The sun., 1903-08-02

put to work next morning to instruct tho
volunteers of all classes, who at once came
forward to assist the Government.
The veteran professsr OF engineering
at Melbourne University offered hia services
to instruct temporary drivers In the man
agement Of their engines. or. to drive an
engine himself if necessary. And the
University also sent $50 Of her students
al special constables to protect non-upion
workers A few trains were slowly anu
with great difficulty despat ched; the Euro
pean and interstate malls we're carried
by water. and every effort was made
10 deal with the heavy suburban tranic
with cable cars and every vehicle available
But fer q while there was chaos. Here
came the opportunity of the Premier's
career.
-Icicle" Irvine, az his opponents call
him, Ia a quiet, thoughtful man OF D OF
80, moderately successfully az lawyer
but with no conspicuous qualities as
debater. He was known to DO scrupu-
lously honest. and in his policy Of vigorous
retrenchment and civil service reform had
shown the courage of his CONVICTIONS
IL was as q protest against extravagant
loan expenditure, an unwieldy and over
manned civil service, and Trades II all domi-
nation, that he Rad been returned oy the
country with an effective working majority.
But now he was to prove himself a man
OF such rare force In trying emergency
az TO compel the admiration 0f his most
bigoted opponents.
Several acts OF violence were comnieseo
by the strikers and their sympathisers;
trains were derailed. and at least one loyal
driver was brutally assaulted. Mr.. Irvine
promptly called a special session OF Par-
lament and dispensing with the tedious
formality Of all address-in- reply debate,
got right down to business.
He introduced a Strike Suppression
bill, by which participation in the strike
was rendered summarily punishable by
years Imprisonment and fine OF $500.
Any gatheril & of four persons or more could
be dealt with in the discretion Of the police
as a notous assembly, and full power was
given to seize and destroy all printed matter
favorable TO the strikers and condemna-
tory OF the Government.
The labor members stonewalled the bill
during an all-night sitting. but by the fol-
lowing morning it became obvious to them
that, with the exception OF their own party.
all classes IN the State were in sympathy
with the Government. Offers OF help
poured in to the Premier from all sides
In one case where an Interstate express
train was abandoned by the engine driver
at a country crossing-the passengers
tramped in body to the nearest telegraph
station and promptly wired Mr.. Irvine
eXhortiDg the Government to remain firm
Crowds representing every class in the
community surrounded the Houses OF Par
Lament and paraded the streets, cheering
the Premier and the Ministry and demon
stratins in unmistakable and good-natured
fashion their sympathy with law and order
The instinct Of self-defence had been
aroused Public property had been in
jured and a great public institution inter-
fered with. and the disastrous consequences
had been brought homo to every man and
woman in the State. The community at
large had awakened TO the fact that the
time had come to teach unionism that
Australia did not propose to submit TO the
selfish dictation Of any one class.
Meanwhile the Ministry was pressing
the bill, and 50 manifestly was public feel
ing with it that on May Is the nine days
strike came to an end as dramatic as il
was abrupt. After short and stormy
meeting at the Trades Hall the engine
drivers surrendered Internationally.
Fear OF the Premier's bill, which they
complained OF as very drastic was the
reason given by the strike leaders for their
collapse, but from all parts Of the country
they had seen indications that the era of
unreasoning tyranny was at an end.
II is estimated that this abortive attempt
to coerce the Ministry, short lived as it
was, has cost the state Of Victoria about
$3.50 600; but the moral effect Of the lesson
it has taught will be worth more than that
amount many times over TO the people Of
Australia.