Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-20
REND ON PINKERTONS.
The Big Coal Man Wouldn't Employ
Private Detectives to
PLAY THE SPY ON HIS WORKMEN,
More Particulars of the Departure Of the
Force for Homestead.
SHOULD HAVE BEEN SWORN IN HERE

CHICAGO, Nov. 19-Senators PETER and
Gallinger, of the Senatorial Comm1ttee'
continued the Investigations Of private de,
tective agencies to-day. Colonel W.
Rend, the coal dealer and mine owner, told
the Senators that they had Titanic mis-
sion to discharge. He did not believe tnat
the troubles between capital and labor
could be easily patched up.
Senator Gallinger asked Colonel Rend
what he thought of the laws looking
toward arbitration. He replied that they
tended toward communism and anarchy.
Cancellation was the first thing, in his
opinion, to be tried: if that failed, then re-
sort to voluntary arbitration. and he be-
lieved that there had been great deal OF
pernicious legislation toward that end.
Colonel Rend was asked his opinion as to
the question Of employing detectives to go
among labor organizations and keep the
leaders under constant espionage. He said
he had never employed detectives for such
purpose, and that he regarded the practice
with extreme ill favor.
Pinkertons Found Too Expensive.
Roswell NJ Miller, President of the Mil
waukee and st. Paul Railroad, testified
that during the Burlington strikes strike
of Milwaukee men took place. He en-
ployed Pinkerton men for q short time, but
discharged them as futile and expensive.
I. j. Morgan, the labor leader, said he
had experienced but one day of strike
liie He knew nothing of the employment
of dectives. He said the English language
was inadequate to express the hatred which
workmen felt for detectives He coincided
with Colonel Rend as to the futility of
legal arbitration under existing conditions.
AT the afternoon session Richard Powers
said he was vessel dispatcher and had ex-
perience with the famous strike OF u.
The aid of the State militia was called in,
and at time the name of the State militia
was as obnoxious to the men as is the name
Of Pinkerton to-day.
Workmen's Objections to Detectives.
Powers reviewed the great strike at the
stock yards in TO- Twenty thousand peo-
pIe were out of employment. The Pinker-
ton men were brought and 200 of them
paraded the yards. The result was that
the strike was prolonged. But for the
presence of the Pinkertons the dispute
would have been settled in q very short
time, by arbitration.
"What is the objection to the Pinkertons
on the part of the workers." Powers was
asked.
First" answered the witness, "95 per
cent of them are aliens; second. they are OF
the criminal class; third, they are men who
cannot be believed under oath.
The witness admitted that he spoke with
out personal knowledge, but he believed
his statement was accurate. He was in
favor of arbitration by the law or by volun-
tary effort. He expressed the opinion that
there was not labor organization in the
country in which Pinkerton men are not
employed as spies. Their presence was
detrimental to the welfare of both worker
and employer.
How the Men Left Chicago.
Superintendent F. Murray, of the Pink
erton Agency, was recalled. He supplied
the committee with list Of the men sent to
Homestead. The number was 124. They
left on the night of July T. The fact of
their going by night was merely matter of
convenience. They did enter by the rear
car, and these cars were guarded by armed
officers They had been engaged two or
three davs before the date of departure. He
told the men that there was little if any
danger
''Inasmuch as your men had arms sent
ahead of them, on what hypothesis did you
think there would be no danger?"
''Our instructions were that there would
be no danger"
Asked as to the men being sworn in as
deputies, he said it was the intention to
have them sworn in, but he supposed the
swearing in would not take place until they
reached the works. .
The witness again reiterated the state
ment that all men were chosen with great
care and regard to character. Charles
Wappenstein, against whom an accusation
was made by a Witness had never been con-
victed of crime, and was never under the
shadow OF crime. Several Names includ-
ing John F. Dingall, David Lynch, Stephen
Collins and B. F. Ward, were mentioned,
and the witness questioned as to their char
acter. He denied that he knew anything
against any of them.
Edward J. Martin, who is employed BY
Armour & Co., was next called. His evil
dence contained nothing of public interest.
The committee then adjourned until 10
o'clock Monday morning.