Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-07-08
the SENATE
Considers the Resolutions on investigating
the Cause ei the Homestead Strike.

ported back tomorrow, SO that this mos,
important matter may not be further de-
layed.
Stewart regarded the employment of
armed bands of men, (outside of law. as
very dangerous TO the peace of the country,
II seemed beyond the controversy that the
managers of the Carnegie works employed
that murderer's gang. Whatever might
have preceded trouble; whatever the labor
ing men might have done, that did not
mitigate the offence of bring
ing into use an armed band of
assassins. That was a serious blow TO law
and order. II endangered the life and
property of every citizen and encouraged
anarchy. II was the most audacious and
outrageous transaction that had occurred in
many years. That 800 armed men should
have been brought from different cities
prepared for war, and brought in during
the night to make war upon laborers of the
country, was fact that must attract the
attention of the whole country and could
not be condemned in too strong language
Hale said his suggestion to refer both
resolutions TO the committee on contingent
expenses was made in the interest of ex-
petition. When the report came up
the matter should be referred To a select
of the Senate and then the committee could
proceed at once to investigate the most
calamitous occurrence.
Palmer said the mere deploring of the
existing condition of things fell very far
short of what would be the duty of some
department of either the federal govern
or the state government. The senators
were confronted with Il labor problem in
most impressive form lie understood that the
Carnegie's large establishment had some
S25 O00, 600 capital invested and employed
some 5000 men on whom many thousands
of women and children were depending
The Pinkerton force was not new thing
1t was as well known in this country as the
army of the United States. II had existed
for wears. Its commander-in-chief, like
the barons of the middle ages, had force
which he could increase at pleasure and
which was at the service of those who paid
him.
The presence of Pinkerton armed forces
at Homestead was contempt of the author
ity of the state of Pennsylvania Its
manner was menacing and insulting 1t
was difficult for American citizens whether
in the right or wrong to submit to being
driven by armed forces.
He maintained that those citizens Of
Home stead were right. lie maintained that
according to the principles of law that
should hereafter he applied to the solution
of those troubles, they had right to be
there. That made it necessary for him to
assert that those men had the righ, to en-
ployment there.
Those large manufacturing establish
ments would have to be, hereafter re-
garded as political establishment in u
modified sense, and their owners would
have to be regarded as holding
their property subject To the co.
relative rights of these without whose
services their property would be utterly
yalueless. That only conceded to them the
right to a reasonable profit on the capital
invested in their Enterprises. lie main
tanned furthermore, those the workingmen,
having spent their lives in that peculiar line
of service, had the right TO insist on the
permsnency of their employment, and also
on reasonable compensation for their ser
vices.
He maintained that at the time of the
assault on those people at Homestead they
militia of Pennsylvania might be called out
exterminated, but the lab0ring
men of the country were so
conscious of right to continuous employ
ment during good behavior, that they would
continue to resist The social war would
be still on. and il would become the duty of
Christian statesmen to find some road out
of the difficulty. 1t was a reproach to
American civilization that senators were
seeing two armed forces in battle array and
were confessing that they had no power ex-
cept to inquire.
Those laborers could not be asked TO be-
come slaves. He hoped the committee
would report some principle or rule by
which such controversies could be settled.
If it was true that they did not admit of
settlement then either capital would be the
master and the people slaves, or the people
of the country wonld be involved in an
areby and capital would he destroyed.
Voorhees, treated the tragical occurances
at Homestead az y practical commentary on
Haie's resolution as to the effects of two
policies, protection" and tariff for reve-
nue. only" He said that these poor peo-
pie at Homestead who had lain down their
lives had bean led to believe that the tariff
was protecting them, hut there had never
been a greater lie woven into the legislation
of the country. Carnegie had got q pro-
lection of 3, per cent. on iron, more than
20 per cent on steel. and instead Of paving
his workmen higher wages. he notified them
of a reduction of l2 to 40 per cent. The
benefic of the tariff system responded
with the employment of an armed mob.
The Pinkertons were the merest mercen-
aries of the earth. They were the spawn
of that internal system--a high protective
tariff Voorhees, said the statue of Indiana
made il unlawful to bring into state any
person TO act ~ deputy marshal or con-
stable. The same was true of New York
under statute passed under the auspices Of
Senator Hill when Go vernon. Where. he
asked. was there Republican state whicf,
took care Of its citizens in that way.
Hale replied To Voorhees, and expressed
regret that the senator should have disre-
gsr.ied the gravity of the occasion and
should have rushed into heated. angry,
partisan debate.
Butler inquired whether there had bsen
any demand from the authorities Of Penn
syivania for an investigation By Congress
Hale replied that IT was one Of the ques-
tions which was to be considered and dis
cussed Bnt the senator from Indiana had
seen fit 10 insrnde partisan discussion and
refer TO the resolution submitted by him
HALE some two weeks ago. He could
only say, in passing. that every statement
in that resolution touching the present con
dirion of American labor would be made
good long before this session closed By
facts and figures irrefnfabIe and nnansxer-
able.
The Senator from Indiana hal charged
that the Republican party and its polio,
were responsible for the sad events tina
had occurred in that little village near Pitts
burg. lie wouI not 60 into that question
now. The Republican party and polio,
were responsible for building mp such grea
| industries as those At Homestead and Beth
Iehem IN either conld be constructed to
day under the devices Of American wit an
under the manipulating hands Of America
/ labor the finest ordnance material and fines
armor plates in the world.
/ The Republican party wouh duplicat