"What do you mean by 'walked out'?" he returned, as puzzled as I.
"Walked out of the works," I explained; "away from their duties, quit work. Struck!"
"But they have struck. Perhaps you have never seen a strike before, but do you not see the strike badges?"
And then I looked and saw that every workman wore a tiny red flag, and the flag bore no imperial eagle.
"It means," I gasped, "that they have renounced the rule of the Royal House. This is not a strike, this is rebellion, treason!"
"It is the custom," said the labour psychologist, "and as for rebellion and treason that you speak of I hardly think you ought to call it that for rebellion and treason are forbidden."
"Then just what does it mean?"
"It means that this particular group of workers have temporarily withdrawn their allegiance to the Royal House, and they have, in their own minds, restored the old socialist régime, until they can make petition to the Emperor and he passes on their grievance. They will do that in their halls tonight. We, of course, will be connected up and listen in."
"Then they are not really on strike?"
"Certainly they are on strike. All strikes are conducted so."