Evening star., 1909-09-12

disorderly and revolutionary element In
The Swedish public, besides, is a model
public compared with some others that
are heIpless In the strikes. which are
looked upon as calamities. For example,
when the trolley lines were tied up the
public Of Stockholm did not pass the time
in vain lamentations or imprecations, but
remembered with something akin TO oe-
light that II could walk and found pleasure
In doing so. The strikers were not violent,
but on the contrary were polite, send and
ladies returning to their homes overbur-
dened with parcels they politely offered
to carry them. refusing to accept any
compensation for the service.
The strikers. in fact, presented the ap-
pearance Of being intensely bored by the
part assigned them by their ambitious
chiefs-a role In which they have little or
no heart.
In the beginning Of the strike the wine
and beer houses were closed. Now the
Swedish 1aborer. who Is much addicted
to a small glass of his favorite liquor.
was suddenly deprived Of his habitual
appetizer. This side of the strike was
not anticipated, and this alone was suf-
ficient to create discomfort. Besides. the
laborer Is conscious OF the fact that his
unconscious action has caused serious loss
and vexation to the greater part of his
fellow-countrymen.
On August 10 the journals Aftonbla-
det. Allehanda and Handels-Och-Sjae-
Fartstidning resumed publication. but in
reduced form.
The closing Of the slaughter houses in
troduced another element of discomfort
with the strikers, namely, an alarming in
sufiiciency Of food. and so much so that
the strikers as well as the general pub
lie were obliged to resort to individual
fishing to supply their daily repasts.
On the 18th the Dagens Npheter of
Stockholm proposed solution, namely.
1.-The status quo was to be observed In
the matter of salaries, and that In the
future q spirit Of solidarity should be
cultivated between patron and laborer."
The Aftonbladet August 16 declared
that the only tangible result of the strike
was to solder together
Ant1-Soctal1st compactly all non-so-
Consolidation lis' elements; which, adn
posed hve-sixths Of the population. The
press generally discussed the wrong COM
mitted by the strike directors in, leading
| the laborer to violate the solemn provision
Of his contract. In a general way it is
| now proposed that before the signature
| of any contract In future the labor syn
dicate or corporation shall deposit q sum
| Of money deemed necessary to cover any
eventual failure to comply with It's pro-
| visions. "A law to this effect It is
added. should be proposed in the rigs
dag. which should be convoked IN ex-
traordinary session to regulate the SUBJ
| ject Of contracts" The syndicate typog-
| raphers Of Ioenkoeping and other cities
declared their intention to resume work
| and demanded the establishment Of a
| general referendum.
| The establishment OF the referendum
was followed the 18th Of August by a
vote OF the railway associations result
ing in a heavy majority against the
strike.
| 1t is significant evidence OF public opin-
| ion that all the journals OF Sweden,
| whether conservative, moderate or radi-
| cal. energetically blame the leaders of
the strike and express sympathy and
comn1seration for the laboring man. who
has been drawn into the meshes OF a net
thrown out for political and personal
ends.
| The Swedish legation at Paris commu-
nicated August 20 the following to the
French press:
"A journal at Copenhagen having men,
toned rumors that were current in finan-
cial circles Of that city to the effect that
| Sweden would be obliged to resort to an
| important loan to supply the loss incurred
| by the strike. the legation declares that
| such rumors are totally unfounded."
| The Swedish constitution provides that
parliament only controls the public
| finances. and consequently 1t is parlia-
| ment only which may decide what action
never had recourse to loans for any UNI
productive purpose, and 1t Is highly i'm
probable that II would approve a propo-
sitaon In the sense understood by the
Danish journal.