The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-07-08
The Homestead Affair Discussed in
the Senate.
A NOVEL POINT RAISED AGAINST
PINKERTON'S HIRELINGS.
An Alliance Statesman Says They Are an
Army and Their Existence is Therefore
UnconstitutionaI-In the Senate, Mr.
Hale Answers Mr.. Vests Attempt to
Make Political Capital.


Make Political Capital.
WASHINGTON, July AFTER routine
morning business the two resolutions Of
fered yesterday by Messrs. Gallinger and
Peffer as to the labor conflict at Home,
stead, Pa, were laid before the Senate.
Mr.. Quay suggested that under the
rule and law they bereferred to the COM
mittee on contingent expenses.
Mr.. Hale thought the law and rule re-
quired the reference of such resolutions
to the committee on contingent expenses.
He hoped the resolutions would 90 there
and be reported back tomorrow, SO that
this most important subject might not
be further delayed.
Mr.. Hale said his suggestion to refer
both resolutions to the committee on
contingent expenses was made in the in
terest of expedition. When the report
came up tomorrow, the Senate could de-
eide whether the matter should be re-
ferred to a select committee or one of
the regular committees of the Senate,
and then the committee could proceed
at once to investigate this most calami-
touS occurrence.
Mr.. 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
government or state government. The
senators were
Confronted with the Labor Problem
in its most impressive form. He under
stood that Carnegie large establishment
had some $25,Oo0,00O capital in
vested, and employed some five
thousand men, on whom many thousand
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 1t had
existed for years. Its communicating
chief, like the barons of the Middle Ages,
had force which he could increase at
those who paid him. The presence of
the Pinkerton armed force at Homestead
was contempt of the authority of the
state of Pennsy lvania. 1t was difficult
for American citizens, whether in the
right or the wrong, to submit to being
driven by all armed force. He main
tanned that the citizens of Homestead
were right. He maintained that
at the time of the assault on those peo-
pie at Homestead, they were where they
had right to be. The militia of Penn
sylvania might be called out and the in
habitants of Homestead might be exter-
minated, but the laboring men of the
country were so conscious of the exist
ence of the right to continuous employ
ment during good behavior that they
would continue to resist The social
war would still go on, and it would be-
come the duty of Christian statesmen to
find some road out of the difficulty. 1t
was
Reproach to American Civilization
that senators were seeing two armed
forces in battle array and were confess
ing they had no power except to inquire.
Mr.. Voorhees, treated the tragical oc-
currences at Homestead as practical
commentary on Mr.. Hale's resolution as
to the effects of the two policies of pro-
lection and "tariff for revenue only"
He said that those poor people at Home
stead who had lain down their lives had
been led to believe the tariff was pro-
tecting them; but never had there been a
the country
Mr.. Hale replied to Mr.. VOORHEES, and
expressed regret that the Senator should
have disregarded the gravity of the occa-
sion, and should have rushed into a heat
eel, angry and partisan debate.
Mr.. Butler inquired whether there had
been any demand from the authorities of
Pennsylvania for an investigation by
Congress.
Mr.. Hale replied that was one of the
questions which would be considered and
discussed. But the senator from Indiana
had seen fit to intrude part
isan discussion and refer to reso-
luton submitted by him Mr.. Hale.
some two weeks ago. He could only
say, in passing, that every statement in
that resolution touching the present con-
dition OF American labor would be made
good long before this session closed bG
facts and figures irrefutable and un-
answerable. The Senator from Indiana
had charged that the Republican party
and its policy were responsible for the
sad events in that little village near
Pittsburg. He would not go into that
question now. The Republican party
and its policy were responsible for the
building up of such great industries as
ClOoC bo ollOhACoUCtiu DCUlllCuGHs LII
either could be constructed today under
the devices of American wit and under
the
Manipulating Hand of American Labor
the finest ordnance material and finest
armor plates in the world. The
Republican party would duplicate
Bethlehem and triplioate Homestead,
instead of having other establishments
grow up at New Castle and Essen and
elsewhere in Europe.
Discussion having closed the resolu-
tions were referred to the committee on
contingent expenses.
Mr.. Call offered a distinct resolution
which was referred to the judiciary COM
mittee, as to whether employment of
private armed force is not an act of trea-
son and levying of war against the Unit
ed States.
ARE THEY AN ARMY?
An Alliance Statesman Says Pinkertons