52 The Pinkerton Labor Spy.
As the smelter trust found no difficulty in procuring non-union labor, the Western Federation of Miners decided to cut off the supply of ore, and to this end ordered a general strike in the Cripple Creek district on August loth. The order was obeyed with military promptitude, and the tie-up was complete.
We will for the present follow up the progress of the strike and the work of the Agency in Denver. The work of No. 42, who is the central figure of this chapter, is the more interesting because, to a great extent, he was working under the personal direction of Manager James McParland.
Shortly after the walk out at the Globe and Grant smelters, General Manager Guiterman applied to the Agency for a competent operative to fraternize with his striking employees, keep him informed and try to weaken the strike. The Agency said it was a hard matter to place an operative in a locality where a strike was in progress. Yet they would endeavor to comply with his request. The Agency chose for this work A. W. Gratias, known as No. 42.
When detailing him on this operation, the Agency did not think he would ever make good, and the only reason they sent No. 42 was that he had just got through with an operation for the Union Pacific Railroad, and no other operative was at liberty at the time.
No. 42 was an exceptionally bright operative, and quickly adapted himself to the situation. And so shrewdly did he conduct himself, that in a few weeks he was invited to join the union, and a short time after was an influential member.
The Agency was now in a position to render Mr. Guiterman good service, and Mr. McParland himself drew up the instructions for No. 42.