1 case histories , analysis
1.1 pinkerton agent in anthracite mines
1.2 siringo @ coeur d alene
1.3 colorado s goldmine , mill strike of 1903–04
1.3.1 intrigue , uncertainty during colorado labor wars
1.3.2 spy vs. spy in boston s public transit system
1.3.3 matewan
1.3.4 colorado coal strike of 1927
1.3.4.1 celebrated union organizers not immune
1.3.5 united mine workers in wyoming
1.3.6 united mine workers in colorado
1.4 union organizers turn tables on company
1.4.1 united states chamber of commerce plan thwarted
case histories , analysis
pinkerton agent in anthracite mines
one of best known undercover agents james mcparland who, under alias of james mckenna, infiltrated secret society of pennsylvania coalminers called molly maguires. debate continues on extent of guilt on part of mollies, , on question of whether in sense labor organization, or merely ring of assassins lashing out on unjust working conditions, inadequate pay, , pressures of persecution against irish-catholic status. in event, mcparland s testimony resulted in nineteen of molly maguires going gallows.
siringo @ coeur d alene
in 1892, pinkerton agent charles a. siringo, working out of denver pinkerton office, played significant role in ending coeur d alene strike. siringo had been hired mine owners protective association (moa) work @ gem mine in gem, idaho. siringo used alias c. leon allison join local miners union, ingratiating himself buying drinks , loaning money fellow miners. elected post of secretary, providing access of union s books , records.
siringo promptly began report union business employers, allowing mine owners outmaneuver miners on number of occasions. strikers planned intercept train of incoming strike breakers, mine owners dropped off replacement workers in unexpected location. local union president, oliver hughes, ordered siringo remove page union record book recorded conversation possibly flooding mines, agent mailed page mine owners association. siringo told employer s clients wanted hear, referring union officials such george pettibone dangerous anarchists.
the mine owners had locked out strikers, , hiring strike breakers. meanwhile, siringo suspected spy when moa s newspaper, coeur d alene barbarian, began publishing union secrets. although union had advised miners against violence, anger @ discovering infiltration prompted them blow frisco mine in gem, capturing gem mine, plus 150 non-union miners , company guards. concurrent explosion, hundreds of miners converged on siringo s boarding house. siringo had sawed hole in floor, , made escape after crawling half block under wooden boardwalk. fled hills above coeur d alene.
the miners union issued statement deploring unfortunate affair @ gem , frisco. governor sent in 6 companies of idaho national guard suppress insurrection , violence. after guard secured area, siringo came out of mountains finger union leaders, , had participated in attacks on gem , frisco mines. wrote days busy putting unruly cattle in bull pen. siringo returned denver, , following year miners formed western federation of miners because of disastrous events in coeur d alene in 1892. wfm called outlawing hiring of labor spies, demand ignored.
during career pinkerton, charles siringo discovered clients being cheated, supervisors stealing agency funds, , operatives inflating normal conversations targeted radicals conspiracies. when siringo retired pinkerton agency, disenchanted experiences wrote book entitled 2 evil isms. on cover of book, uncle sam pictured in grip of boa constrictor names pinkertonism , anarchism on sides. frank morn, author of eye never sleeps, history of pinkerton national detective agency, observed following siringo s attempt @ tell-all book:
two extremes being joined: unbridled violence radicals matched unbridled violence business interests... such attacks more damaging because came man had been [a pinkerton] operative on 2 decades.
but pinkerton agency suppressed siringo s book, , few copies survive.
charlie siringo not agent have infiltrated coeur d alene miners unions. in book big trouble, author j. anthony lukas mentions thiel operative 53 had infiltrated, , had been union secretary @ wardner, idaho. in 1906 agent worked inside miners union @ goldfield, nevada. trusted many union members in mining camps throughout northwest.
colorado s goldmine , mill strike of 1903–04
agents situate key positions wreak damage on targeted union:
one of efficient activities of spy in union during strike wreck strike relief benefit fund, upon which, of course, success of strike largely depends. if spy cannot himself have access fund, next policy spread discontent , cause strikers demand higher benefits union able pay. create impression fund dishonestly handled union officials.
one pinkerton spy assigned sabotage union s relief program during 1903–04 strike wreaked significant impact on future of organized labor came called colorado labor wars.
bill haywood, secretary treasurer of western federation of miners, wrote in autobiography:
i had been having difficulty relief committee of denver smelter men. @ first had been giving out relief @ such rate had tell chairman providing smelter men more had had while @ work. cut down rations until wives of smelter men began complain not getting enough eat. years later, when letters published in pinkerton labor spy, discovered chairman of relief committe (sic) pinkerton detective, carrying out instructions of agency...
