A SOCIALISTIC PLOT.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 1814, 22 July 1891, Page 6

A SOCIALISTIC PLOT.

The * Brisbane Courier's' "strike correspondent" is responsible for a most sensational story as to a possible development of the late shearers' strike in Queensland. It is to the following effect :— " The people of Queensland may congratulate themselves that the difficulties and disturbances in Western Queensland have so far ended without a shot being fired or a life sacrificed, but they do not know how narrow an escape they have had from what might have been a most disastrous civil war. The details bad all been considered and arranged, not by the ignorant men now languishing in gaol, but by wiser men, of whom the chief plotter is a resident in Brisbane. His plans were at one time written on paper, and possibly might have been secured ; but it is certain that since the arrest of the first conspirators at Barcaldine they existed in black and white no longer. It was the rash precipitancy of these bush leaders which brought to con fusion the carefully-planned scheme of the arch-conspirator in Brisbane. He had counselled them to wait for twelve months, or at all events until August or September ; to work under protest, if necessary; and hoard up all the money they could earn. There were 8,000 of these men who had Bhown blind obedience to their leaders, and had contributed thousands of pounds from their earnings to the unions, and by an extra effort the organisers could have obtained from the combined unions during a good season L 20.000 at the lowest calculation. With this money he proposed to procure extensive supplies of arms and ammunition, | all of whicn could be purchased at different places without exciting suspicion that anything unusual was taking place. Depots of these were to be formed at a centre near the railway line, where the men would all be required to assemble when the signal was given to strike. Then the movement was to be rapid and resolute. The horsemen were to travel rapidly through the Btations, calling upon all men employed there t/> join the union of the republic. At Barcaldine 2,000 men, folly arm^d. would immediately take possession of the Central Rriilway, and pass an armed force down the line, calling upon all the officials to jotn them as they proceeded to the coast. In thi3 arrangement it was confidently asserted tbe railway men would gladly acquiesce, recognieiog the authority of the revolutionary leaders ac a governing body. At the same time they would Nike possession of tbe post and telegraph office, and place at the instruHierfa two men who were in the unionist rinks. The cash in the banks would be eeized, and form the nucleus of the treasury. It was pointed out that in this manner they could carry all before them, as resistance would be useless. , Having taken possession of the railway ' and the verldus stations on the line, the main force would proceed by train to RockhamptoD, and if required easily overpower the local military ; but this, it was stated by the gentleman from Brisbane, would be unnecessary, as tbe Mount Morgan miners and the union men in all tbe Rockhampton companies would join the new Republic&u Government, and add their force to that of the bu*>ha>en. Roekbamp- ' ton would be looted of treasure aod arms. Having possession, of the telegraph offices, the new Government would know what was going on elsewhere, but would impart no

information concerning what was happening in Central Queensland, and when they proclaimed the republic in this division- of the colony their success would compel the existing Government to make terms or plunge the whole of Australia into civil war. Fortunately the leaders were embarrassed at the outset by wet weather, insufficient funds, and scarcity of the munitions of war, and the promptitude of the Government in occupying the disaffeoted districts with large bodies of troops completely upset the revolutionary programme."