The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1906-12-06

\ sensational article appears in
a recent number OF Appleton's
Magazine. 1t is from the pen of
Thomas Beet, former, chief OF. Scot
land Yard, the most famous detec :
i've bureau in the world. Under
the caption of s'Methods of Ameri-
can Private Detective Agencies, -
Mr.. Beet says, among other things:
There is another phase of the
private detective evil (which has
worked untold damage in America.
This is the private constabulary
system, by which armed forces are
employed during labor troubles.
1t is a condition akin to the feudal
system OF warfare, when private
interests can employ troops of mer-
cenaries to wage war at their com
mand.
''Ostensibly, these armed private
detectives are hurried to the scene
of the trouble to maintain order
and prevent destruction of prop
erty, although his work should
always be left to the official guard
ians of the peace. That there is a
sinister motive back of the employ
ment of these men has been shown
time and again. Have you ever
followed the episodes of a great
strike and noticed that most of the
disorderly outbreaks were so guild
ed as to work harm to the interests
of the strikers7 1t is not going too
far to state that many of the great
strikes have been lost to the work.
ers because after a time public
sympathy and support were with
drawn. And this change of public
sentiment Invariably follows the
alleged lawless and violent ac of
the strikers. Therefore, instead of
preventing these acts, it is to the
interest OF the employers that they
should occur.
''In this, perhaps, lies usually
the reason why private detectives
are brought on the scene. Before
every duty to the public as a
whole, their duty consists in bring
ing about the result desired by
tie employer-that is, breaking
the strike. Time and again it has
been shown that private detectives
employed every effort, fair or foul,
toliccomplish this end by turning
public opinion against the strikers.
private detectives, unsuspected in
their guise of workmen, mingle
with the strikers and by incendiary
talk or action sometimes stir them
up to violence. When the work
men will not participate it is an
easy matter to stir up the dis
orderly faction which is Invariably
attracted by Il strike, although it
has no connection Herewith.
"puring the famous strike of car
oallders in a Western city some
years ago, the country rang with
details OF acts of extreme violence
alleged to have been committed by
lhe strikers Cars were destroyed,
buildings burned and rioting car
rled on until in disgust the public
Withdrew all sympathy from the
striking workmen. There proba bly,
were Instances in which the strik-
ers were responsible, but to my
knowledge much of the lawlessness
was melted by private detectives,
who led mobs in the destruction OF
property.
"1n one of the greatest of our
strikes, that involving the steel in
dustry, over two thousand armed
detectives were employed supposed,
~ to protect property, while several
hundred more were scattered in the
ranks of strikers as workmen
Many of the latter became officers
IN the labor bodies, helped to make
laws for the organizations, made
lncendlary speeches, cast theil
votes for the most radical move
ments made by the strikers, parti
clpated in and led bodies of the
members in the acts of lawlesSness
that eventually caused the sending
OF State troops and the declaration
OF martial law. While doing this
these spies within the ranks were
m liking dlily reports Of the plan
AMI pui poses Ct the strikers TX