Evening star., 1936-09-25
Pinkerton Operatives De-
fend Practice Before Spe-
ciaI Senate Committee.
ARMY OFFICER NAMED
AS HAVING INFORMATION
Espionage Probers Told Personal
Habits of Labor Reported
for 100 Firms.
BY JOHN C. HENRY.

Defending the practice, officials Of
the Pinkerton National Detective Serv.
ice today admitted that information
has been bought from union labor Of
ficials and sought from at least one Of.
dcer in the Army Intelligence Service.
Testimony before the special Senate
committee which is investigating labor
espionage also disclosed that opera
ttves Of the company have shadowed
industrial employees so closely that they
know what the workers read and even
what they do on picnics.
Employees of about 100 industrial
concerns have been under surveillance
Of this nature, it was shown.
Pinkerton officials insisted, however,
that their agents have done no strike
breaking work since the famous
Homestead. Pa, steel riots In 1892.
The Army officer named as available
for information on Communist ac-
tivities was Maj. Herring at Fort
Logan, Kans.
Most Of the Information concerning
the "Pinkertons" was furnished n
testimony by r. A. Pinkerton, president
Of the agency. and Asher Rosseter,
general manager.
Keeps Identity Secret.
A. s. Mason, assistant superintendent
for the Detroit office, gave the informa-
ton that one officer of a local union
had been selling information to the
agency prior to August l, 1885. He L.
not on the pay roll now, Mason said.
Ray L. Burnside, another assistant
superintendent, said he knew of one
union officer now selling information,
but he declined to identify the man on
grounds it would endanger the indi.
vidual.
The union informant Is operating In
Toledo. Burnside said.
The Pinkerton agency paid $4SS, 900
for information in 1885, records
showed although it was explained that
not all Of this was industrial work.
Rossiter said that he knew Of no doc
tors, lawyers, newspaper men or
preachers selling information. White
collar workers. manual laborers and
women are on their agent" Lists, he
said.
Under questioning by Chairman La
Toilette of the Senate Committee, the
Pinkerton witnesses admitted being
forced out of Wisconsin by Q law re-
quiring registration Of all operatives.
It is thought likely that La Toilette
will recommend national legislation
patterned after the State law.
Four years of investigating work for
the Pennsylvania Railroad brought
Pinkerton agency revenue of $217, 900.
testimony showed.
Relentlessly, Chairman La Toilette
insisted that the large Industrial ac-
counts Of the company were labor
espionage" without distinction between
labor organization involved.
Rossiter insisted throughout that
the various billings for radical" in
vestigations were directed exclusively
at Communists.
Other Firms Mentioned.
General Motors, Fisher Bodies, Beth
lehem Steel and Baldwin Locomotive
companies had large accounts with
Pinkerton, it was revealed.
An automobile account spoke Of
shadowing Adolph Germer, whom Sem
ator La Toilette identified as an or
ganizer for the Committee on Indus.
trial Organization.
The picnic" investigation was con-
Quoted for Fisher Bodies.
Rossiter explained that the company
has about II solicitors Of business and
admitted that need of labor espionage
may be cited in trying to pick up
business. Newspapers and labor pub.
locations are watched for news Of labor
disputes, 1t was testified
At the outset of today's session La
Toilette read q telegram from Theo-
dore Roche, president of the San
Francisco Police Commission. asking
that Police Chief Quinn be allowed to
defend himself against charges made
yesterday by ]. H. McCarty, salesman
for Lake Erie Chemical Co.
La Toilette said q transcript Of the
NcCarty testimony would be fur.
hished to Roche and Quinn and they
will be given an opportunity to ap.
pear later II they wish.
Pinkerton and Rossiter were then
sworn In together.
Owned 20 Fer Cent.
Pinkerton, who Is in his early 30s,
said he was 70 per cent owner Of tho
Pinkerton National Detective Agency,
with the remaining control being di.
vided between two aunts. Mrs. Anna
p. Gibb and Mrs. Mary p. Carlisle.
There are 1000 shares Of stock di.
vided among them, he said.
Saying he had received no salary
but Is compensated solely through divi.