The Pinkerton Labor Spy. 17
take, and warns him against a repetition of the offense. If the official notices that the operative is inclined to loaf, he promptly calls him to account ; and if the operative's reports show that in his fear of detection he is overdoing his part — speaking and acting too radically — a soothing letter is at once sent him, showing him that his fears of detection are groundless and more apt to be realized by playing an extreme part than by acting naturally. Letters of criticism and instruction are sent almost daily to the operative.
In addition to acting as a check upon the operative, the latter's daily report serves &s an excellent excuse for the Agency to interfere in the management of the client's business to a far greater and more harmful extent than has ever been dared by any labor union. And this baleful interference is so shrewdly accomplished that the client, far from resenting it, actually considers himself under great obligations to the Agency.
And he surely has reason to be grateful ; for, in addition to the regular reports of the operative, he receives about once a week a neatly arranged summary of the operative's reports, which embodies suggestions and recommendations from the Agency.
The summary is compiled by the assistant superintendent, and as a rule is an interesting document. It is often a choice bit of realistic art. It gives, first of all, the names of those men whom the operative has reported as "Dangerous Union Agitators," and suggests in what manner they should be discharged, so that their dismissal cannot be laid at the door of the operative. In the second place, the summary impresses upon the client the necessity of continuing the services of the operative if he would safeguard his interests from the aggressions of a union and protect his person and property from criminal conspiracies.