A PITIFUL SURRENDER.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7543, 16 May 1903, Page 4

A PITIFUL SURRENDER.

Tin: end of tho strike of engine-drivers 01 tlu; Victorian railways hilly justifies the stand we took up in ridiculing the i iea of re-urtt:ij,' to such an antique and clumsy method of enforcing political claims, although it doe-i not spen!c highly for tho wiidom of tlrose who are rcHpc;:siblo for the dislocation of the railway irailii-. k seems such a pitiful thi.-.t; that men should throw up positions, fotfolt their right to pensions and go out into tiie world certain of a hard .••:niggle for existence, for the privilege of causing distress and inconvenience 10 ihe community for one short week. The rapidity of the surrender makes 0110 wonder as to the reasons which would have induced the men to ntjrce upon the strike, and the fatuity of the leaders who recommended such a *tcp, f or of all the ill-conceived schemes for enforcing labor's demands the Victorian railway strike will surely n>>ik as one of the worst. Just as the use of the bludgeon bus become obsolete in war fare, so the time Ins long since passed away when the scientific enforcement of labor's demands is to be found in methods of that kind. The o-iso with which representations' can be made to Parliament, the readiness with which

representatives supcort f;iir and reason, able demands, and the strong force of public opinion so easily bro^ht to bear to remctly injusiice, .should point the way to everyone who is not blind for the settlement of questions arising between the State stud th« employees. Strikes such iis those just ended do more to stem back reform and to divert public attention from the necessity for remedying grievances, so tlml those who arc responsible for such a state of limits deserve the condemnation of everyone who desires to see tlu* worker fairly rewarded for his toil and accorded those- privileges he is entiled to and which make life worth living.