something that will make a change in the methods of production and distribution of our commodities. Commissioner WEINSTOCK. You are drifting away from my question. What justification is there for you to incite men to arms, for you to incite men to go against your own government when you and the rest of your fellow workers have the power absolutely in your hands by the ballot? Mr. WILLIAMS. The justification of carrying on peaceful strikes, of having control of the situation, and the State sending in a bunch of men that spill our life-blood out in the street. The State don't exist for us only theoretically and hypocritically. Commissioner WEINSTOCK. Then, because the men that you have elected to office have not carried out what you believe is the proper course for them to pursue, you propose to start an open rebellion? Mr. WILLIAMS. No; I didn't say that; I said in defense of our homes at any time that it means annihilation or fight. I am known in my own town as a man that is one of the yellowist, a fellow that don't go out and want to fight, you can take this book at your convenience and go through here and see where on every page I advocated peace, but I want to tell you that when men have to submit to certain conditions, it is a study of psychology. You can sit in your office and philosophize on the conditions of the working class. When I was a young fellow I stood at a mine where 59 had been killed, and heard the women moaning and crying. Somebody else read that in the newspapers and didn't sympathize with the poor women and children like I did. If that mine owner was satisfied with less profit, we would have had 59 more fathers and brothers, but in order to make profit he took those fellows' lives. That is why the men get that idea. It is not profit with us, it is life and death. We want peace, and the manufacturer brings in the State police and says, you will submit or we will starve you, or you will be clubbed and shot. It is the spirit of your forefathers that makes you fight. I want to tell you now, force to-day is the most respected thing there is in this world. Commissioner WEINSTOCK. You are an advocate of force, are you? Mr. WILLIAMS. No, no; I am not an advocate of force. I am against militarism, but what have you got going on in Europe? And to-day the United States Government insists on furnishing shells to blow the Germans to pieces. Commissioner WEINSTOCK. Are we to understand from the expressions you have given here that you are giving expression to your own views or those of your fellow workers? Mr. WILLIAMS. No; they are my individual views which have come to me from close study of the labor movement; but I know they are held by the most conservative members of labor organizations in our State and as a result of what the State police have been doing to the men who try to be peaceable. Commissioner LENNON. I just want to ask you, to see whether I understood your reply to the basis of all Mr. Weinstock's questions: Do you believe that the voting wageworkers of Pennsylvania-and it is the greatest industrial State proportionally in the Union-that the wageworkers have a majority in the State of Pennsylvania? Mr. WILLIAMS. Well, they have not got a majority of the working class. Mr. WILLIAMS. No, no; not the voter. Commissioner LENNON. Do the voters that work for wages constitute a majority in the State of Pennsylvania, Mr. Williams? Mr. WILLIAMS. Not the voters; no; not by far. Commissioner LENNON. Have they a majority in the United States? Mr. WILLIAMS. I don't believe so. Why, pretty near half the people in Pennsylvania are foreigners or of foreign descent-or most one-half-according to the last document issued. They have no vote, and those that have no vote are the ones that have to work under the worst conditions. Those are the 12cents-an-hour men. Chairman WALSH. Mr. Garretson has a question he would like to ask you. Commissioner GARRETSON. Now, you made the statement that your view was that the man should arm himself for the purpose of protecting himself against the invasion of his own home? Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes, sir. Commissioner GARRETSON. What is the difference morally between the man protecting his own home with arms and a corporation hiring a body of thugs to protect its property-legal rights? Mr. WILLIAMS. Well, I should say a man has more right to protect his home than a corporation has to protect its property. Commissioner GARRETSON. He would have at least as much, anyway, wouldn't he? Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes, sir. Commissioner GARRETSON. To risk his own skin instead of hiring skin? Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes, sir; I want to say in regard to that statement made by Keppler, I had occasion to go to one justice's office with a man who was arrested and was quite severely called to account for that statement by Sergt. Smith, I think the name was; and I asked him then, Have you got a right to come into my house without a warrant and arrest me," and he says, "No." I says, that is the reason we made that statement. You get a warrant and you can arrest any of us. But we did not want anybody coming in there nights without a warrant and taking us. Chairman WALSH. That is all; thank you. That matter that you have there, that I interrupted you in reading, if you will just submit that we will consider it with the balance. Mr. WILLIAMS. What matter do you mean? Chairman WALSH. You had some material-a report made, in which the testimony of Mr. Kelly appeared, or from which the testimony of Mr. Kelly was read-the chief of police? Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes, sir. Chairman WALS. And you had some other documents you said you wanted to offer in evidence? Mr. WILLIAMS. That is on defective work and one thing another? Chairman WALSH. Yes, sir. Commissioner LENNON. Have you a copy of the report made by the Federal Council of Churches? Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes. Commissioner LENNON. Will you file that with the commission? Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes, sir. Chairman WALSH. Can you give us the substance of what they say about Sunday work? Mr. WILLIAMS. It begins and gives you a tabulation of how many men worked on Sunday-the percentage that work on Sunday, and— Chairman WALSH (interrupting). Did they take a position against it or make any request to the company or the men not to do it, or what did they do? Mr. WILLIAMS. Why, the suggestion is made by the ministers to the-they made a suggestion to the ministers Chairman WALSH. The part I want to get at is that would seem to be a strict conflict now between economics and the moral law. What did they do? Did they tell the men, "Don't work on Sunday; it is against divine law?" Or what did they say? Mr. WILLIAMS. Well, they suggested certain recommendations. They go on to try to defend the ministers first; but they make the same recommendations Chairman WALSH. Well, just submit it. I guess it is a little too long to read. Mr. WILLIAMS. Oh, it is a long proposition to read. Do you want these photographs? Chairman WALSH. Yes. Leave those photographs. I understood all these documents were submitted here, including this scrapbook that you offered. Mr. WILLIAMS. I would like to get this all back again, after you are through with them. Chairman WALSH. All right; just put that in the record here, that you can have all of it after temporary use. There was one question I omitted to ask you. You say that this trooper was tried and acquitted. Now, was the trooper that assaulted Mr. Gallagher tried? Mr. WILLIAMS. No; I don't believe so. I don't believe he was ever brought to trial. Chairman WALSH. Well, was any effort made to prosecute him, that you know of? Mr. WILLIAMS. Why, in one of my newspaper accounts there it said a warrant had been issued for him; but I don't believe it was ever served. I tell you it was impossible-we used to think we had it on them, and we would recognize the man and would do something 38819°-S. Doc. 415, 64-1-vol 11-57 Chairman WALSH. Well, so far as you are concerned, you did not? Mr. WILLIAMS. No. They would change the numbers on the men, and the numbers they had would not correspond with the features of the men, and then you could not get after them. Chairman WALSH. Maj. Groome. STATEMENT OF MR. J. E. B. CUNNINGHAM. Mr. J. E. B. CUNNINGHAM (arising from the audience and addressing the commission). Mr. Chariman and Members of the Commission, I desire to present and file at this stage of the proceedings, with your honorable body, my credentials as special deputy attorney general representing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and to have my appearance noted as appearing for the Commonwealth. And I am directed, Mr. Chairmen and Members of this Commission, by the governor and by the attorney general of Pennsylvania to say to you that although they naturally have some question as to the power of this commission, or of any similar commission, to compel the attendance and testimony of officers of the executive department of a State, at the same time they are too proud of the character of the State police of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and of the fact that in every instance of industrial disturbance the Commonwealth and its officers have endeavored to maintain, and we think have succeeded in maintaining, a position of strictest neutrality, and because we want to assist you in every way in the performance of your duty, they have directed the superintendent of the department of State police and the special deputy attorney general to come here and give you every fact within their knowledge, and if you want it, a certified copy of every record within their possession. Now, at the same time, Mr. Chairman, in order that this action on the part of our State authorities may not be treated as a precedent, I desire merely to file with the stenographer a formal protest with reference to the jurisdiction of the commission to compel these things in order that the record may protect us from ever being used as a precedent in case we should at some future time refuse to obey subpoenas by congressional committees. With your permission, then, I will just submit these for the record and ask you to proceed with your investigation as you may wish. Chairman WALSH. Very good; and we