The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-27
ru~ n,our TO EMPLOY wArcnmEs

| confess that We nave cn'o' s'
feeling OF repugnance towards the Pinkerton
agency. and We now just as frankly confess
that we are inclined to believe, after investi-
eating the reports. that there was more OF
Ignorance and prejudice than of rational
! Judgment involved in our views.
Being summoned before Judge Oates Con-
pressional committee the Pinkerton brothers
last week made written statement OF their
business under oath. which we have hereto
fore refrained from commenting upon until
now TO SEQ whether there would be any con-
tradictiops of their statements Of facts
None have been made that we know of.
The Plpkertons said that the men en-
ployed by them we're selected with great
| care and only after a full investigation OF
their characters and antecedents; that not
one Of their watchmen has ever been con-
vcted Of a crime They call attention 70
the fact that in large cities where thieves
and burglars abound an agency for watch
ing and guarding the property Of banks
residences. warehouses; Offices, stores 6c.'
| ia absolutely necessary, and they state that
this business is one in which many otner
reputable concerns are engaged as well as
themselves. They pointedly remark that
they must have the same right TO furnish
watchmen and guards for manufacturers as
for banks and insurance companies.
Now we wish 10 say that the business OF
watching and guarding private property IS
a business just as legitimate as any other,
and if the Messrs. Pinkerton are engaged IN
that business alone. selecting their men with
care and using all proper precautions IN
supplying them with arms and in other
WAYS TO guard against breaches OF the peace,
we see nothing whatever in their business
calling for condemnation. Though the
PinkertOns made no reference to the detec-
tive element Of their business we all, never
theless, know that this is feature of 1t,
and. though our sensbiHties naturally turn
from it with something like disgust, we all
know, nevertheless. that the detective is
now an indispensable factor in the life of
large cities.
After giving this account of their business
in general the Pinkertons took up the mat
ter of what occurred at Homestead They
state that their men we're put on the barges
20 be towed to Homestead without a single
weapon having been issued to a man. That
weapons nailed up in boxes were put upon
the same barges. but it was not intended
that the boxes should be opened until the
men were within the precincts of the CON-
pany's property at Homestead. when they
we're to be issued to them 10 be used in re-
pelling violence if an attempt were made 10
unlawfully take possession Ofthe company's
property. We remark at this point that Dir.
Carnegie had perfect right to employ these
watchmen to guard his property. and he
had perfect right to issue arms TO them
when they were on his property to be used
by them in repelling unlawful attacks upon
it if any such should be made.
The Pinkertous state further that the
Shenffs chief deputy accompanied the
bar3es on which the men were, and that it
was distinctly understood that he had full
authority to deputize them as special depu
ties if occasion arose for it. and the men
were instructed that they were not to re-
ceiye any arms unless they were first depu-
tized by the Sherif's deputy. They state
further that the firing was commenced by
the strikers, and there seems now to be no
question about this They also say that one
of their men. Klein, had been killed and
five others wounded before their men even
fred a shot.
Now we want 10 remark at this point that
when the strikers commenced firing upon
the barges it was the duty of the Deputy
Sheriff to command the peace and to order
the strikers to dispense as being riotous
mob. If they did not, it was his duty TO
constitute all the men in bis presence. in
Guiding those on the barges. as by-standers,
a posse C0mmlatus, aud it was his duty to
require them all to use such force as might
be necessary, including, of course, the use
of firearms, to dispense the mob. This
Deputy Sheriff signally failed in the per-
Torrance of his duty in not pursuing this
course. But, having omitted it, then every
principle of self-defense authorized the
Pinkerton men to return fire which had
been unlawfully commenced upon them
and upon the heads Of the unfortunate
victims will have to rest the responsibility
for the loss of their lives. All this assumes
that the strikers commenced the firing and
that seems now to be an incontestable fact
The Pinkertons very pointedly say that they
have no quarrel with organized labor. and
that the only quarrels that organized labor
has with them grow out of collisions that
take place between them when organized
labor is attempting to unlawfully destroy
private property and they--the Pinkertons--
are attempting to preserve the property,
and in illustration of their experience with
organized labor they said:
If the owners of mills. factories. mines
railroads and other valuable property can
not employ watchmen TO protect life and
property. than all capital so invested is
practically at the mercy of secret labor or
CARNATIONS, whose tyranny and despotism
exceed anything ever known in the his
tory OF the world.
These societies intimidate whole com
munities by threats of murder and are de-
termined upon ruin and destruction OF prop
erty II their demands. no matter how IN
reasonable or impracticable, are not COM
Piled with. In the case of the Molly Ma
CURES they terroriZed the public authorities
and tor years were absolute ia their rule of
murder and destruction of property. Every
large strike has shown that these labor or
CARNATIONS will murder and destroy prop
erty out Of sheer wantonness and revenge.
During the Chicago Stove CompRnys strike
the strikers concealed explosives in mold
IN order to cause an explosion when the mol
4.Ya N.N =