Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-06
THE HOMESTEAD TROUBLE.
What 10 Said About II by Labor Represents
tives I'm Congress.

THE HOMESTEAD TROUBLE.
What 10 Said About II by Labor Representa-
tives In Congress.
The news that blood was being shed tcsiay at
Homestead. Pa. in contest between the strik-
ing men and large force of Pinkerton detect
ives caused considerable comment and talk al
the Capitol throughout the day. NJ. Dalzell
(Pa-) received several private telegra ms from
the seat Of war.
Mr.. Simpson of Kansas, who takes much
interest in labor questions, speaking Of this
matter today. talked right from the shoulder.
JERRY SIMPSON on THE PINKKRToSs.
"When we tried" he said, ''to get the House
to pass the act killing the Pinkerton detective
business we made the charge that the service
was practical standing army in the interest Of
capitalists and monopolists. Members on
the floor secuted this idea and the
bill was referred to the committee on Judiciary.
with the result that the committee has snothered
the bill and refused to give any hearings on
the subject, or consider it in any way.
hope this occurrence in Pennsylvania viii
awake this committee and the people generally
to the fact that there is in existence
standing army Of cutthroats Organized
and kept up in opposition :; the
labor interests of the country. 1 hope
protection does not protect except il be the
capitalist who builds himself castle over in
Scotland and flies hero with his prey to de-
YOUR it at his leisure.
MORE EXTENDED TROUBLES rEARED.
''This great strike is only forerunner, am
afraid, of great and extended troubles between
labor and capital. Unless some radical
measures are taken the result can only
be an open, disastrous and bloody
war. 1t may not come for several years. but
the train is laid and the explosion will follow
unless measures are speedily taken in the inter-
est Of the laboring classes"
MR.. rARsNEY's VIEWS.
Mr.. Tarsney, chairman Of the committee on
labor, said: ~ am uncertain as to what power
Congress has to meet this question Of the en-
ployment Of Pinkerton men as private police
force. Every one must condemn the employ
ment Of mercenaries, without the author
ity of law, to kill people. Their presence
to be something done to put a stop to
this business. II Congress has the power to
deal with the question think it will do SO, but
the right OF Congress has yet to be considered.
There is no language too strong in which to
condemn the employment Of an armed force by
private corporations There should be no police
authority except that duly authorized and en-
ployed by the state or municipality"
MR.. LIND DENoUNCEs THE PINKERToN MEN.
Mr.. Lind Of Minnesota was very strong in
his denunciation Of the employment Of Pinker-
ton men. 81 do not know" he said, "that Con-
gress has the authority to prevent the employ
ment OF these hired butchers, but the state has
such authority, and 1 believe that II I were
governor of state I should find some
means OF preventing il. think that the gov
eminent could do good deal toward prevent
10 nv otohl ,cbp ~ ~
for the adjustment of disputes between rail-
roads and their employees, in which, by the ope-
ration Of the interstate commerce law, the
federal government undoubtedly has the
jurisdiction, and by the establishment
of bureau with which all cor
porations would be required to make statistical
reports OF their expenses, earnings, profits, &C.,
SO that il could be known what justification
there might be for demands either for reduction
or increase Of wages. This employment of
armed mercenaries cannot be justified and
ought not to be permitted. Their presence is
menace to the peace and is provocative Of
bloodshed."
Mr.. WATSON TIMES THE SITUATION SERIOUS.
Mr.. Watson Of Georgia said that he regarded
the situation as very serious and that he would
not like to say all that he thought about the
danger of a revolution at this time. He would
cay. however, that tine country was much nearer
a bloody social revolution than those in control
OF the government dreamed of.
81 have been anxious, he said. ''that something
should be done by this Congress which would
have a quoting influence on the people, but,
on the contrary, this session has been more
than ordinarily provoking to those who
are discontented with present condition.
! introduced resolution. he said,
for an investigation of the Pinker-
ton system. The House by unanimous
vote instructed the committee on Judiciary to
report back this resolution, and they did SO.
recommending an investigation but nothing
further has been done in the matter
WOULD HAVE NO POLITICAL EFFECT
Mr.. Dalzell said that he had seen dispatches
announcing that there had been bloodshed at
Carnegie's works. He supposed, he said, that
it was the ordinary trouble between capital and
labor and he did not know what could be>ione.
1t ought not, be said, and he did not believe it
would have any political effect. He did not
think that Congress could do anything.
Mr.. Reed said that he did not know anything
about the trouble as yet to discuss it,
Mr.. Stone of Pennsylvania was greatly agi-
tated over the matter. The thing we mustdo, y
he said. ''is to restrict immigration. If there
were not thousands of foreigners ready to take
the places of these men there would be no at
tempt made to cut down their wages"
MR.. oNEILL EMPHATIC.
Mr.. O'Neiu Of Missouri said that he could
find no language strong enough to express his
condemnation of the employment of Pinkerton
men or any other armed force of private
individuals or corporations. He regarded
it as murder when hboring men
were shot down by these people and
the killing Of people on both
sides is what might be expected from the pres
ence Of such an armed force. Persons feeling
themselves in need of protection, he said should
be compelled to appeal to the authorized mu-
nicipal authorities, then to the state and
through the state to the United States if neces-
sary.
THE ELLIS ISLAND REPORT.
1,l,o Ad,,ninis&ea4iou II Asaisxa.n4