Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-30
FARMERS PROTESTING
Against the Pinkerton Detective
Agencies, as Illegal and a
MENACE TO THE COUNTRY's PEACE.
Congressman Fear That They Cannot Inter-
vene in the Matter.
THEY CONSIDER 1T A STATE QUESTION

WASHINGTON, d. c., Jan. 29.-The
Farmers Alliance sounded the war against
the P1nkertons to-day. 1t demands that
this detective agency, whose operations ex-
tend through every great commercial center,
and whose ramifcations include every i'm
portant city of the country. be thoroughly
Investigated by the House of Representa-
tives, and that legislation be enacted to
suppress the abuses alleged to be practiced
by this quasi-militia organization.
Some days ago Representative Watson,
the Farmers Alliance member from Georgia,
presented a resolution instructing the Com
mittee On Judiciary to Investigate as
quickly and as fully as possible, the char
ters, by laws, rules and regulations of the
Pinkerton Detective Agency, it's organiza-
tion, forces, purposes and operations,
and report to the House the methods
of that agency, the number of armed men it
can utilize in carrying out its purposes,
the manner in which these armed men so
employed are under the control or infiu-
ence of capitalists, and therefore acting as
the militia of those capitalists to carry out
their private aims, regardless of what NAV
be the merits of the dispute with the
laborers. -
Violation of National Law Claimed.
The resolution further directed the COM
mittee to report whether the Pinkerton
agency is not practically irresponsible for
acts of personal violence which may be COM
mitted by its hirelings, and whether the
State courts are not virtually without
power to identify, arrest convict and punish
such nonresident criminals, and also
hnf1 f1ar h. e ~,
agency are not violation of the rules of
the United States.
This resolution was referred to the Com
mittee on Judiciary, but the Farmers AL
lance Representatives have become appre-
hensive that it will not be reported back as
promptly as they desire. One day last week
Mr.. Watson asked unanimous consent that
this resolution be withdrawn from the
Judiciary Committee. ST think" said he,
on that occasion, 'that the question OF
whether an investigation bv the Judiciary
Committee is to be ordered can best be de-
termined in the House"
Mr.. Oates objected to the unanimous con-
sent, and stated that the committee would
report back this resolution, with either
favorable or unfavorable recommendation,
in short time. This statement was ac-
cepted as satisfactory by Mr.. Watson, who
made an argument in favor of his resolution.
He insisted that it was the duty of Congress
to investigate thoroughly the abuses that
had grown up under the practices of Pinker-
tonism, and take prompt steps to suppress
the quasi-militia organization which has
been fostered by capitalists alone, and
which, as the paid agent of the monopoly,
was constant menace to the liberty of the
common people.
The Resolution Not in Favor.
Mr.. Oates, of Alabama, asked some per-
tinent questions of Mr.. Watson, and while
disclaiming any desire to defend the prac-
tices of the Pinkertons, expressed some
doubts as to the ability of Congress to legis-
late upon the subject, which he considered
a matter only to be regulated or suppressed
by the various State Legislatures. The
members of the committee generally seemed
to share this opinion of Mr. Oates, and the
resolution of Mr.. Watson will be reported
favorably
'It is our intention said Mr.. Watson to
an Associated Press reporter to-day, "to
push this thing to the. bitter end This
resolution is party measure with the
Farmers Alliance representatives. We
think that for the corporations to arm and
equip standing army to settle their diff
Guilty with their laborefs by war is reducing
the Government to anarchy; The 1s5orers
have no right &c maintain standing army
to fight the corporations, and the corpora
tions should have no right to maintain a
standing army to fight the labor
ers. If the Government is not
strong enough to deal with these
people and settle their disputes from
Government standpoint, then there is an end
of the rule of the law, and the beginning of
the rule of that party which can equip the
heaviest batallions. The Pinkerton Detec-
tive Agencies, viewed in the light of their
actual practices, are but a standing militia
subject to the beck and call of the capital
lists They carry out the orders of the capi-
talists no matter to what bloodshed those
orders may lead, and they do it totally to
the disrespect of the rights of the other
party.
Rights on Both Sides to Consider.
eff armed Intervention is to come at all,
it should come from the army of an impair
tial magistrate, State or Federal, which |
that there are two sides to all |
labor questions, and that the rights of both |
are to be considered. We want to serve |
notice to the House and the committee to- |
dav that we expect action upon this matter |
and will protest against unreasonable delay, |
either in the committee or in the House."
Representative Simpson, of Kansas, for
the Farmers Alliance of the West, ex-
pressed the same sentiments as Representa-
tive Watson, of Georgia. zone of our
strong fights in this Congress" said he, ''is
to be made upon the principle embodied in
that resolution. There are 10000 in the
United States in the employ of the Pinker-
They can shoot down the citizens of that
city, and the guilty party is at once spirited
away by his fellows, without any show of
Justice. That has been done many
times in the past. The existence
Of the Pinkerton organization is
constant menace to the interests of labor
md the freedom of the people, and, if un-
checked, will finally result in the establish
nent of private army to be used in the in
;erests of monopoly. That practice can be
carried far enough to destroy free govern
nent. This is one of our party questions
which, as representatives of the farmers and
aboring men, we are going to force upon
his Congress, and every Representative and |
Senator must show the American people
where he stands upon this question.
''The resolution will be reported unfavor-
,bly," said Mr.. Oates, tonight, ''for the
reason that Congress has no power to take
lway from the States the regulation of this
natter. As the chairman of the sub-com-
nittee to which this is allowed, called upon
Mr.. Watson to furnish us with the charter of
he Pinkerton agency, so that we might see
whether its regulation was something within
he grant of power to Congress, and whether
We had the right to leg1slate upon 1t. If
ve have no right to legislate upon it, then,
n my opinion, we have no right to inquire
nto it. Mr.. Watson was unable to furnish
is with any evidence or arguments showing
hat we had right to lepislate upon the |