On Wednesday week a general strike was proclaimed in Sweden.
The trouble originated in a wages dispute in the paper, woollen, and cotton industries, the General Federation of Trade-Unions having rejected the compromise proposed by the official committee of mediation and ordered a general strike. But although a great many trades have fallen into line—the number of strikers is estimated at upwards of a quarter of a million—neither the railwaymen nor the agricul- tural labourers have come out, the towns are lighted, the tramcars are again running in Stockholm, and the Government have so far succeeded in maintaining order and protecting workmen who are willing to work. Finally, the only industry in which the strike was for a time successful was that of the printers of newspapers,—a state of affairs which some cynical people are prepared to view with equanimity Even the Social Democrat had to suspend publication along with the rest, though the Times correspondent notes "that a special daily organ will be issued by the strike committee,—a curious monopoly that speaks for itself." By Wednesday, however, most of the papers in Stockholm were printed, though in a reduced form, workmen were everywhere returning to 'work in increasing numbers, and the failure of the strike to justify its designation of "general" has undoubtedly stiffened the backs of the employers.
