It is well enough in Scott to say--I think he stated in an independent
communication, that ninety per cent. of the Pennsylvania railroad
employés were loyal. If there were ten per cent. of them loyal I think
it would be nearer the truth, for if on Sunday twenty-five men could
have put down that riot--they have three hundred clerks, and three or
four hundred more in their machine shops, that could have been sworn in
by the mayor--they had a better right to protect them. I suppose it is
well enough for Scott to say, that they were not invited by the
citizens of Pittsburgh. It was a rebellion on the part of the employés,
because of grievances they had, or supposed they had, and when mad riot
was inaugurated after that, other people came in to do it. It was not
the people of Pittsburgh, the taxpayers or representatives of the
people of Pittsburgh, any more than it was in Philadelphia in 1844,
while a riot held possession of that city for over a week,
notwithstanding the military. It was an unfortunate thing that the
military were ever called. They did the very best they could. They
supposed they were coming to restore order, by the quickest method. I
have no complaints to make in that regard, because if our foresight was
as good as our hindsight, I don't think there would have been any
trouble in this case.
By Mr. Lindsey:
Q. Did you have any consultation with the sheriff about his calling for
militia?
A. No, sir; I did not.
Q. When you learned he had made the call, did you take any steps to see
him?
A. I did not.
Q. Didn't you know that he was going to make the call?
A. No; I never heard of any call. I did hear, to some extent, I may
say. I knew that the railroad authorities were more perfectly aware of
the extent of this trouble than the community generally, and when the
strike was made, on Thursday, July 19--when the day for putting the
order for double-headers into effect. That when an officer of the
railroad was assaulted, and the police were asked to arrest that man,
which was done, and immediately communication was made with the State
authorities to provide for a military force.
Q. How do you know that?
A. I don't want you to ask me how I know it exactly.