The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-25

PrrrsBuEaH., Pa, Nov. 24.-The senn'
torial committee investigating the
Pinkerton detective system continued
its sessions to-day. The committee is
taking evidence on all the various
phases OF tho Homestead and Other
labor troubles with reference to the
employment of armed detectives by
property owners, and is directing the
inquiry SO as to form an opinion as to
the best course to be pursued to pre-
vent riot and bloodshed.
The first witness examined was Cap
tain W. r. Rodgers, OF the steamer
Little Bill, who described the night at
Homestead on July 6.
William Weihe, until few weeks ago
president OF the Amalgamated Associa-
ton, was called. Ho was requested to
give an account of his life, which he
did, after which he explained the tech
nicalities of the sliding scale. He be-
lieyed that the state of the steel market
would have warranted the Carnegie
Company to pay the rate OF wages de-
nanded by the workmen at Homestead.
The AmaIgamated Association, he de-
clared, was always in favor of arbitra-
tion and their policy was one OF concil-
iation. The strikers would not have
fired upon United States troops or mill
tia as they did upon. the Pinkerton
barges. Pinkertons are hated by the
MIR Mr.. weihe said: "If the Carnegie
Company had kept up the conferences
with the Amalgamated committee in
stead OF issuing an ultimatum, u settle
ment could have been effected by July
l. Witness did not think the company's
property was ever in danger.
The pretext OF employing armed de-
tectives during strike, said he, is very
bad as the workingmen regard it as in
terference with their right.
Wm. G. Roberts, of Homestead, ex-
vice president OF the Amalgamated, told
of the reduction in wages and the num-
Der of men affected.
Senator Gallinger-"Did you believe
in the cessation OF work by the men"
~ did"
"How did the conferencs'of June 2Srd
come about"
ut was at the time OF our convention
and we wished to make one more re-
quest for conference; it did not last
"Do you mean to say that the average
OF wages paid by the Carnegie Company
is lower than that paid by other steel
mills?"
ayes sir"
"Did you as a workman approve OF
the various steps taken by the work.
men in the strike?"
''If you mean the action on July 6. I
certainly did not"
"Well, how did your people think OF
the employment OF Pinkertons"
"We look upon it as an unfair means
of forcing US into submission. The
workmen look on all extra watchmen
with suspicion as they usually try to
get our places"
"What do you as workingman think
OF the employment OF such detectives
10 masquerade as workmen in oder to
spy upon you as they are charged with
doingY
81 would not work for a firm that
would do it.
Witness said that tho Carnegie COM
pany has a black list, and every apple
cant's record is examined before he is
employed.
you attribute that river bank trouble2
"The hatred OF the workmen all over
the country for the 2inkertons caused
it."
"What do you think is the solution
OF these labor problems?"
Arbitration, if compulsory"
"You don't think the United States
can come into state and take away the
state powers?"
Jthink they can"
~ wish they could. Well, what will
be the result to the Amalgamated As
ISOLATION by the settlement of this
striker" N
81 don't think it will have a bad re-
suit. 1t will bind the men closer to-
gether, rs it shows what they must ex-
peCJ III Lue luLuLe'
"Do you think there was any danger
to the property of tho Carnegie COM
pany from the men?"
"No, sir"
"Do YOU think the offer on the part
Of the men to care for the property was
made in good faith%
II certainly know it was"
"How do you think an arbitration
board should be apPointed~
"By the government, and it should be
made compulsory"
Mr.. Wefhe was recalled and said that
he was in favor OF restricted immigra-
ton as partial relief for labor troubles.
He also favored more strict enforcement
OF the auti-contract- labor law, which
he said was being evaded, ii not openly
violated.
"Foreign laborers will accept lower
wages than Americans"
"Yes, sill"
Thomas Mellon, a banker OF this city,
testified that an injunction would not
have answered in the Homestead case
as delay was too great. Witness had
had some experience in handling
strikes in the mining regions and
thought armed watchmen or detectives
necessary from the fact that the laws OF
Pennsylvania are defective and execu-
tion insufficient.
"Can you explain why, in this en-
lightened state OF Pennsylvania, and in
this, the close of tho nineteenth cen.
tury, such laws exist?" asked Senator
Gallinger.
piled, "there is too much party politics
Tor the good of the people. Preterment
for office depends on service rather
than fitness for the position. We sell
dom have a sheriff who can and will do
his duty. There is too much delay in