THE STRIKERS' SECRETARY DISTRESSED.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11590, 22 May 1903, Page 5

THE STRIKERS' SECRETARY DISTRESSED.

WANTED TO AVOID BLOODSHED,

THE EXECUTIVE'S ACTION UNPOPULAR.

Wfaeu Mr Scorer, secretary of the Drivers* Association", was seen on Friday night, after tbe decision to declare the strike ofi had been made public, it was natural and Irnnjan (nays ilia 'Telegraph's" special reporter) that when asked to give lik etory of the settlement, l\e should find it physically impoeeit/.e to give a connected apology for tl»e great eorrender. He was so overcome with keen emotion and distress of nrind that a lengthy utterance -was out of the question. What, M*r Scorer said amounted to this: —

"What caused as to act ac we did on behalf of the Association ■β-ae ensr desire to eavo good H»ti from being sacrfiocd. I irean good fdlows who were true to w. The thing had to be done in the interests of the xtfin. Wβ felt tiiat the only tfiiiig for us to do was to approach the Govern-

meat. As for myself, I recngnwd all through that I was out of it altogether, but there was no good dragging th* other men into tbe *am<£ position. I cannot say that all our members will be twtisfied A good number of men are etill confident, and cannot «cc it in the way we do. However, I feel that we have acted for the br*t in very painful circumstances, but I reaßy cannot say any more to-night." Tlven a number of drivers, who had hastened into town to l»«>ar the news, entered tho rooms of the Association, end learnt with intense surprise the decision "bf their executive "We have fallen in, Harry, ,, remarked ore young driver. "Yes," replied Mr Scorer, in tones which showed how deeply he wae affected. "ItV all right," remarked unotlier member of the Association, shaking hands with Lis leader "We Snow you have done what you thought 'best all through. ,, "1 -am glad to hear you say that," was the response, '"for everyone ie not of your way of thinking. All the same, I don't see why we should 'be blamed altogether. We have fallen in admittedly. I suppose my £480 compensation is gone. I took just as big a rhik -is any of the others. I can honestly say that the vjist majority of men were with us on Wednesday night. Wβ knew there might be serious troubles, accident*, perhaps bloodshed, and rather than involve tho ytate in a great conflict Are decided to 'cave in.' "I want to say," added Soorer, by way of conclusion, "that we have not made ourselves popular with the men by our decision."