A. I pretend to say that the railroad officials in western
Pennsylvania, on the part of the Pennsylvania railroad, are tyrants,
and serfs in Russia have better lives to lead than employés on the
Pennsylvania railroad. There is no serfdom in Russia--if the reporter
will make that correction. Slavery has been abolished in America, and
has been abolished in Russia, but there is a modified form of it on the
Pennsylvania----
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. What do you mean when you say that the "hated company discriminates
against the interests of Pittsburgh and western Pennsylvania?"
A. Do you want me to talk on that subject? I can talk for five hours. I
say they have systematically discriminated against Pittsburgh, and they
have ruined it--that is what they have done. They will carry freight
from Pittsburgh--they have systematically discriminated against
Pittsburgh to the extent of twenty-five per cent., and when Colonel
Scott was here, he said he was horrified. He had not dreamed there was
such discrimination. He could not believe it possible; and James Parke,
junior, who was one of our most eminent citizens, a Christian
gentleman, too, he said it was true. Why, said he, I could not believe
it possible. We know it's possible--we know it has ruined Pennsylvania;
and the only thing that is going to help us is a competing road, and
that, thank God, we will have in the course of three or four months.
Q. Let me ask you, what do you mean by discriminating?
A. it means that they will carry freight from Chicago to Philadelphia
cheaper than they will carry from Chicago to Pittsburgh; that they will
carry cheaper from Chicago to Albany than they will carry it to
Pittsburgh; that Pittsburgh merchants can take goods to Boston, and
take them to San Francisco a great deal cheaper--paying the freight to
Boston and back--a great deal cheaper than they can ship them direct to
San Francisco. There were three thousand tons shipped by Wilson, Walker
& Co., to Boston, and from Boston to San Francisco, paying the freight
to Boston and back. That is what made trouble in this community. They
have been systematically oppressing Pittsburgh. There is no
manufacturer unless he has got drawbacks and rebates.
By Mr. Means:
Q. This trouble might just as well have fallen on some other portion of
the State as it did on Pittsburgh, would it not?
Q. It could have, and I think would, had we not anticipated the whole
trouble here. There was not a community in the State of Pennsylvania,
which would have sympathized to the extent that we did. I will answer
why: we would have sympathized because we have been systematically
oppressed for the last fifteen years. We have been practically ruined.
Q. This thing was as likely to occur at Harrisburg or Scranton or
Reading, as it was at Pittsburgh, but, unfortunately, Pittsburgh was
the place.
A. We bore the blunt of it. We were the first to receive it, and it
found the community in full sympathy with the strikers, because of
their sufferings. You systematically oppress a people, and revolution
is not only right, but it is a duty.
Q. You say the community--did your merchants give aid and abet in this
strike?
A. They did not. They were in sympathy with the strikers; but I was up
on Sunday, there at the Union depot, and I saw the people. Saw that
they were burning, and all that kind of thing. I did not see a single
Pittsburgher. They were all strange faces, and not a face there that
was familiar to me, and I am thoroughly familiar with Pittsburgh. They
were tramps gathered from all parts of the Union.
Q. That is not the question I asked you. The question I asked you was
this: if the merchants of the city of Pittsburgh sympathized with the
strikers?
A. They did.
Q. Sympathized with the mob in their violence?
A. No, sir. I went up to the Union depot on Sunday, between one and
three o'clock in the afternoon. I saw that mob, and there was not a
single Pittsburgh face in it. They were all strangers--tramps, and the
strikers had gone away.
Q. No strikers among them.
A. No; I did not see any.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Was there any sympathy expressed by the good portions of the
citizens of this city after the burning and destruction of property had
commenced?
A. On the contrary, the utmost detestation of the ravages of the mob.
They sympathized with the strikers in their demand for higher wages.
Ninety cents is not much for a man to live on, and I would like to see
you gentlemen try to live on it.
Q. Was there any expression of sympathy on the part of citizens with
the mob that attacked the troops in the round-house before the burning
took place?
A. I rather imagine that the feeling of the community was that the men
who had murdered----
Q. I want you to answer the question, whether there was an expression
and sentiment to that effect.