the individual responsible revealing sabotage morris friedman, former stenographer of pinkerton agent james mcparland, had moved denver , managed regional pinkerton office. friedman found practices of detective agency in general, , of mcparland in particular, revolting. views captured in passage 1907 book pinkerton labor spy,
the readiness of western federation [of miners] resent smallest encroachments on rights of humblest members, generalship displayed organization in struggles different mine owners, , fearless , vigorous campaigns of organization carried on federation, have naturally aroused fear , apprehension of mine owners; , these fears have been studiously fanned flames of blind , furious hatred pinkerton s national detective agency, in endeavor of latter institution obtain business. @ present time in many parts of west find capital openly or secretly engaged in bitter struggle western federation of miners, satisfaction , immense profit of pinkerton agency.
the agency first notice activity of federation, , great financial possibilities might realized engaging in prolonged struggle it.
but perhaps mistake agency, was, more speaking, james mcparland, of mollie maguire notoriety, sharp glance first took jealous note of rapid growth of labor union.
in exposé of pinkerton agency, friedman provides background on sabotage efforts of a. w. gratias, known pinkerton supervisors no. 42.
no. 42 invited join union, , short time after influential member... mr. mcparland himself drew instructions no. 42. begin with, operative instructed create trouble between leaders of union. accomplished, , union divided number of hostile camps... operative next instructed agitate question of strike benefits among men, demand financial aid western federation of miners, , told intrigue against of leaders, union expel them. chiefs being out of way, mr. mcparland hoped rank , file call strike off.
the operative became popular men demanding relief appointed chairman of relief committee. mcparland instructed him provide relief in such large amounts drain treasury of federation.
he not supplied men necessities, luxuries , cash spend. operative s extreme liberality endeared him men, rewarded him electing him president of union. see unique spectacle of pinkerton spy, under direct orders of manager mcparland, president of western federation of miners local union, , directing bitter strike against smelter trust. on elevation presidency operative did not relinquish position on relief committee, nor men have permitted him so, satisfied way operative squandered money of federation...
no. 42 became delegate , reported pinkerton agency happened @ annual wfm convention. operative reported wfm secretary-treasurer haywood objected enormous weekly relief bills. mcparland instructed operative cut relief down extent starve strikers, , while doing this, throw blame on secretary haywood. operative, holding key positions of delegate convention, head of relief committee, , president of local, responded cut relief as possible, cause dissatisfaction, , men against union...
intrigue , uncertainty during colorado labor wars
during western federation of miners strike in 1903, there several examples of labor spy activities. there special case of harry orchard. while wfm member confessed numerous of crimes committed during colorado labor wars, , additional crimes, including assassinating ex-governor. admitted being pinkerton agent, , being in pay of mine owners association.
harry orchard convicted of murder in assassination of frank steunenberg, ex-governor of idaho. first, @ mcparland s prompting, orchard tried (and failed) take 3 leaders of wfm him.
testimony , allegiances in 1907 assassination conspiracy cases against harry orchard s alleged wfm taskmasters remain difficult sort out. example, pinkerton agent in cripple creek district, no. 28 , reported defense offering him money testify. written account, telling pinkerton agency wanted hear—presumably condition of receiving money source—describes how proceeded tell wfm defense team wanted hear; specifically, attest biggest collection of lies beginning end ever saw on paper. however, pinkerton agent no. 28 (whoever may have been) not called testify defense. whether mission might have been betray wfm defense team on witness stand, subtly or dramatically, can guessed. prosecution did not call him either, have reports agency go by.
mcparland s pinkerton agency beat out thiel detective agency assignment investigate steunenberg s assassination. mcparland believed theil agency must have been hired defense for, repeatedly in late 1906 , 1907, complained thiel detectives watching every move...
spy vs. spy in boston s public transit system
the amalgamated association of street car employees (aasce) sought contract boston s public transit system in 1912. company negotiator cyrus s. ching asked pledge both sides discontinue use of labor spies. union protested, claiming had made no such use of spies. ching summoned 1 of assistants, young man whom ching had observed peering records , communications had nothing job. ching said had intentionally provided misinformation assistant. ching announced not fire employee, , transit company had used both spies , provocateurs against union, company cease practice. encouraged such openness, union promptly reached agreement company.
