The Influence Of The Pullman Strikes
The role that the federal government played in the period surrounding the strike was mainly to help factory owners put an end on strikes. According to President Grover Cleveland, he believed that the Pullman strike was wasteful, disruptive and unlawful (Hewitt and Lawson, pg. 556). He thought that the Pullman trouble originated because neither the public nor the government had taken acceptable measures to control monopolies and corporations and had failed to “reasonably protect the rights of labor and redress its wrongs” (Hewitt and Lawson, pg. 556). Cleveland also sent warnings to prevent the strikes. Because of this, the government created some policies. They also imported tariffs (class notes). Some of these policies were the Sherman Anti-Trust
Act of 1890 and the Interstate Commerce Commission. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act prevented trade within the state or from another country. The Interstate Commerce Commission was related to all railroad companies and looked over any practices related to monopoly. He thought that the strikes were against the act and was causing mail disruption. The government acted as an oligarchy and was influenced by monopoly (class notes). Another role that the government played was to help prevent or disrupt strikes. The Pinkertons were sent to Homestead to guard the company. The agents tried to take control of the closed Homestead works. When the workers arrived, there was hours of bloody fighting. The workers in the strikes and townspeople tried to block the Pinkertons from entering the area. In other words, the government supported companies and businesses more than the workers. I think that the government reacted in the way that it did because they possibly thought that business owners were more important than the employees. They might saw that it was the workers fault for going against the owners. The government saw that it was important to help factory owners make more money and that workers should follow the rules. When Frick asked the Pinkertons to come, they were fighting against the workers.
Act of 1890 and the Interstate Commerce Commission. The Sherman Anti-Trust Act prevented trade within the state or from another country. The Interstate Commerce Commission was related to all railroad companies and looked over any practices related to monopoly. He thought that the strikes were against the act and was causing mail disruption. The government acted as an oligarchy and was influenced by monopoly (class notes). Another role that the government played was to help prevent or disrupt strikes. The Pinkertons were sent to Homestead to guard the company. The agents tried to take control of the closed Homestead works. When the workers arrived, there was hours of bloody fighting. The workers in the strikes and townspeople tried to block the Pinkertons from entering the area. In other words, the government supported companies and businesses more than the workers. I think that the government reacted in the way that it did because they possibly thought that business owners were more important than the employees. They might saw that it was the workers fault for going against the owners. The government saw that it was important to help factory owners make more money and that workers should follow the rules. When Frick asked the Pinkertons to come, they were fighting against the workers.