New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-02-11
THEY DISAPPROvE THE PINKERTONS. -.

REPORT OF THE SENATE SPECIAL COMMITTEE
APPOINTED AFTER THE HOMESTEAD RIOT.
Washington, Feb. 1O-Mr Gallinger. from the Select
report TO the Senate the facts In relation TO the
employment for private purposes Of armed bodies
OF men or detectives In connection with differences
between wOrkmen and employers. submitted the
port OF the committee to-day. The side OF the do
ecves was presented by fourteen different witnesses.
prominent among them being the Pinkerton, them
selves. The parts played BY the Hnkerton agency
In the late Homestead strike detailed by II.
{. Frck OF the Carnegie Company, Robert A. Pin
kertOn and others. Directly bearing upon the Qncs-
lions Of labor and labor strikes appears the testimony
OF seventeen witnesses, and regarding the power OF
the courts to interfere to prevent labor strikes Is
set out the testimony Of four witnesses. Fifteen
additional witnesses bear testimony the subject
OF arbitration and other parts Of the inquiry pursued
by the committee.
The committee found that even the proprietors
Of the detective agencies admitted that the presence
Of the socallcd Pinketons at strike served unduly
to inHame the passions Of the strikers, and the
employment OF detectives in the guise OF mechanics
impressed the committee with the belief that II IS
an utterly vicious system responsible much OF tho
ieeling and bad blood displayed. The committee
expresses the opinion that If firms and corporations
would discontinue the employment of armed men on
occasions OF threatened or existing strike, their
interests would be better subserved.
1t strikes your committee" the report continues,
"that If Mr.. Frlck had acted upon the Views laid
down by Mr.. Andrew Carnegie in his article The
Results Of the Labor Trouble, In The Forum mag
azine, which, In recent letter TO the chairman OF
this committee Mr. Carnegie reaflirmcd, and had
further extended negotiations with his workmen, the
Homestead strike might have been avoided The
committee declares that the employment of private
armed guard at Homestead unnecessary. There
evidence. they say, 10 show the slightest
damage was attempted TO be done to property
on the part of the strikers.
At the same time there seems to he no excuse for
the scenes of disorder and terrorism for which the
strikers were themselves responsible. Laboring men
should the lesson TINT they cannot better their
condition by violating the law or resisting lawful
authority.
The committee reached these concusons l.
Rights Of employers and workmen are equal Elm
poyers have an undoubed right, provided they hihl
their agreements, 10 employ and dismiss men at
pleasure; 3-WOrkmen can legally organize for mutual
protection and Improvement 4-Whcn dissatisfied with
wages or hours they should attempt arbitration D.
Failing In this, they have right TO discontinue WORK.
either singy or in body 6-liavins disconthaed'
they have no right either legal or moral by force
or intimidation keep others from taking their places
or to attempt to occupy njure or destroy the prop
erty of their employers; TN all controversies arp
traton having failed reliance should be placed upon
the power and adequacy Of the law; 9-Wheher as
sumedly legal not, the employment OF armed booies
Of men for private purposes either by employers or
emploves should not be resOrcd to, and such use Is
an assumption Of the States authority by private
citizens: Estates have undoub'ed authority to iegls
late against the employment OF armed BODIES ol men
for private purposes but the power OF Congress 10 50
legisate Is not clear, although 1t would seem thst
Congress ought not TO be powerrss TO preoou. .'
movement of such bodies from one state tn another
In conclusion the committee says mat lts ihVes
LEGATIONS have led II TO believe that the iau' Is no.
wholly on one side. that middle ground seems 10 pe
IN The direction OF arbitration. NO RECOMMENDATIONS
are made.