Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-07-22

/ TIE STORY OF THE TROUBLE AT HOMESTEAD
| ToLD-So ARMS WERE Used UNTIL SOME OF
THEIR MEN HAD BEEN KILLED-AcIs OF vIo
| LENcE COMMITTED BY STRIKERS IN THE PAST
The PInkerton brothers were given an CD
portunity this morning to explain and defend
the workings of their system by the special
committee of the House committee on the iu-
dietary which has been engaged in an investi
| cation OF the labor troubles at Homestead and
of the operations of the Pinkerton system.
| Messrs. Hayes, Devlin and Wright of the knights
of Labor were present to watch the proceedings.
Before the investigation began. Mr.. Devlin said
that as the representatives of the Knights of La
Dor they had prepared some questions they de-
sired the committee to ask the Pinkertons relative
to their methods of business. Chairman Oates
said that the committee would examine the
questions and take such q course as II thought
proper. Robert Pinkerton took the stand and
laid before the committee q statement that had
been prepared. Messrs. Oates, Bynum and
Broderick, who were the three members pres-
ent, retired to examine the statement. The
two Pinkerton brothers, Robert A. and William
A. Pinkerton. were present with their counsel,
Mr. W. d. Guthrie Of Seward, Guthrie d
Merawetz Of New York city. Mr.. Oates an
nounced that the statement would be admitted
IN evidence. IL Is as fOIlOws:
THE PrNKERToNs' STATEMENT
WASHINGTON, d. c., July 20, 1892
To the Judiciary Committee Of the House Of
Representatives:
You have asked us to appear before you and
testify in regard to the business conducted by
US under the name of Pinkertons' National De-
tective Agency. The present inquiry by your
committee arises from the recent deplorable
events at Homestead, in the state Of Pennsylva-
mia, and we are informed that statement on
our part of our connection with strikes and Of
the general method Of carrying ON this branch
Of our business will aid the committee in its
investigation.
The agency was founded in 1850 BY the late
Allan PInkerton, and during the last twenty
years it has frequently furnished privste watch
men to protect the property Of Individuals and
corporations during strikes. The men en-
ployed by us in this strike work are selected
with great care and only after a full investiga-
ton Of their characters and antecedents. Not
single instance can be cited where we have
knowingly employed unreliable or untrust-
worthy men or where any Of our vstchmen
have been convicted Of Q crime. Moreover,
We have seldom permitted our watch
men to carry arms for the pur,.
pose OF protecting property and life
unless they were authorized by the proper
legal authorities or sworn in deputy sherifs.
Our men have never wantonly or recklessly
fired single shot in any of these strikes and
have only used their arms as the last extremity
In order to protect life. We have consistently re-
fused to permit our watchmen 70 bear arms
without special legal authority or a. deputy
sheriffs, even when on private property, and we
had no intention of varying from this rule in
the Homestead strike.
THE HOMESTEAD STRIKE
When first requested to send watchmen to
protect the Homestead plant and property Of
the Carnegie Steel Company, Limited, We re-
fused to do so unless all our men should be
sworn in deputy sheriffs before going TO
Homestead. We were then assured that the
sheriff Of Allegheny county, Pa, knew that our
men were going to Homestead to act q watch
and protect its workmen from violence We
we're further assured that the sheriff
had promised, Immediately upon any
outbreak or disturbance, to deputize all
our watchmen as sheriff deputies of it became
necessary for the protection Of life and prop
erty. On that condition only did We consent
TO furnish about 300 watchmen. A large num-
Der Of these meu were our regular employees,
who could be thoroughly trusted for integrity,
prudence and sobriety. The remainder were
men whom we employed from time to time or
who were known and recommended to us.
They did not go into the state Of Pennsylvania
as an armed body or force, and We should not
have permitted or assented to this.
NOT AN ARMED FORCE.
There was no intention or purpose Whatever
of arming them until they we're on the property
of the company at Homestead and until and
unless they had been sworn in as the sherifrs
deputies The sheriff's chief deputy. Gray,
accompanied our men, being on the tug towing
the barges, anditwas distinctly understood that
he had the authority to duly deputize them in case
of necessity. The boxes containing the arms
and ammunition were shipped from Chicago
and were to be delivered at the Homestead
yards. The instructions to our men were that
they should not be armed unless previously
deputized by the sheriff. As matter Of fact,
the boxes on board the barges were not opened
and the arms and ammunition were not dis
tributed until after the strikers had commenced
firing on the watchmen and it became evident
that il was matter Of self-defense,
for life or death. Klein had been
murdered by the strikers and about FIVE other
watchmen shot and wounded before our men
began their fire in self-defense. Even then II
was impossible te attempt to shoot those firing
at the barges because the strikers made
breastwork for themselves by placing women
and children in front and firing from behind
them. Not single woman or child was in
jured by our men,
WHAT THE STRIKERS PROMISED.
When our men surrendered the leaders Of the
strikers solemnly promised full protection to
property and life. They knew that our men
surrendered because the wounded required at
tention and for the purpose of saving further
loss of life. After the surrender all our men,
including the wounded and helpless, were
brutally beaten and robbed by the strikers,
and the leaders made no real or honest effort to
protect them. Our men were robbed Of watches,
money. clothing. in fact everything and then
meroilessly dubbed and stoned. Corners,
unable to move or defend himself, was DELHI
erstely shot by one Of the strikers and then
dubbed. Edwards, also wounded aud help
less, was dubbed by another striker with
the butt end Of musket. Both died;
and subsequently another Waterman became
insane and committed suicide "a u result Of the
fearful beating after having surrendered. All
our men were more or less injured. The acts
OF the strikers after our men surrendered would
be disgrace to savages. Yet, because done in
the name Of organized American labor, SYM
patty. II not encouragement, is shown for such
deeds b. part Of the press and by political
demagogues.
DO NOT sHIRK RESPONSIBILITY.
We do not shirk responsibility for any Of our
acts in this or any other strike. The coming
murder trials ought to bring out the truth and
uphold the law. Our actions will then be
shown to have been legal from beginning to
end. Whatever may be the present prejudice
against our agency, we shall patiently wait the
sober reflection Of the country, in the CONT