The National tribune., 1892-07-14
THE HOMESTEAD MATTER.

last week is shocking to every American
who loves humanity and the fair name of
his country. The affair was disgrace to
civilization, and it is incomprehensible how
it should have heen allowed to occur. Par
ticularly shameful was the treatment of the
Pinkertons after they had surrendered. We
are likely to think that only such exhibit
tons are possible among Indians and the
barbarisns of the Asian steppes, and not
among people so enlightened a.d civilized
as our own.
1t is hard to tell now just where the
blame for the disturbance lies. Probably
The responsibility is divided. On the face
of the statements so far made the proprie-
tors of the mills have the best of it, They
had undoubtedly the right to propose re-
adjustment of wages to their employees, and
the latter had an equal right to refuse to
accept the lower rate offered TO portion OF
their number Both sides having thus made
their decisions there should have been a
peaceful arbitration of the matter. There
was no more sense in fighting over it than
there would be in buyers and sellers of
load of corn coming to blows over the price
The offer of the strikers to protect tie
works while the dispute was going on was
entirely creditable to them, and shows that
these organizations are paying much more
regard to public opinion than formerly. The
mili-owrers naturally declined to accept
the guardianship. Property owners are
usually arerse to putting the control OF
their property in the hands Of those who
are disputing with them.
Then came the attempted introduction OF
the Pinkertons, which precipitsted the con-
f1ict Legally the mill-owners were justified
in this step. They had extensive interests
to be guarded, and events in Pennsylvania
have unfortunately showed the necessity of
strongly guarding that species of property.
The civil authorities were appealed to and
proved utterly incompetent, if not unwilling
There was q grave doubt as to whether the
militia could be secured, and if it was it
would be an expensive proceeding. The
men who form the National Guard of Penn
sylyania have business at their homes and
are naturally reluctant to leave it, except
when the emergency is grave enough to
Justify it. Naturally, they do not take
kindly to doing guard duty for days and
weeks about LOT of iron mills. That is not
what they enlist for. The mill-owners de-
cided to employ the Pinkertons. The feel
ing against this body of mercenaries is quite
bitter in western Pennsylvania, and long
list of grave offenses is charged against them.
They are said to be generally men of bad
character-thieves, thugs, and roughs from
the large cities-which is probably true.
The appearance of the Pinkertons in boats
before the town was the signal for general
attack upon them. After pretty sharp
fight they were forced to surrender, and then
were made the victims of sickeniDg bar
barities. The leaders of the labor organiza-
tons tried hard to restrain their men from
these atrocities, with only partial success.
Their failure in this respect seems to indi-
cate that the Carnegie people had reason for
distrusting their proffer of protection to the
mill property. This last episode has done
more than anything else TO turn public
sympathy from the strikers.
But all this is outside of the main ques-
ton, which has not yet been brought for
ward for discussion. The statement of the
situation is all in favor Of the Carnegie Steel
Company, which has kept carefully within
its legal rights in the matter. But has il
done so in the larger, broader sense, which
transcends narrow legal limitations? Tha,
is the point to be investigated. Somebody is
terribly to blame If the Carnegie Steel
Company can show that it has dealt justly
and fairly with its men, then the verdict
must be in its favor, and its opponents de.
nounced. But in considering this question
it must be kept in mind that merely ad.
herring TO the letter of the law will not bt
sufficient to exculpate it from blame. There
are duties and responsibilities in the rela
tions of great corporations to their employees
which rise above the stipulations of the law
and must be considered on the highest plan,
Of justice and equity.
Both parties-the Carnegie Steel Com
pany and the Amalgamated Workmen-ar,
now before the bar of public opinion to jus
tify themselves for this shameless violation
of the public peace. 1t behooves them t.
make the best defense possible for the out
rage that has been committed. The Stee
Company must show that it was guiltless o
adequate provocation, in order to be &C
quilted of responsibility, and on the othe
hand the strikers must show that they ha
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