A. No; no organized expression.
Q. Was there any individual expression?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Of good citizens?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Justifying the attack upon the troops in the round-house?
A. No; not justifying the attack on the troops in the round-house?
Q. Or in their retreat from the round-house?
A. No; but there was a feeling that it was no more than retributive
justice--there was no urging that to be done.
Q. There seems to be an article in the nature of an advertisement,
commencing, "Attention Citizens," &c.
A. I cannot tell you about that. That is an advertisement. I did not
see that, and I do not know who put it in, even.
By Mr. Means:
Q. That part you claim that you are not responsible for?
A. I do not know anything about an advertisement. A man pays for it and
he gets them in.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Was that paid for?
A. I presume so. I am not business manager. I am responsible for
whatever is written there. I assume that responsibility wholly.
Q. Do you know of any articles that were published in your paper that
were calculated to arouse and inflame the people that were paid for for
insertion?
A. No, sir; I did not.
By Mr. Means:
Q. Have you got any idea who wrote that article, if you were paid for
it?
A. I do not know who wrote it. I do not know anything about that.
Q. In writing an article--supposing I was even competent to write an
article for your paper, and would wish to suppress my name, would not
you require to have my name, so that if you were come back upon you
could get it?
A. In regard to that, that is not an article, it is an advertisement.
Q. It might come under that head. I think it would keep you very busy
to make that out an advertisement. I do not claim to be a newspaper
man, but it would keep me pretty busy to make that out?
A. It was paid for, or it would not have been in, because I have
assumed the responsibility for everything that was in there, but I do
not assume for that, because I do not know anything about it.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. That was paid for as an advertisement?
A. I have no doubt that our business manager could give you proper
information. I am willing to assume any responsibility. I do not shirk
that, but that is a matter that is not in my line. That is a business
advertisement.
By Mr. Means:
Q. I am not a newspaper man, but, I suppose, if I should write an
article for your paper, you would require the name?
A. Look at the position it occupies; it is put among the
advertisements, I believe.
Senator Reyburn: No, sir.
Mr. Means: No, sir; it would hardly bear that construction.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Is not the editor of a paper responsible for anything that is
published in his paper, whether it is an advertisement or anything
else?
A. He is.
Q. And therefore you are responsible, as editor of that paper, for that
advertisement?
A. I am.
Q. Now, give us the name of the man that had that advertisement put in?
A. I cannot.
Q. Can you give us any party that can give us the name?
A. Our business manager probably could.
Q. Who is he?
A. E. G. Minnemeyer.
* * * * *
W. F. Aull, _sworn_:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. Pittsburgh.
Q. Were you a member of the National Guard of the State of Pennsylvania
in July last?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. What position did you hold?
A. Captain of the Eighteenth regiment.
Q. Did you receive an order from General Latta, ordering General
Brinton to take a certain route after leaving the round-house, in case
he was driven from the round-house?
A. I received an order from General Latta, after they had left the
round-house, to deliver to General Brinton, with instructions to
deliver to him at the arsenal. It was then supposed he was located at
the arsenal.