matewan
after battle of matewan, testimony in case revealed c. e. lively had infiltrated union company. lively later testified before united states senate had been baldwin-felts detective since 1912 or 1913. during time had worked undercover, duties taking him missouri, illinois, oklahoma, kansas, , colorado. during ludlow strike in colorado, lively became vice-president of united mine workers local @ la veta. returned mingo county, west virginia in 1920. worked undercover @ howard collieries, company had tipple destroyed fire. investigation kept secret coal company, , lively fired when suspected of complicity.
lively traveled matewan, , participated in umwa efforts organize war eagle, glen alum, , mohawk mines of stone mountain coal company. reported activities detective agency, , brought family matewan part of cover. rented lower floor of umwa union hall restaurant. lively befriended members , officers of union, , reported on activities via mail sent on train.
after battle of matewan, sid hatfield , ed chambers summoned union stronghold @ matewan answer minor strike-related sabotage charges in mcdowell county. walked courthouse steps, accompanied wives. shot dead baldwin-felts agents c. e. lively, bill salter, , buster pence on august 1, 1921. according mrs. chambers, lively placed gun behind ed chambers ear , fired last shot though pleading him not shoot again. neither of 2 men had been armed, 1 of women reported upon returning steps after having been led off guards, discovered both men had pistols in hands. pence heard remark, kill em 1 gun, , hand em one. although scores of people witnessed attack, due brazenness afraid testify. 3 agents acquitted on grounds of self-defense. murder of sid hatfield , ed chambers led general uprising of west virginia coal miners.
the colorado coal strike of 1927
when colorado fuel , iron (cf&i) went bankrupt in 1990. immense quantity of archives corporation released. among archives reports of spies hired during coal strike led industrial workers of world (iww), known wobblies. spies assigned glean intelligence on wobblies’ strategies , tactics, sow disinformation, disrupt meetings , pickets, , expose weaknesses in iww organization, finances, , leadership.
historian j. bernard hogg, wrote public reaction pinkertonism , labor question, once observed:
much of hard feeling toward pinkertons engendered fact not infrequently detectives worked way high positions in union , revealed intentions of organization employer.
agents in 1927 columbine strike (we don t know if pinkertons, or different agency) able approach , freely converse top level strike leaders. kristen svanum head of iww in colorado. agent identified xx informed employer,
svanum stated had put in on $600.00 of private funds finance iww here in colorado, stating supplied money higher power; working peaceful revolution of conditions in u.s?a. [sic] tried cause him power not so.
sometimes efforts of agents failed. when strike vote pending, labor spy xx reported,
smith , myself circulated through crowd trying them postpone strike without success , when vote called unanimous strike, northern colorado delegates voting it.
agents sought influence portrayal of strikers in media, hoping thereby control subsequent events. since 1900, colorado national guard had history of crushing strikes. cf&i agents knew threat of violence might bring guard field, hindering strike @ taxpayer expense. agent xx described himself strike leader when interviewed media, apparently seeking bolster credibility of ominous message:
the a-p , denver post reporters think dyed-in-the-wool wobbly , have tried interview me. in speaking alleged carload of arms , ammunition did not deny “hokum” intimitated [sic] if there violence against principles of svanum , myself , more select class of “wobblies” there awfully rough element of “reds” coming field , might not able hold them in hand. not know if gullible enough absorb kind of stuff can tell better when afternoon[’]s papers come out. if play strong there violence might hasten action on part of state authorities.
a different view of alleged carload of arms , ammunition offered historian joanna sampson:
it curious organization iww revolutionary philosophy , reputation violence conducted major strike little violence. miners afterward testified members of automobile caravans searched own leaders sure did not have liquor or firearms them. in arrests of strikers picketing, there no case striker accused of carrying firearms.
in fact undercover agent got wish state intervention:
on november 21 [of 1927], state policemen killed 6 pickets , injured dozens more... despite fact violence fault of state police, governor adams used so-called columbine massacre excuse call out national guard restore order throughout state. soldiers on guard @ mine gates, mass picketing ceased , more , more miners returned jobs. strike continued, lost considerable momentum.
hogg explains agents advocating, provoking, or using violence common scenario:
a detective join ranks of strikers , @ once become ardent champion of cause. next found committing aggravated assault upon man or woman has remained @ work, thereby bringing down upon heads of officers , members of assembly or union directly interested, condemnation of honest people, , aiding materially demoralize organization , break ranks. on hand in strikers meeting introduce extremely radical measure burn mill or wreck train, , when meeting has adjourned ever ready furnish associated press full account of proposed action, , country told prominent , highly respected member of strikers organization has revealed daring plot destroy life , property, dare not become known in connection exposure fear of life!
