead by Winchester
bullet fired from the besieged Pinkerton
barges took place this afternoon. Morris
was highly respected, and was verypOpular.
The services were held at the NJ. E. church.
1t was thronged by Norris comrades at the
mill and in the fight in which he met his
death. The services were solem n, the sObbing
OF women and the wailing of children now
and then disturbing the venerable preachers
discourse The expressions of the preacher
are worthy of notice, in giving an idea OF
the sentiment OF the people at Homestead.
Rev. ]. McFlyar, standing over the flower
strewn box that encoffined the corpse OF
Morris, said:
Il have offlciated at funerals from most Of
the highest grades of military Offices, during
the war, down to those of the lowest soldiers.
have attended great many funerals from
different ranks In society and of people OF all
ages during the times OF malaria, cholra ana
smallpox. am here today TO say that
have never been called upon to attend or
oficiafe at q funeral or to look upon corpse
in this peaceful town, where IL seemed 10 be
SO unnecessary, so uncalled for that human
life should be taken.
There was a difference between employer
and employed in the plant located near this
borough line as to wages and the termlna.
tion OF Il scale. Several conferences were held
between committees on the part OF the work
men and those of the firm. They did noG
seem to agree AS to wages, and more eSpec-
ia.ly as to the expiration of the scale The
workmen came uown from S25 ton to s24,
and after n stl uSgle the firm came up from
S22 to S23, and this was conditional that the
scale should expire on the 3Uth day OF De-
cember and not OH the fist of July, as in for
mer years. The laborers could not see the
propriety of this that the scale shoul expire
at the most expensive time for living and
the ost unlikely time for them to get any
other employment-in mid-winter. In this
they could not yield, and after some frequent
interviews time was Set Dy the firm when
there should be no further conferences held.
This was laid down according to the laws oil
the Medes and Persians. and there could be
no deviation and no change. The workmen
sought another interview with The nrIn.
This was denied.
During all this time work was going on
up tn within few dayswhen the scale would
cerned, the mill was closed down before the
scale expired. After this action was takeh
by the company, the wOrkmen still sought
an interview, hoping that things. would be
amicably settled. During all this time per-
feet peace reigned here in Homestead. No
outbreaks, no druken rows. no disturbances
of any kind TOOK place. All was peace and
harmony, and the men thOlyht that things
would be amcabIy settled, as other firms
were signing the scale. They desiret no war.
The sheriff came up and intervied the men
quietly and peacefully, and the men offered
to furnish him from one hundred to three
hundred or five hundred men to protect the
works from any injury, and1to do 1t without
any rsmunertti on, and they even offered 20
ptye their bonds to amount that the
works should not be injured. The sheriff,
after some deliberatioh, politely declined
this offer, and says he would rather briRS>his
own men. These men came aud were kindly
treated and returned to their homes much
affected BY the generosity of the strikers,
''AIl would have remained quiet and other
efforts W Ould have been made for "A peaceful
OF the differences between the firm
and these iaboring men. Upon the evening
of the Fourth of July, when the citizens of
this peaceful town were enjoying one of the
most beautiful days upon which that hoii-
day ever fell, there came floating down The
Ohio river from Pittsburg to secluded place
other words, Two boats furnished and fitted
for warlike purpose. When they reached
their anchorage there were loaded on them
guns, pistols, bread, meat, all that seemed
for a siege.
rant of the maKinS OF these boats, OF the FUR
who equipped them. They knew nothing
of what was gong on in the mind oil the
president of thir firm. The sheriff had re-
ported to him the state of affairs up here He
took the matter out OF the hands of the sher
II INTO his own hands, and in the city OF
New York he emplO, Ell the PinkertOn clan.
These men left New York in II body of one
hundred and fifty, for the purpose oil taking
charge OF the Homestead plant. These men
knew nothing of all these plans.
-"Iu the darkness of the night, hidden by
the roofs and the iron sides at their bouts,
these men stole ciandestinely ~ the river,
md unit il they had come to tile first lock the
men here were ignorant of II all. In the
while the fog was yet heavy and
aiding Them from view, they anchored their |
boats at the most convenient point of the
steel plant at Homestead.
Now, the men here, being notified of their
coming. after they had reached the first lock, |
prepared 10 defend themSelN e,. What would |
;ou have done, or anybody else. knowing |
hat this crowd OF Pinkerton men, unauth- |
.he United States, were interfering with the
,ivil law Somebody employed these detec- |
Ives. They themselves had nothing to do |
NAM @ or rG mem Who Rirea iii them % Who is respon
'ible for the death OF this brave man who
les here now.
us not the state competent to take care OF
tseli? Why did these Pinkerton men come?
they provoked the entire conflict. 1t was
hey who began to fire at the men upon the
'ank, and those men were compelled TO de-
end themselves and their families
"Why, instead of resorting TO such terrible
xtrenics did not the officers OF the company
1bmit the entire matter to the decision OF
ompetent, disinterssted parties? Was there
ny necessity for thus arousing whole conf
nunity and takiug the lives of some of its
nen and breaking the hearts of its women?
hey wanted to break up the Amalgamated
association. II they had succeeded who
you'd have fed tie widows and orphans of
he members and cared for the sick? This Is
ne OF the most beautiful features of the As
Dciation. Shall il be destroyed? Why should
len, who are piling up millions upon mil
ot.s shed the blood OF men who are earning
the very best but q mere pittance and seek
increase that by few cents?
"All this is brought on by one man. or
purse, back OF them is moving power, but
Q is the only m an that hes enough blood in
is veins to carry out the plans. They could :
OF have elected to the presidency of that
-on. erIul firm man in the United States |
S little respected b, the laboring class of
as that man. His very name
arms the blood OF an honest man. He has
o more sense of feeling or excitement in
in than n toad. He seems to be naturally
llalified for that place."