The threats of fresh strikes are as plentiful as the
blackberry erop of this year. Firemen, cotton operatives, municipal servants, shop assistants, teachers, in various parts of the country are talking in more or less definite tones of striking. It is a paradox that all these threats should coincide with a particularly strong determina- tion to win the war. There is only one possible explanation. The would-be strikers have persuaded themselves, with very good reason, that their strikes will not really interfere with the war. They think that a method of violence is the only way of bringing their grievances to the attention of the Government, and that their demands will be agreed to within twenty-four hours. The popular industrial doctrine of the moment is : " Hold a pistol to the head of the Government and the Government will instantly yield. There is no other way. Agitation by more constitutional means really impedes the military efforts of the country less than a strike. So on with the strikes I "
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