" WE HAVE BEEN SOLD."

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

" WE HAVE BEEN SOLD."

FEELING AMONGST THE DRIVERS

The news of the denouement to the strike co-me Hko the exploding of a bombshell to the strikers nt North Melbourne.

Many of the men were j-tanding about in the vicinity of the locomotive sheds dis-cus-Ring Iho .situation when the intelligence arrived, and they refusal to believe it. Some little time afterwards a few of the drivers and firemen arrived from the Trades Hall and confirmed the report. These uwn stated that itr Scorer had announced to the men from the platform at the old Trades Hall that the Executive liiad made a complete surrender, and that the strike was at an end. Tfaey added that ilr Scorer was much affected when breaking llio novve to Jiis audience.

Aβ night .drew on, a large number of the strikers gathered around the entrance to the railway foot-bridge at Hawke *itreet, and endeavoured to gain admission to the locomotive gheds with the objeat of signing on duty, but none of them were admitted. Instructions to refuse admission had been received fxom headquarters, and they w-ero toid that they would Jiavc to see Mr Woodroffe before beflig allowed to resume work. Somo of the men were much affected at the turn events had taken, and made no secret of their feelings on the subject. The predominant cry wae "We have been sold," and they were almost unanimous in , Warning the Executive, one man exclaiming. "We have been ruled by tlree men, and have been fools." The spectacle of strong, sturdy men in such a position was a patlietio one to the beholder, and excited feelings of commiseration for those who nad been so grossly misled.

WHY SOME MEN STRUCK.