Workmen's advocate., 1890-11-08
IN AUST TRALlA.
Graphic Picture of the Great strike, by
 Our sydney Correspondent.


 come to you through the swift electric current. The immediate cause of the strike was the dismissal, by the Captain of the $. $. "Corinna" (which belongs to the Steam Ship Owners Association of Auslralasia) of the fireman of that yes Bel, Nr, r. Madge, who also was the de. legate of the Seamen's Union, The union demanded the reinstatement of Mir. | Madge, which demand was refused. Mir. Madge had filled the position of fireman for seven years, three of which he had served under the present Captain; length of service that gives the lie to the 1 charge of incapacity put forward as u reason for his dismissal. The real inten. ton was to deal blow, if possible, at the principles of trades Unionism.
 For some time past, too the officers and Seamen had been clamorng for bet ter pay, (as they were much overworked l and largely underpaid). Their modest requests were practically refused by the shipping companies, who said they gould not afford to grant the concessions asked. This forced the officers into uniuu which soon affiliated with the | Trades and Labor Council of Sydney. Gh's raised the ire of the shipping firms, who offered to grant a slight increase of salary if the officers would withdraw from the T. and l.. Council, which they declined to do.
 Then there was trouble between the l shearers and sGuatters in respect to the 1 price for shearing and the employment 1 of uon-union shearers. The wharf la | boreis stood by the shearers. and they, with the shipping officers, seamen, etc. came out on strike. Subsequently the cray and trolly men and shearers, i fOuseaboutS etc., were called out, auu now we have in all Australia l00,0G0 men, the bone and sinew of the land, striking against the damnabIe tyranny under which they groaned so long
 The shipping firms, 8quatterS etc., are now united into an Employers Union, and battle is being waged between 1 United Capital oL the one hand and ! United Labor on the other, The employ CTS have shown every determination to fight; they have refused arbitration have declined a conferences, and have treated the Labor party with the utmost lack of consideration.
 In the early stage of the strike ton Sa- turday afternoon, Aug. 30th, the Labor party hell a demonstration, marching from the Circular Quay, sydney, to tn , Exhibition Building. Seven thousand men took part in 1t, Speeches were made, and resolutions passed c0ndemna- tory of the captalistic party. On Satur- day afternoon, Sept t, another demon. straton was held, fl labor bodies taking part. A procession was formed at Cir cular Quay with banners and bands. Nearly all sydney turned out to see this. The march was made through the prIn- cipal streets to the Domain, where four platforms were ereCted-One of these being that of the "Australian Socialist League'. The vast assCmblage listened with rapt attention 10 the various speak CTS, the ptiess logic of the socialist oratOrs-Comrade McNamara, Yewen, and PoweIl-carrying great weight.
 Since then the capitalists have had special cOnstables sworn in Al available t,,l-, Ifn ,gtra !, as a kitten and many with as much in telligenCe as an oyster, have been en- listed. The Unionist offer of 300 special cOnstables, made on August 2S, was re- fused by Premier Parkes. There was no real necessity for an army of specials, whose only effect was to irritate those on strike.
 On Friday, September l9, slight dis turbance arose at Circular Quay, owing to the carriage of non-uniOn shorn wool, it being carted by the employers per sonally, from Daring HarbOr sea.
 The Riot Act was read, though there was not the slightest necessity for that being done, The police Including the specials and troopers) charged the people in their usual savage fashion, hitting out regardless of friend or foe The press, bossed as it Is here by capi- talists, has been all along and is now mis- representing the Labor party. The most barefaced falsehoods find place i. their columns, to their discredt be it said
 A Labor journal, entitled the Austra- iian Uo1LmdH, has been started in Svd- ney, and in Queensland The Worker ia monthly is doing effective work in educating the masses. Its subscription li-t already exceeds 1000 and it Is rapidly increasing.
 As to next general election. (which we believe to be not very far ofr), the Labor party are advised to drop the question