If the Yorkshire strike did not mean great distress for
hundreds of thousands of workmen in the steel and textile industries, and were not throwing the whole mechanism of industry out of gear, we could watch these ingenious tactics with some complacency. As it is, Mr. Smith's tardy announcement that his leader, Mr. Smillie, does not really speak for all the miners confirms the widespread suspicion that some kind of revolution is sought to be attained by means of these continuous strikes, in which the flimsiest grievances are deliberately magnified and the men are exhorted to insist on the last penny of their demands. Mr. Smillie, as we point out elsewhere, has it in his power to clear himself of any responsibility for such wicked designs by bringing an action for libel against the Duke of Northumberland, who has publicly charged him with promoting sedition. If 11r. Smillie fails to appeal to the Courts, he must not complain if the public draw their own conclusions.
