STRIKE TYRANNY.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,—In the leading notes of your issue of March 29th you say what has wanted saying for a long time, viz., " It is not tolerable that a series of sympathetic strikes . . . should, in effect, place the public under a dictatorship. . - . . This matter must be faced." And how do you. face it ? You go on to say, whether speaking for yourself or the Prime Minister is not clear, " the next step would be to commandeer private vehicles for the use of the public."
It is so easy to be generous at the expense of peaceful and loyal friends. But why place another burden upon the oppressed public ? Why not commandeer the omnibuses and trams ; or, if the Tube men strike in sympathy, the Tube trains ? Plenty of people are available to drive and conduct them. And all the vehicles belong, not to the strikers who are allowed to prevent their use, but to share- holders of the owning companies or ratepayers of the London County Council, who would gladly consent to their being used in any legitimate way.—I am, Sir, &c.,
[We understood that the intention of the Government was to commandeer private vehicles. We entirely agree that the Government should make use of all vehicles in an emergency. The property of the Tubes and Metropolitan and District Railways and all the omnibuses are in a sense " private " property.—En. Spectator.]
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