also appreciate the courtesy of the governor and of the State government and of yourself in attendance here. Mr. CUNNINGHAM. We are very anxious to give you any facts within our knowledge. (For documents submitted by witness see Cunningham Exhibits Nos. 1 and 2 at end of this subject.) STATEMENT OF MR. S. C. LONG. Chairman WALSH. Now, I have been requested by the commission to read publicly into the record a communication from Mr. S. C. Long, general manager of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co., addressed to the chairman of this commission (reading): "DEAR SIR: Referring to the statement made to-day before your body by Mr. W. H. Pierce, that Mr. J. C. Johnson, superintendent of telegraph of the Pennsylvania Railroad had paid $300 to certain men connected with the train organizations of the Pennsylvania Railroad, we desire to submit the following so there shall be no misunderstanding in this matter: "When the strike was called at Pittsburgh in May, 1911, the company was fearful that some of the members of the transportation brotherhood might join the strikers. Accordingly the general chairman of each of the four brotherhoods, Messrs. A. I. Kaufman, general chairman of the B. L. F. & E.; William Park, general chairman of the B. of L. E.; John B. Hendricks, general chairman of the O. R. C.; and E. V. Kapp, general chairman of the B. of R. T., were requested by the general manager to go to Pittsburgh and see that the members of their brotherhoods lived up to the agreements they had with the company and remained at work, with the distinct understanding that they should not be asked to do any work other than that they always had performed in the positions they held. "These men did this, and their efforts were successful in preventing any of the members of their organizations from leaving the service of the railroad company. After the strike was over, as each of these general chairman had occasion to come to the office of Mr. Johnson, who was chairman of the labor board, in the performance of their duties as general chairman, he thanked them for the very efficient services they had rendered the company, and the organizations, and told them that the company desired to show some appreciation of their work, and accordingly they were each given $300, which they were told could be used toward defraying their expenses or any other purpose that they might choose. Nothing was asked of these men in return. What was done was entirely in keeping with the action of the company toward a large number of other employees, as set forth on page 14 of the History of Labor Troubles on the Pennsylvania Railroad, a copy of which has been filed with your commission. "Yours, very truly, "S. C. LONG, "General Manager, Pennsylvania Railroad Co." TESTIMONY OF MAJ. JOHN C. GROOME. Chairman WALSH. Will you please state your name? Maj. GROOME. John C. Groome. Chairman WALSH. Are you connected with the Pennsylvania State Police? If so, what is your position? Maj. GROOME. Superintendent. Chairman WALSH. Have you any profession or business aside from that? Maj. GROOME. Member of the firm of Groome & Co., importers and wine merchants. Chairman WALSH. And have you taken any interest in that firm for the last four or five years? Maj. GROOME. I have been unable to take any active interest in the firm on 'account of police duty. Chairman WALSH. Is that a corporation or a partnership? Maj. GROOME. A partnership. Chairman WALSH. Engaged in mercantile business? Maj. GROOME. Yes, sir. Chairman WALSH. And not manufacturers? Maj. GROOME. Not at all. Chairman WALSH. And you are a member of the organization? Chairman WALSH. And what is your title, may I ask. You are referred to here as 66 Maj. Groome." I believe that comes from another militia title? Maj. GROOME. That comes from the highest rank I had in the National Guard, and as a member of which I served in Porto Rico during the Spanish War. I was in Porto Rico with a squadron of cavalry. I had been in the National Guard for many years. Chairman WALSH: When was the State Police of Pennsylvania organized? Maj. GROOME. In May, 1905. Chairman WALSH. How many members has it? Maj. GROOME. Two hundred and twenty-eight. Chairman WALSH. Kindly state their rank, so far as their duty is concerned. Maj. GROOME. Well, according to the act, there is a department of State police, which consists of a superintendent, deputy, and two clerks. Then there is the police force which consists of 228 officers and men. According to the act, it is divided into four troops, a captain, lieutenant, four sergeants, four corporals, and the balance are privates. Chairman WALSH. What is the provision of the law with reference to increasing or diminishing your forces, Major? Maj. GROOME. There is no provision whatever. It can be increased only by act of the legislature, and likewise it could not be decreased except by act; that is, the number is fixed by law, and the act which originally created the forces has never been changed. It has been amended to increase the salaries and make some noncommissioned officers of privates, but the original number of 228 has never been changed since the force was first organized; can not be changed