Q. Did you deliver that order to General Brinton?
A. No, sir.
Q. Can you give the substance of the order?
A. Yes, sir. On Sunday morning, we were lying at Torrens station.
Communication had been cut off, both by telegraph and couriers. We had
no communication with General Latta at all, and Colonel Guthrie
requested me to go to the Union depot, and endeavor, if possible, to
obtain an interview with General Latta, and ask him what orders he had
to issue for our regiment. I went to the Union depot, and, on my way
there, I passed the Philadelphia troops just coming out of the
round-house. I went to the Union depot and reported to General Latta
that the troops were out of the round-house, and on their way out Penn
avenue--I do not know where. He waited a few moments, and a messenger
came in, stating that they had left the round-house, and had gone to
the arsenal. Another one came in in a few moments, saying that they
were quartered in the arsenal. General Latta, after deliberating for a
few moments over the matter, and consulting one or two parties there,
requested me to remain a few moments until he would write an order. I
did not know what the substance of the order was at all, and, after I
had started, he told me to take that order to General Brinton at the
arsenal, and, as soon as I left the Union depot, I read the order,
which was instructing General Brinton to proceed by way of Penn avenue
to East Liberty, and join Colonel Guthrie. I went immediately to the
arsenal, and I found that they were not quartered there at all. I made
inquiry and was told they had gone on out Butler street. I drove on up
Butler street as rapidly as possible, and when I got to Sharpsburg, or
two miles beyond there, they told me they were stationed two miles
ahead of me, on the other side of the river. There was a gentleman
remarked there that they were striking for Butler county. I deliberated
a few moments whether I would follow them, or report first to the
regiment, and consult Colonel Guthrie. I finally concluded I would go
to my regiment, at East Liberty, and, if Colonel Guthrie thought it
advisable, after consulting him, I would go across the river, and
deliver the order to General Brinton. Upon handing the order to Colonel
Guthrie, he instructed me to take command of the regiment, and he would
go to town and see General Latta in person, which he did. I never saw
the order from that time until this. A day or two afterwards, however,
I received a telegram from General Latta, requesting me, for the first
time, to report what action I had taken in the matter, and I reported
to him by letter, which is published in the Adjutant General's report,
I see.
Q. Did you read the order to Colonel Norris, or did he see the order,
to your knowledge?
A. Yes; I showed him the order at the arsenal. He overtook me at the
arsenal coming up a different route, and started for East Liberty. I
hailed him, and told him he was on the wrong road. I told him I had an
order here, producing it, I think. I think I told him I had an order
for General Brinton, and I was going on to overtake him, and he turned
immediately and went on ahead of me. I went back to my buggy and he
went on ahead of me, and I did not overtake him. He understood,
however, what was in the order. I believe he read the order before it
left General Latta, at the Union depot.
Q. Who was responsible for the delivery of that order, handed you by
General Latta for General Brinton?
A. Who was responsible for its delivery?
Q. For its delivery or its non-delivery?
A. My instructions were to deliver the order to General Brinton in the
arsenal. When I found he was not in the arsenal, and my instructions
being to report back to my regiment, I considered my first duty, after
I found he had gone away outside of my route, was to report to my
colonel and see what he would do. He then advised me to remain where I
was, and said he would go with the order to General Latta, which he
did. He took the order, put it in his pocket, and left the regiment on
Sunday about eleven o'clock, I think, and went in and had an interview
with General Latta.
Q. You were at Torrens station?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. You know nothing of the movement of the troops during Saturday night
and Sunday morning?
A. I received an order on Sunday morning, at two o'clock, to join
Colonel somebody, from Wall station, and move to Twenty-eighth street.
We went to Torrens station, and received ammunition sent there for
them, and waited there until the next morning, and they never put in an
appearance.
* * * * *
August Ammon, _sworn_:
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. Where do you reside?
A. City of Pittsburgh.
Q. What is your occupation?
A. I am insurance agent.
Q. Are you the father of Robert Ammon, known as Bob Ammon during the
troubles in July?
A. Yes; I am.
Q. Have you any knowledge of the occurrences during that time in
Allegheny City?
A. I have, somewhat. I felt, of course, it was natural that I should
feel an interest, seeing that my son was concerned there.
Q. Were you in Allegheny City at the time?
A. No, sir.
Q. Have you any personal knowledge of any of the occurrences over
there?
A. Not of the occurrences. My aims were directed to inspire Robert as
much as possible--to prevent destruction of property. I sent messages
and communications to him frequently, almost hourly.
Q. To that effect?
A. Yes, sir.
By Senator Yutzy:
Q. Your son Robert testified in Philadelphia that he had some
communications with some parties that were concerned in the railroad,
either the officials of the railroad company and the civil authorities
of Allegheny City--have you any of these communications--the originals?
A. Yes, sir; Robert handed them to me in the jail of Allegheny City,
and I turned them over to his lawyer. I would have brought them up this
morning, but Mr. Miller was sick. I did not go to see them until this
afternoon. I have those that I deemed the most important here.
By Senator Reyburn:
Q. In whose handwriting are they?
A. I do not know.
Q. Do you know your son's handwriting?
A. Yes. They were dispatches which he received there.
Q. Just select them in their order?
A. Now here is the first one I present here. I have read them over so
often that I am familiar with them, and if you will permit I will read
them.
By Senator Reyburn: