The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1912. SYNDICALISM.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 40, 12 February 1912, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 1912. SYNDICALISM.

lii a recently published work by Sir A- Clay, an interesting account ii? given of the attempts made in late years in various European countries to carry out a general strike. The book is entitled “Syndicalism and La- ■ hour” ; “syndicalism” being a new word of French origin. The word “syndic” and its derivatives have long been in common use in Franco in connection with Labour associations. The nearest equivalent for “trades-unions” in French is “syndicats ouvriers” (working men’s syndicates). In France of late years the word “syndicalisme” has acquired a special moaning, and is now generally understood to denote .the policy of the Confederation Generale du Travail; the object of which is the destruction by force of the existing social and political organisation and the transfer of industrial capital from its present possessors to syndicalists, or, in other words, to the revolutionary tradesunions. The means by-•which this object is to be secured is the , “general strike.” As the writer points out, the idea of a general strike is a natural outgrowth of the system of local strikes. A strike acts on the .employers and on the public. If the area of the strike were to be indefinitely extended, and the supply of necessaries 'proportionately restricted, the leaders of the strike might well imagine that they would be in a position to dictate terms to society generally. As to what those terms would bo one can only guess: anarchy would probably follow and the destruction of the social fabric as we know it today. Various countries have, with very small success so far, attempted to bring about a general strike. in March, 1901, French postal employees struck, but returned to work, striking again in the following May, and it was endeavoured to support them by declaring a general strike. There seems, however, to have been little response, and the post-office strike was a fiasco, the Government dismissing six hundred employees and filling their places. Had similar energetic methods been taken on the first occasion, imuch suffering would, it is suggested, have been spared. “The most efficient ally of the forces of revolution is the appearance of irresolution and timidity in the Administration, lint, in order to secure resolute administration, any Government elected by the votes of the people must be able to feel that it will have the support of a people courageous enough to face the forces of disorder. In October, 1910, strike took place on the French railways, the moving force in which was “syndicalism,” organised and directed by the C.G.T. The strikes spread ; acts of violence and of “sabotage” were committed—the usual accompaniments of strikes—the general /train service was disorganised, and great suffering and inconvenience inflicted on the public. The Ministry, however, displayed great firmness, and issued a mobilisation decree, the effect of which was to place all railway men liable to service under the immediate control of the War Minister, and to make all those who failed to obey the summons military defaulters. This move was successful, and the strike came to an end. So far (he attempt to gain a great deal for labour by means of a general strike

lias not had much result in France, except (In Joss and suffering to the public. In the'year 1909 the compulsion of a general stride was tried in Sweden. Wages disputes, local strikes, and lock-outs Jed to a lockout on the part of employees in certain industries. This was met by a manifesto' of the central Labour organisation, calling a general strike

for [August •!, failing an agreement before that date. Trade of all kinds was .brought .almost to a standstill but the strikers’ attempts failed through the efforts of an association of volunteers to which all classes contributed their quota-counts and barons, officers, professional and business men, engineers, clerks, and students. The middle classes seem in Sweden to have shown their spirit in an emergency, hut it is to bo observed that the Government protected willing workers. In the face of a community virile and energetic, enough to take upon itself and adequately perform such daily work as is indispensable “syndicalism” is impotent so long at material order is 'preserved. Further, the Swedish strikers refused to carry out one of the foundamental precepts of “syndicalism,” that success can only ho secured by violent means. Great losses were inflicted on the community; the strikers themselves suffered most, both during the stiike and after. The original conflict between employers and workmen remained unsettled. Italy also gives' an example, agricultural labourers of Parma striking in May, 1900, and ,a general strike being declared in the July following. The results of this strike are stated to have, lw r n That the conditions of labour were almost exactly as they, were before when the strikers went hack to work, bub thin “it inflicted incalculable damage 01 the landed proprietors of Parma and on the manufacturers whose industries depended on agricultural produce. If it had not been that the landed pro priotors were prepared for self-de-fence and the Government ready' to support thorn, it would also have led to violence and bloodshed on a vcr\ ■Serious scale; and the only gain was .that two or three ‘syndicalist’ agitators, whoso names were before unknown, acquired a short and unenviable''notoriety.” Since then we havi had .the series of strikes in Britain and America, the later efforts to paralyse trade and industry in Austin lia, 'and the threats made during tin short but vpry grave period of strike in Wellington. Trouble is still in the air, and unless the Government! and the people, refuse to he coerced they will have'much to fear from ‘syndicalism.” ' When itho pmploi. as a whole, realise flic great dangel of fhe general strike and tlje awful sufferings which it' must inflict, or. the'peak arid helpless,\then they will band together to make'such-h-calam-ity .impossible. V’