The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-07-23

the Mob-The One Question Was the
Protection of Property, They Say
Had the Battle Been Foreseen the
Men Would Not Have Been Sent-Tes-
timony Before the Committee.
WASHINGTON, July y22.-In this city to-
day, the subcommittee of the House
committee on Judiciary resumed its in
vestigation of the Homestead labor
trouble. Robert Pinkerton was called to
the stand and required to answer ques-
tions prepared by representatives of the
Knights of Labor. The replies were in
substance that the Pinkerton agency
owned about 250 rifles, about 400 pistols,
and an equal number of clubs. They
were deposited at Chicago. In all its va
rious branches, the firm never had, at
any one time, more than 800 persons in
its employ. On July 4th, the number
did not exceed 900 persons. Many of its
contracts with employees were in writing.
They required sobriety, honesty, and at
tention to duty on the part of employees,
The employees were not required to bear
arms nor perform whatever service was
imposed upon them. The emp loyes
were advised exactly what they were ex-
pected to do, and understood that they
were at liberty to refuse any employ
ment to which they objected. By adj
vice of counsel the witness declined to
produce the contracts because they were
matters of private agreement.
r.... ,4o1 4Io
Pinkertons to furnish about 300 watch
men to protect the Homestead property.
The negotiations were first broached by
the Carnegie Company's representative.
The men sent to Homestead were OBJ
tained in New York. Chicago and Phila-
delphia All knew the exact nature of
their employment. About two-thirds
had been once in the employ of the Pink
erton agency and were well recommend
ed. The baroes> were not constructed
for nurnoses Of protection. and were not
lined with iron or steel and could not re-
sist small arms. The men would never
have been allowed to start on the expe-
dition if it was known that they were to
he attacked before landing. The barges
were EMPLOYED because it was believed
the men would be enabled to land with
out a breach of the peace. The
landing was made at night because
the sheriff's force had been resisted
in the day time. 1t was ex-
pected that the strikers would be
in bed. The sole idea was to avoid by
all means a breach of the peace. About
31O men were on board the barges with
about 25O rifles, 800 pistols, ammunition
and clubs. The arms were in boxes and
were not to be used by the men before
they landed and were sworn in as depu-
tv sheriffs. The one purpose was to put
the men on private property and then
protect it from attack. The men would
not have fired except as matter of self
defense.
1t was understood that the Carnegie
company had applied to the proper le-
gal authorities and the men were going
70 Homestead with the approval of
the sheriff. Counsel had advised the
firm that it had perfect right to send
watchmen from one state to another.
It never attempted to send an armed
hodv. In 90 wears there was not an in
stance where Pinkertons had fired upon
strikers excert as a last resort to save
their own lives. Only three men had
been so killed in that time In each in
stance the Pinkertons had been deputies
and were always acquitted on trial.
Numbers of questions were asked, one
Of which was designed to bring out an
answer that would touch the jurisdiction
of CONGRESS- over the Pinkerton system.
O.-Have you ever furnished guards to
travel on trains transporting mail or in
terstate commerce?
AwYes sir. in the case of the Burling-
ton strike and the New York Central
strike thew went armed to protect them
selves from assault.
Mr.. Pinkerton said his firm furnished
310 to 315 men to Mr.. Frick at SIS a day
per man. Mr.. Pinkerton said his men
nexer went armed when being transport
ed over the country.
The witness stated that his men said
thew could have taken possession of the
works almost any time before 10 o'clock.
Seyentv-fiye men could have taken pos
session of the works but they would
have had to kill number of men, wom-
en- and children and they concluded not
to do anything of the kind. The first
| firing his men told him was over the
heads of the strikers. His men were
armed with Winchesters. At the start,
not over 20 were given arms. Afterward
arms were given to about 40 in all. He
thought it evident the statement was
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