LABOUR AND STRIKES.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10699, 21 August 1912, Page 4

LABOUR AND STRIKES.

The Labour Leader (Australia), in an article pointing out that strikes are no longer effective weapons, announces that as an alternative a great campaign is to be carried on throughout the Commonwealth "to proclaim socialism as the remedy." The following are passages from the article:— "Why is it the strike -enthusiasm is dying down? The reasons are easily found. The workers at are in the position of a soldier who has been in the war and has lost much blood. Also, tho soldier avlio has actually seen the carnage and su/rering of war begins to doubt whether war be the best way to softie disputes', no matter how .righteous tho dispute may be. The workers cannot this year refight the industrial struggles of last year. Many of them are getting tired of the turmoil of strikes. They are wondering whether strikes do not yield more noise than wool. They are looking round for some better way. If the workers have gone as far as they can at present by means of strikes—and we think it will soon be apparent that that is the position—they must in some

other way press home tho moral of the strikes. Strikes, after all, are but passing incidents in the workers' struggle for social freedom They should be led by men cf nerve, foresight, and coo! clear judgment. The trade union leader ■should not bo afraid to take up an unpopular stand if the workmen*aro trying to occupy an untenable position. Above all, there should be no room in the trade union movement, nor in any good movement, for the mere reckless braggart, whose theatrical vagaries hurt and damage his cause. Even when all thetij conditions are complied with, the striko will not in itself take the toilers very far on their road to liberty. Tho working class must aim at the peaceful conquest of political power and the control of the machinery of the Government. They must use their political power to establish industrial democracy."