[It is proposed that 450,000 colliers belonging to the Miners' Federation should cease work for a week or a fortnight. This, it is said, is regarded as an "amicable" Strike, not against the Masters, but to raise the price of coal by producing an artificial scarcity, and thus avoiding a threatened reduction of wages consequent upon over-production. This the Miners call, "Going on Play.">[
Out-of-Worker to Out-on-Player:—
Who talks of "Solidarity of Labour,"—
A favourite shibboleth in these our days?—
To recognise one's duty to one's neighbour
Is that which all—in theory—will praise.
And Unions are upheld, and "Blacklegs" scouted—
Friends of Fraternity their heads must break
To prove their loyal brotherhood undoubted!—
But here there seems to be some slight mistake.