The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-23
THE pINKERFON METHODS.
INTERPOLATION OF THEIR PART ~
THE HOMESTEAD RIoT.

TT. vto,.e Comu,ttee sits In Washington
and Receives n Long Statement from the
Piukertor., srd Then Puts Questions 10
One or Them which Are Suggested By
the knights OF I.abor-Their Ways Of
Doing Bus,uess-Cnre In Their Selection
or Men and Their Strict Instructions
TO Them-sworn In rs Omcers Before
being Permitted TO Carry Firearms:
W,sH,Soros. July 22-The subcommittee
of the House Committee on Judiciary. charged
with tho investigation OF the Homestead labor
troubles, resumed It's sessions In this city to-
day Robert A. Pinkerton OF tho Pinkertor
Agency was tho first witness called. His
brother william. and Messrs. Hayes. Wright
and Devlin OF tho knights OF Labor were also
in attendance. Before the examination OF the
witness was begun Mr.. Devlin OF tho
Knights of Labor submitted twenty -four aues-
tions. which he wished the committee to ask
the witness.
Tho committee went into secret session to
consider the questions submitted by Mr..
Devln and also to consider a statement sub
mittcd by the Pinkerton brothers. This was
the Pnkerton statement:
To n, judiciary Conee n the House Of Representatives.
You have asked us to appear before you
Quoted by us under the name Of Pinkerton's
National Detoctive Agency. The present in
cent dcplorabe events at Homestead in the
State OF Pennsylvania. and we are Informed
@ s9fss on and 81 sas @sS
Of carrying on this branch OF our business
will Aid the committee in It's inyestgA sat .,
twenty years it has frequently furnished
indiSduals and corporations during strikes;
Tho men employed by us in this strike
work are selected With great care and only
be cited where we have knowingly employed
any OF our .watchmen have been convicted OF
a crime. Moreover. we have seldom permitted
to an e e e tbsS
ties or sworn in as deputy sherifls. 49,
ly fired n single shot in any Of these strikes.
and have used their arms only as the last
consistently Consistent refused to permit our watchmen
to bear arms without special legal authority
or us deputy sherifs. even when on private
from this rule in the Homestead strike.
when first requested to send watchmen to
Steel Com pany. Limited. we refused to do so
unless all our men were sworn In as deputy
before tho to az
county. Pa. knew that our men were going to
Homestead to act as watchmen and to guard
the propeEty OF the company and protect its
I've were further assured that the Sheriff
naS IGpa
as sherifI's deputies il 1t became necessary
for the protection Of life and property.
furnish about 800 watehmen. A large num-
Der OF these men were Gur regular emR t,ie
Sd be f
men whom we employed from time to time or
Who were known and ree3 recon m enc to- MS us;
as an armed body or force. and we should not
have permitted or assented to this. There
ing them until they were, on the property Of
the company at Homestead. and until and
unless they had been sworn in rs the sheriirs
"The Sherifr's chief deputy. Gray. accom-
panied our men. being on the tug towing the
he had authority to duly deputize them in
case OF necessity. The boxes containing the
arms and ammunition We're shipped from Chi
stead yards. The instructions to our men
were. that they should not be armed unless
As q matter Of fact, the boxes on board the
barges were not opened and the arms and am.
rnr
men and it became evident that it was mat
| ter Of self defence for life or death
and about hSe other watchmen, shot and
wounded before our men began their fire in
attempt to shoot those firing at the barges
because the strikers made n breastworks for
themselves by placing women and children In
single woman or child was injured by our men:
When our men surrendered the lenders Of
e e
| surrendered because the wounded required
1T and fer tt sss
| including the wounded and helpless. were
brutally beaten and robbed by the strikers.
and the leaders made no real or honest effort
to protect them. Our men were robbed OF
watches money clGthinE IN fact everything
"Connors, unable to move or defend himself.
was deliberately shot by one Of tho strikers
and then dubbed. Edwards. also wounded
with the butt end Of II musket. Both died. and
subsequently another Waterman became in
| sane and committed suicide as result OF the
fearful beating after having surrendered.
| All our men were more or less injured. The
acts q the strikers after our men y surrendered
| done in the name OF organized American labor.
sympathy. II not encourngement. is shown for
such deeds by part OF the press and by politi-
W.. do net shlrk responsibility tSr any Of
and
hold the law Our actions will then be shown
to have been legal from beginning to end;
| our agency. we shall patiently wait the sober
reelection Of the country. in the confidence that
msn az VIII Se
| recognized, although the example will in the
mean time have caused incaiculable injury to
| the community.
"Tho principle involved is Of more impor.
| TANGO than are tho merits OF tho present con :
troversy between the Carnegie Company and
Its workmen. We have no quarrel with or.
| ganized labor. and they have no cause OF com
| plant against US. except in so far ns they at
tempt to destroy property and lite. and TO vic.
| late the law.
II the owners OF mills. factories. mines
railroads. and other valuable property canno,
| employ watchmen to protect life and property
| then Rll capital so invested Is practically at the
| mercy OF secret labor organizations whose
| tyranny and despotism exceed anything ever
| known in the history OF the world. These So
| ceties intimidate whole communities by
threats Of murder. and are determined upon
murder or destruction Of property II their dc.
| practicable. are not complied with.
| - In the case OF the Mollie Muguires. they
terrorizod the public authorities. and for years
| were absolute in their rule Of murder and de-
struction of property. Every large strike has
shown that these labor organizations will
murder and stroyproperty out OF sheer wan.
| tonness and revenge.
During the Chicago Stove Companys strike
| the strikers concealed explosives in a mould
| in order to cause explosions when the molten
| metal was poured in. During the strike ~ the
Chicago. Burlington and Quincy Railroad dyn
amite was put under trains by leaders Of the