New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-10-07

"The enemies Of Great Britain and
her Allies have succeeded in plunging
Australia into general strike. FOR
the time being they have crippled our
country's efforts TO assist in the great
war. At the back Of this strike turks
the I. ". W. and the opponents OF d.
rect action. without realizing IT. many
trades have become tools of disloyaiists
and revolutionaries. a great conspir-
acy has been fomenting for the past
TWO years TO prevent Australia render
ing further assistance to Britain and
her allies. Every striker is playing
tho came for disloyalists. Every striker
is singing from day TO day the hymns
Of the |. ". W. and marching to their
music. The government IS not against
unions. All unionists who volunteer
for work will be accepted as unlonlsts
and will be enrolled as members OF ne"
unions registered under the trades
union act. Who is for Australia and
the Allies
Premier Called II Revolt
The Australian Prime Minister, Mr.
Hughes. plainly called the strike re-
volt in n statement September b. lie
said:
"As 10 the cause of this unhappy and
menacing condition of affairs / do not
propose 10 say more than that the cause
alleged. i. e.. the introduction OF what u
called the card system IN the railway
workshops of New South Wales which
M the worst. could affect only the mer-
est fraction OF those now on strike "
ON the face of il mere pretext. nc
real cause is an organized attempt by
the extremists who now controi the
u,ionist movement TO render constitu-
t;onal Government impossible. In plain
words. this is a revolt. and not strike.
It's motive is not industrial, but polit-
ical And the great mass OF unlonlsts
are being led to their destruction 10
serve the ends of those selilh and reck
less men whose disloyal and foolish
counsels and tyrannical actions reht
tho labor movement asunder ana
brought about its political debacle on
Nav (. Mr.. Fuller stated publicly that
he had ample proof of this fact. but TO
those who know these men and OF what
thew are capable no proof is needed
"Those in revolt are seeking 10 ter
rify the rest of the community. me!
threaten all those who dare 10 act DIS
becomes loyel and sensible citizens
with violence and victmizaton -wheh
the strike is over with the poycOII
| want 10 say in the plsinest possipie
way that the government will not toll
crate such things for single day
Many Trades in Strike
The alleged grievance OF the slrih-
ers. which was used as pre'e"1 20
their action, was the card system. va
Wednesday, August /. statement " a'
made in Parliament by the actIhg -,
mier that twenty-iour.houiS
matum had been presented 10 'he tos
er,n,ert that unless the card system
wss withdrawn engineers and othel
mechanics at the Randwick tramway
uorkshops would decline 10 turn u
80 fo,lowing morning. Each day
dnrire, Tint period has brought It's OWL
! developments 49, rov.
From time TO time came the ne"
( No. ,bis or that body of men, entlrely
unaffected by the alleged cause OF th'
+ strikc had determined 10 cease worA
or that this or that union had met ahc
decided that its members should be au
yised 10 join in some more OF ie'' nv
tive way in the dispute.
! The railway locomotive men stoppee
! ,,.orr ,La tramwav men came out. me
! lie Iaborers took the law into thel'
ov,r banda and refused 20 handle cargo
4 followed by the seamen. VINO retuse1
80 mon the ships. Carriers and drayme'
dronned the reins, vowing thaI the'
',.o,ild NOT take them up again until th'
cause Of the strikers IN the train""9
workshops had been vindlca'eu' LII
cia,,,h.oruen said they would XII
E, 10 Y.
h,,.chere, shop employees declared Una
4 ,Lev would not distribute meat 20 W. W.
ear,r,,,nitv The coal miners dlshon
o,od their solemn nation compact am
4 doared tools. II may well be dounOe'
.,Lo.ber there was ever more ue,ei
ned attempt to hold up the 'huuS
,riaI and social activities OF peopie'
Government Strikes Back
4, first the tie-up throughout AUS
Il soe,ncd complete. The federa
ond s,ate governments were so para
i,.1od that they even failed 20 take an.
ayo.;ar IN combat the strike. In IN
sscond half Of August, however, m
au.horitie. began 70 show signs o. ne
"Volur -eer National Service or
,,anization was set up, and me govern
,nont made frantic appeals for voIuh
tecrs TO work the mines. load ana as
charge vessels. run the railways an
handle the transportation OF ioodstul's
as flaming was threatening certain poi
tions OF the country.
In the fret period OF tho strike th'
government was eager Tor set'ieineH
S,itb the strikers. But when the vol
rrtoer National Service" began TO IN
crease its men bership. thousands o
citizens of al walks OF lie having VOL
unteered as strike breakers under I'M
/ go-crument's supervision. the admin
! istration took a firm stand. II requl
/ siti3ned many industries, undertahint
10 run them Temporarily. Many strik'
leaders we're arrested and sentenced
| 70 long terms Of imprisonment.
Strikers Committees Ignored
( Several attempts at arbitrator
proved fruitless The government tool
I the position that the strike was illega
/ and announced that "the government
! will not carry on any further negotla
! tiors with strike committees or then
( intermediaries. Acting Premier Fuller
declared:
! "The government will no. recognize
/ in any way any strike committee OF
! any committee representing sections OF
! the strikers. 1t will carry on no fur
Their negotiations with individuals oil
groups of individuals.
"As it is, the government has gone
much further than il should go in ordi-
/ nary circumstances in negotiating with
men who are guilty Of gross breaches
/ of the law.
Strike committees and committees
/ representing sections Of the strikers
are Illegal bodies and will be deal
/ with as Illegal bodies.
Everything that could be done has
/ beer done by the government 10 Undue,
/ men TO realize the seriousness of The
4 l. /,