THE STOCKHOLM VOLUNTARY PROTECTION SOCIETY.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPEOTATOR.1 Sra,—Thinking that it might be of interest to some of your readers, I have asked a Swedish correspondent to send me a few details of the Frivilliga Skyddskiren (Voluntary Protec- tion Society) which was organized in Stockholm to meet the universal strike in 1909. Its aim was chiefly to keep the various means of communication open, though it was also pre- pared to assist in keeping order should the necessity arise— which happily was not the case. It was financed by subscrip- tion, and a large number of motors were placed at its disposal by private owners. The headquarters were at the Hotel Continental, where its members were fed and if necessary put up. They were also supplied with uniforms and weapons. The society was started some weeks beforehand, so that by the first day of the strike it was completely organized. Many hundreds of men of all ranks had already joined, had been classified, and their various jobs allotted. It was, there- fore, ready to run the trams and a certain number of steamers (its members both working the latter and lading and unlading them) as well as to do any necessary public work such as scavenging, &c. To give an instance, my informant, a civil engineer, was a stoker for a week, getting 3kr. a day from the steamer, a cab driver for half a day, and then an electric tram conductor for four weeks, getting 5kr. a day from the Com- pany as well as a medal. He tells me that most of the members enjoyed their work and were quite sorry when their • Rome excellent remarks on the seorecy of the Cabinet, and therefore its Strongtlx, are to be found on IT. 115-16. duties came to an end. I may add that similar societies were formed in other big towns, though I have no detailed informa- tion as to their success. But my correspondent assures me that it was this society which, in Stockholm at any rate, saved the situation and made the strike a fiasco.-1 am, Sir, &c., S. M. Fox.
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