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Victor
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The
Pinkerton Labor Spy
by
Morris Friedman
CHAPTER XXVI.
THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES
VS. PINKERTON'S NATIONAL DETECTIVE AGENCY.
No one has any just ground for complaint against detectives, public or private, so long as they confine themselves solely to detecting crime and criminals. Labor detectives are SO in name only; but as, in reality, they are merely perjured and treacherous spies, they should not be tolerated in an honest community.
Is it the tool who sells his soul for eighteen dollars a week and expenses, who is most to blame? Or should we not rather hold that person as principally guilty, who persuades him to make this shameful barter?
So we say: We do not blame the labor detective any the less for being a knavish wretch, but we blame the institution all the more which makes him one. And in directing our statements against Pinkerton's National Detective Agency, we also refer to all similar institutions.
Volumes could be filled with the charges which the Pinkerton Agency has made against the "Inner Circle" of the Western Federation of Miners. True, we have proven that this infamous lie originated in the brain of Manager James McParland; and we have also proven that there is no more truth in this slanderous accusation than there is in the most impossible tale in the Arabian Nights.
But, we have often wondered, where did Manager McParland get this "Inner Circle" idea? What suggested to his mind even the possibility of the existence of such a secret murder-hatching committee? And after devoting considerable thought to this somewhat intricate question, we have arrived at a conclusion which we believe is correct, and which we hope will enlighten Manager McParland to quite an extent in regard to the workings of his brain.
Although the Pinkerton Agency is divided into twenty branches, nevertheless the entire business is run by seven men; two principals, one general manager, one assistant general manager, and three division managers. These seven men dictate the policy of the Agency, and keep the innumerable wheels of the entire plant going full speed; and as without their knowledge and consent no subordinate official of the Agency can make a single move, it naturally follows that these seven men are, without the slightest shadow of a doubt, responsible for everything done in the name of the institution.
Division Manager McParland is one of the seven men that run the Pinkerton Agency. All correspondence on matters of importance is discussed with the greatest precaution and secrecy by these men, and only after they have decided definitely on any measure, do they give their orders and instructions to subordinates or tools, to carry out their wishes. So secret and hidden are the consultations of these seven men that some of the things THEY know will perhaps never be retold to anyone this side of the grave.
Manager McParland is so used to this method of doing business that he simply cannot understand any other system; and no doubt, the consciousness of the power which he shares with his six associates was deeply, even if unbeknown to him, lodged in his mind.
So, then, it came about, that when Manager McParland decided to exterminate the Western Federation of Miners, and was looking around for the best means with which to accomplish his purpose, ALL HIS THOUGHTS BECAME CONCENTRATED ON THE OFFICERS AND LEADERS OF THE MINERS' UNION.
By reflex action, a picture of how he himself and six associates secretly ran the infamous business of Pinkerton's National Detective Agency, which picture had lain for years in his brain like an undeveloped film, suddenly took shape, and was thrown considerably magnified on the canvas of his fertile imagination, SO THAT HE BEHELD SEVEN MEN SECRETLY PLOTTING MISCHIEF AND DIRECTING INFAMIES OF THE WORST CHARACTER. And his thoughts were so forcibly concentrated on the leaders of the Miners' union that instead of recognizing in this picture WILLIAM A. PINKERTON, ROBERT A. PINKERTON, GEORGE D. BANGS, YOUNG ALLAN PINKERTON, JOHN CORNISH, EDWARD S. GAYLOR AND HIMSELF, he fancied he beheld Charles H. Moyer, William D. Haywood and the different members of the Executive Board of the Western Federation of Miners.
Without stopping to examine into things, Manager McParland promptly condemned the men HE FANCIED HE SAW ON THE PICTURE as a GANG OF CONSPIRATORS, and named them THE INNER CIRCLE. How little he realized that in doing so he was CONDEMNING HIMSELF AND HIS SIX ASSOCIATES, and how little did he dream that THE NAME WHICH HE INTENDED SHOULD BE A REPROACH to the officers of the Western Federation of Miners WOULD BE CORRECTLY AND PROPERLY APPLIED TO THE MANAGEMENT OF PINKERTON'S NATIONAL DETECTIVE AGENCY!
Manager McParland may perhaps scoffingly remark that our analysis of the workings of his brain is in itself a fantasy. But we urge Manager McParland to accept our conclusions as final. For, if we are wrong, then he defamed the officers of the Western Federation of Miners KNOWINGLY, and in the full possession of his senses, by branding them as a MURDEROUS INNER CIRCLE, WITHOUT AN IOTA OF EVIDENCE, AND MERELY FOR THE MALICIOUS SATISFACTION OF HARMING A LABOR ORGANIZATION.
BUT THE INNER CIRCLE OF PINKERTON'S NATIONAL DETECTIVE AGENCY IS A REALITY, AND WE HAVE, IN THE PRECEDING CHAPTERS, GIVEN THE READER A FAIR IDEA OF THE MISCHIEF WHICH THIS INNER CIRCLE PLOTS AND EXECUTES WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF UNSCRUPULOUS TOOLS THROUGHOUT THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF THE UNITED SATES.
It is also a fact that this INNER CIRCLE is aware that there is a steadily-growing public sentiment against it and its labor-hounding business. And it is a further fact that this INNER CIRCLE, about four or five years ago, issued instructions to every branch superintendent of the Agency to subscribe for the daily newspapers published in the different State capitals, and to scan these papers carefully during sessions of the legislatures, for the purpose of discovering if adverse detective agency legislation was contemplated. In case such legislation is attempted, we have no doubt the INNER CIRCLE of the Agency will attempt to combat it, or render it nugatory.
The INNER CIRCLE of the Pinkerton Agency KNOWS well enough that the people of this country have no grievance against legitimate detectives. But they also know that the people do have a serious grievance against blackguards; and by preparing, years in advance, to fight expected adverse legislation, THE INNER CIRCLE of PINKERTON'S NATIONAL DETECTIVE AGENCY tacitly admit their guilt and the guilt of their institution.
We believe that in the name of progress, justice and a common brotherhood, both the Federal Congress and the different State legislatures should adopt such laws as will put an end to the rapidly-growing evil of the labor spy trade.
Our story is ended. We have written it in the interest of justice, for the welfare of the American people.
THE END