DON’T EXASPERATE THE BLUES.

Industrial Unionist, Volume 1, Issue 12, 6 November 1913, Page 2

DON’T EXASPERATE THE BLUES.

During the Featherstone strike “ riots ” in England they kept the Police and Military standing for four hours whilst scabs incited the strikers to violence. You know wdiat happened. There were several fatalities. Any one who incites to violence is self-condemned. The strikers w r ant to settle this trouble by peaceful means if possible. In spite of Hayseed and other prospective thugs. Don’t take the initiative. Don’t exasperate the police by yelling at them. -

On the other hand, whatever the consequences, see that no scab cargo leaves the wharfs. If attacked we must defend ourselves. But don’t start anything.

The authorities are not too sure of the police and armed forces. In order to break down any feeling of sympathy the officers, in situations like the present, usually line up the troops so that they may be subjected to the abuse of the less intelligent workers, until they are goaded to acts of violence and murder, for which they are aflerwnrds sorry. The uniformed men, seeing their comrades fall, and themselves at high tension, are ready for anything then. What follows is usually disastrous for the mob. The authorities know all this. The uniformed members of our class don’t want to shoot, but they are mere pawns in the nands of the masters.

Don’t take the initiative. Defend yourselves, but DON’T STAPT ANYTHING— J.D.