The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1894-05-04
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY.
AN OPEN LETTER
To the President of the United States
by Queen City Assembly, No. 3413.
SEATTLE, Wash,
March 10, 1894.

SEATTLE, Wash,
March 10, 1894.
To Grover Cleveland, President, of
the United States of America
DEAR SIR Possibly you re-
member one of the bloodiest con-
tests that every darkened the
history of a conflict between capital
and labor in this country, the one
that took place at Homestead, Pa,
in 1892, between the Carnegie
Frick Steel Company and their
employees. The employment of
Pinkerton thugs and their midnight
assault upon the village of Home
stead, the murders of that dreadful
night, and the subsequent trial, do
not require recapitulation to recall
the facts to memory. Mr.. Carnegie,
the philanthropist, was at that time
hidden away among the highlands
of Scotland, preparing his dream
the Reunited States British
American Union. This same An
drew Carnegie & Co., on the second
day of March last, was again
brought to public notice by the
United States Navy, making public
some interesting facts in regard to
a certain species of Government
robbery perpetrated by this same
Carnegie, Prick & Co. Defective
armor plates to the value of some
millions of dollars had been imposed
upon the Government at the Car
negie, Prick & Co. Works. Mr..
Cleveland, you know these armor
plates were intended for the build
ing of new battle ships for the
United States Navy, and, conse-
quently, this worse than robbery
by this company might result in
the destruction of thousands of
lives or in the capture of the
highest -class vessels of the navy by
any enemy with which it was en-
gagged. Mr., Cleveland, you well
know in England this would be
called treason. But in the United
States it simply results in an appeal
from the decision of the Secretary
of the United States Navy to you,
Mr.. Cleveland, as President of the
United States. And on January
10, 1894, you, Grover Cleveland.
assessed the damages against the
Carnegie Prick Company for viola
ton of contract at $40, 4S4. 94
You, as Chief Executive of the
United States, have assumed the
domain of the United States Courts.
You have assumed the province of
judge and jury. Was not this
matter of too serious Importance for
you to arraign and settle with the
imposition of a fine? Fraudulent
contractors-like Carnegie, Frick
Il Co.-could well afford to pay a
fine during the progress of their
government robberies. This is one
of the monstrous instances of in
fanny known in our history. Such
a violation of contract in supplying
plate armor for ships of the Amer
lean Navy should have been
brought before Congress for the
purpose of appointing a committee
of experts to investigate the fraud
from beginning to end-fraud in.
volving the lives of American citi
zens and the safety of the Ameri
Navy, together with Mr.. Carnegie's
dream-the Reunited States-ths
British American Union. Yes, frs
build worthless war vessels, ther
bring on conflict between powers
Mr.. Cleveland, you know well tina
men who coolly and deliberatel,
planned the bloody conflict a
Homestead in 1892 would, if the!
had chance, plan the destruction
of the United States Navy and tn
United States Government. Mr.
Cleveland, you may have a heavie
task on hand in this business thai
appears at first sight. The who'll
history of this business is mos
grievous and painful to all tru
Americans and should be fully in
vestigated by Congress, and al
parties to this conspiracy punished
for treason.
GEORGE CRoMACK,
f. ALBRIGHT,
p. HI. MCKERNAN,
Committee.