celebrated union organizers not immune
even ardent union organizers may yield temptation spy on other unions during strikes, based perhaps upon misplaced sectarian loyalties or ideological differences. mike livoda of united mine workers (umwa) 1 of celebrated organizers ludlow strike of 1913-14. livoda revered mineworkers individual buried @ ludlow monument. when professor eric margolis researching 1927 wobbly strike, encountered evidence mike livoda hired out spy on wobblies , provided governor of colorado advice on strike breaking tactics.
the united mine workers in wyoming
the union pacific coal company in wyoming hired services of thomas j. williams, pinkerton operative no. 15.
whenever umwa president mitchell sent organizer wyoming, operative williams introduced himself old, good-standing member of united mine workers, , offered new fellow tasks. operative williams gladly arranged secret meetings wyoming miners. after approximately fifty secret meetings in row broken mine superintendents or foremen attending unannounced, causing prospective union members scatter, umwa acknowledged defeat in wyoming.
the united mine workers in colorado
in 1903-04, pinkerton agency had j. frank strong, operative no. 28 in fremont county, , robert m. smith, operative no. 38 in las animas county. 2 agents performed same work — both had infiltrated top ranks of umwa—yet did not know each other. because of compartmentalization, reports of these 2 operatives cite intelligence on each other.
the coal miners unhappy low wages paid in scrip. these company-issued coupons redeemable @ company store, prices exorbitant. miners wanted eight-hour day, , right join union. umwa declared strike, , coal miners in colorado s southern field walked out.
the strike seemed destined succeed. however, whenever union sent organizer talk miners, operative strong send information pinkerton handler. chance, seemed groups of thugs obtain same message. morris friedman, former stenographer of pinkerton agency in colorado, reported:
as result of operative smith s clever , intelligent work, number of union organizers received severe beatings @ hands of unknown masked men, presumably in employ of company.
friedman offers examples of these incidents:
about february 13, 1904, william farley, of alabama, member of [umwa] national executive board ... , personal representative of [umwa] president mitchell ... addressed coal miners meetings ... [on return trip] 8 masked men held them revolvers, dragged them wagon, threw them ground, beat them, kicked them, , knocked them insensibility.
and,
on saturday, april 30, 1904, w.m. wardjon, national organizer of united mine workers, while on board train en route pueblo, assaulted 3 men @ sargents, thirty miles west of salida. mr. wardjon beaten unconsciousness.
under repeated attack, 1903–04 umwa strike effort failed, both leadership , membership despondent on turn of events.
however, umwa president mitchell determined reverse failure. decided 1 special position, of national organizer, should created oversee organizing efforts union. after considering range of candidates, mitchell selected vital position, pinkerton operative no. 38, robert m. smith.
union organizers turn tables on company
in 1912, united mine workers had discovered extent cf&i relied upon spies, , union officials had learned lesson well. organization ended efforts form local unions. membership cards issued in secret, members not of local, of international union. members did not know had joined, , had not. company spy system frustrated. unaware organizing continuing, 2 main coal operators in colorado southern coal field, cf&i , victor-american fuel company, believed had won. abusive practices had been softened during open organizing drives revived. revolt in air. united mine workers announced new organizing drive in letters sent newspapers. organizing drive different:
twenty-one pairs of organizers put through special course in denver [umwa] office , sent southern field. operation simple, effective. 1 member of each team known active organizer; other passive organizer. so-called active organizer moved open , known everyone... organizer. passive team-mate posed miner looking work. cussed unions , leadership, , obtained job in heavily guarded mines. made friends officers of company and, possible, hired out coal company spotter... once passive organizer installed in mine, active team mate sought new members in mine. if miner joined, active organizer kept man s membership secret , sent card directly denver office... if working miner refused join, name sent passive organizer reported company john cotino had joined union. result same. company sent john cotino packing... in manner constant stream of anti-union , non-union men, confirmed strike breakers , scabs, kept streaming [out]. companies unwittingly sent faithful out, while active organizer sent coached men of union affiliation apply jobs had filled.
in 1 month, system caused coal operators fire more 3,000 non-union men. places taken 3,000 union men. in september 1913 strike called, , twelve thousand miners laid down tools. significant brutality new strike defeated.
united states chamber of commerce plan thwarted
during first week of february 2011, internet-based group anonymous released e-mails appear show u.s. chamber of commerce, through law firm, hunton & williams, contracted 3 technology firms, including hbgary, palantir technologies, , berico technologies, spy on , discredit unions , political opponents. palantir received startup funds cia in 2005. release of emails appears have caused parties abort attacks.
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