Last Saturday a large number of women, estimated at 'about
7,000, marched through London and held a meeting in the Albert Hall as a protest against strikes. This procession was a fairly easy target for criticism even though it' Consisted chiefly of working-class women, because it was said that many, if not most, of the marchers had had' their fares to London paid for them and that they were fed and were generally given a good time by their capitalistic leaders. Perhaps it was a mistake for the women who led the procession to be so well mounted 'on handsome hunters, but when all that is possible in the 'way of disparagement 'or ridicule has been said, the fact 'remains that these working-class women came to London from all parts of the country and evidently had their heart in the business. If it is said that they were "paid," ' the answer obviously is that it comes very 'ill from wage- earning critics to declare that the wives of working men are ready to sell their opinions for a few shillings. We do not believe that, whatever the Conimunists may be- lieve. It seems more reasonable to suppose 'that a &eat many working-class wives, who are the principal Sufferers during a strike and who for many years have suffered in silence; are more ready than formerly to eXpreSs their conviction that strikes are a cruel and disastrous way of settling differences.
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