The Thomas A. Edison Papers Digital Edition

Transcription

Thomas A. Edison, Esq.,
Edison Laboratory
West Orange, N.J. 
Dear Sir:-
G.F. reports:
West Orange, N.J., Monday, Oct. 12th, 1903
I arrived at the Edison works at 6:45 A.M.
I assigned Opt G.W.C. to do duty at the side gate on Lakeside Ave.
Shortly after I arrived I noticed four of the delegates standing on the corner of Lakeside Ace. & Valley Road. They were in conversation with four men whom I saw enter the wax room after the delegates had left them. I had a good look at the four men, and would know them if I saw them again. I called Mr. Edison's attention to the delegates stopping the men who are employed in the wax room, and asked him if the men in the wax room had a union. He said he did not know of any, as they were only laborers, and that they could put anybody in the wax room, as they could learn in five minutes. Mr. Edison thought that the delegates from the machinists would try and have the men in the wax room form a union and come out with them. He asked me if I could pick out the four men who were in conversation with the delegates. I said I could, and he said he would have a talk with Mr. Weber and would see me later in the day. 
About 10:30 A.M. Mr. Weber and I took a walk through the wax room. Mr. Weber pretended to show me how the records were made, and, as we walked along where the men were at work I showed Mr. Weber the men whom I saw in conversation with the delegates. When we left the wax room Mr. Weber asked me to watch and see if these men would hold any more conversations with the delegates in the vicinity of the works. 
During the day the delegates walked up and down on the sidewalk in front of the laboratory, but made no attempt to stop anyone from entering the works.
Nothing further of interest transpired during the day, and after the delegates left the vicinity of the works I discontinued.
G.W.C. reports:
West Orange, N.J., Monday, Oct 12th, 1903
At 6:45 A.M. I arrived at the Edison works and was assigned by Opt. G.F. to duty at side gate.
Shortly after arriving I noticed four delegates, who started right away to patrol up and down Lakeside Ave., stopping several people during the forenoon, but were unable to turn anyone back.
During the afternoon I did not see the delegates very often.
At about 6 P.M. six delegates lined up on the opposite side of street, and, when the men were coming out from, work, they started to talk to one or two, but the men would not stop to listen. 
Nothing further of interest occurred.
At 6:20 P.M., the delegates having left the vicinity of the works, I discontinued for the day.
Yours truly,
Pinkerton's National Detective Agency,
by 
Robt A. Pinkerton
Reported,
New York, 10/14/1903