except by act of the legislature. Chairman WALSH. Please indicate where the force is quartered, and in what manner. Maj. GROOME. Well, the force is divided, as I say, into 4 troops, 2 officers, and 55 noncommissioned officers and men. They are designated as Troops A, B, C, and D. They are in barracks. A troop is located at Pottsville, a troop at Wyoming, in the eastern part of the State, a troop at Greensburg, and a troop at Butler, in the western part of the State. Chairman WALSH. Is the location made with reference to industrial centers, or agricultural centers, or how? Or is there any design in the location? Maj. GROOME. Well, I don't wish to take up any more of your time than necessary, and not as much as some of your recent witnesses have, but I would like to explain, if you have the time, the way the force is organized and distributed. Chairman WALSH. Major, if you prefer to make a statement in a general way prior to being asked any questions, we will be very glad to have you do so, and it may do away with the necessity of asking many questions. You know the subject. Maj. GROOME. I think I can save your time. Chairman WALSH. Very good. We will be glad to do it. Maj. GROOME. When the act was passed creating this department-a State police force of course it was a new departure. There was nothing like it in this country, and no precedent and nothing to pattern it after and go on. If you have seen the act it is very short and simply provides the number of men and the amount of their salary, their duties as far as cooperating with the local police, and leaves everything else to the superintendent; that is, it spares the distribution of the troops, the rules and regulations controlling the affairs, whether they shall be married or not, their uniforms, and how they shall be armed everything is left to the superintendent, in the original act. After I accepted this position I went very carefully-it was absolutely new to me, as well as everyone else. I went over the records, the records of crime and disturbances throughout the State and consulted officials living in the various parts of the State, and found that in four districts where the troops were established, were the districts in which there had been the most disorder in the 5 or 10 years prior to 1905; and with the approval of the government I established a troop in each of these localities. Now, there is some reference to the selection of men, and a few other comments. I should like to say that the greatest care has always been exercised in the selection of the men as to their past records, their moral character, and their physical condition. When the force was first organized I had 1,010 applications for the 228 positions; men that I had never seen or never had heard of. Every one of those men was examined according to the civil-service rules, some at Pittsburgh and some at Philadelphia. The law prescribes that a man shall be between the ages of 21 and 45, a citizen of the United States, of good moral character, and able to read. Those are the only restrictions. From the list of applicants who were examined mentally I may say I selected about 300 of those men who were examined physically, and subjected to a physical examination which was more strict than the Army-the present United States Armyexamination; more strict in the eyesight tęst; and much more strict in some other respects. That was the starting point; and the men who passed those examinations were then appointed on the State police force. Of course, there were no rules, no regulations, and nothing to go by; and these men were divided into four troops. They were sent to the barracks. I designed the uniforms, decided how they should be armed, and decided that it would be necessary for each man to be mounted, and purchased the horses and drilled the men and gave them as much instruction Chairman WALSH. Did you make those regulations and instructions yourself? Maj. GROOME. Absolutely. Nobody else could. Chairman WALSH. Did you have any prototype in the country on which you planned that? Maj. GROOME. I have the reports of the Texas Rangers, which was the only organization of any sort in the country, and also I got the reports of the operations of members of the police forces throughout the civilized world. I got the Italians, the Germans, the Royal Northwestern Police, and the Irish police; and from going over their reports and the duties which they performed I came to the conclusion that the conditions in Ireland were more similar to those in Pennsylvania, so far as the industrial and agricultural conditions and the character of the population was concerned. Chairman WALSH. Did you make any personal investigation of European countries? Maj. GROOME. Yes; I went to Ireland with a letter from our secretary of state, and spent three weeks in the barracks studying their methods, organization, and rules and regulations of their constabulary. Chairman WALSH. What are they called? Maj. GROOME. The Royal Irish Constabulary. Chairman WALSH. How is that organized? Is there a superintendent, a local superintendent in Ireland in charge? Maj. GROOME. Yes; he is appointed by the Crown. They have 10,000 men in Ireland. |