Rensselaer Republican, Volume 19, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1886 — BEN BUTLER INTERVIEWED. [ARTICLE]

BEN BUTLER INTERVIEWED.

He Denounces Pinkerton’s Armed Force as an “Organized Mov- , able Mob.” [New York apeeial,] . Gen. B. F. Butler had along talk about politics with a correspondent who visited him at his home in Lowell, Mass., during the course of winch he said: “I am inclined to believe that the George movement is the beginning of the organization of labor as a political body. Of its extent I practically know nothing. It may be ephemeral, like the Know-Nothing party, but I hope not. Labor should organize itself for its own protection. Capital is already organized. It employs some 3,000 men, thoroughly armed, squipped, and drilled, called the Pinkerton force of detectives, which is thrown apon any point where labor is discontented or shows signs of trying by organization to" better its condition. It is sent with the greatest celerity, for it is passed over many railroads without paying fare. Whenever it uses its weapons upon laboring man, it becomes a murderous mob. This incites the laboring man to turbulence and violence, and there is no more dangerous element iu ibis country than this same organized, movable mob. Its shooting from the cars apon a body of citizens—men, women, and : children—as was done at Chicago recently, without substantial cause, shows its utter recklessness as to law and human life. “It is a disgrace to both the State and the United States governments that such a body of men is suffered to exist The militia of the State and the regular army of the United States ought to be sufficient to enforce the law in any case, and have always been shown to be powerful for that purpose when properly handled. At some time Pinkerton’s mob will bring on a riot tn which it will be found powerless, and from which such horrible and terrible results from loss of life and destruction of property will ensue as to open the eyes of everybody to the enormous mischief of the arganization. “The labor question will be the great disturber of future politics. I mean the question of ~ how firmly and completely abor is organized and takes part in its own behalf in future elections. If it is organized and the laboring men vote together to any considerable extent they hold the election in the hollow of their hands and I look to them to destroy this Southern monopoly of the Presidency by taking from it that without which it is impotent for evil—New York City and New-York State.”