WHAT THE PINKERTON' AGENCY CLAIMS TO BE— A FINANCIAL STATEMENT.
The world-wide reputation of Pinkerton's National Detective Agency is not based on its achievements as labor-union baiter. Far from it. The fame of the institution is tlie result of the much-mooted skill of the Agency in the art of running down and capturing criminals. To a certain extent the Agency deserves credit for its work as thief-catcher. We are sure that no one will for a moment hesitate to congratulate the Pinkerton Agency or any other Agency on the successful conclusion of a legitimate criminal detective operation.
The Pinkerton Agency represents the following prominent organizations as authorized detective agents: The American Bankers' Association, The Jewelers' Protective Union, The Jewelers' Security Alliance and The Railway Ticket Protective Bureau.
The whole world knows that the Pinkerton Agency represents these organizations, because the Agency takes great pains to inform the world by printing elaborate yearly reports of its work for each of these societies, and in addition the fact is advertised on the official Agency letterheads. Besides, whenever the Agency succeeds in capturing a criminal who has wronged a member of any of the above mentioned associations, a careful report of the case is written up, and given to the press for the edification of those who glory in detective exploits.
In order to facilitate its criminal work, the Agency employs a number of informants who are "reformed*' criminals. These men travel all over the country in the guise of tramps, and associate with the low criminal or "yegg." Whenever a crime is committed in which