A Striking Demonstration

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Apr 4, 1912

A Striking Demonstration

THERE is being furnished the world at the present time a little foretaste of what is certain to come in the future when labor, internationally federated, will make its demands upon organized industry. The present situation is summed up by one of our exchanges as follows:—

With one million coal-miners on strike in England; a similar number of Englishmen out of employment because of lack of fuel; one hundred seventy-five thousand miners walking out of the German mines, to be followed in all probability by a similar number before the end of the week; all French miners out for one day as a warning to both government and people that they are dissatisfied with conditions; and a strike pending in both anthracite and bituminous mines of the United States,—the world is facing perhaps the most gigantic labor upheaval of modern times.

This great strike has brought uneasiness in all parts of the world, and has already caused distress and unparalleled inconvenience in Great Britain. There is probability that the strike in Germany will grow, strong possibility that the French miners will join the striking Germans and British to force a change in wages and conditions through the instrumentality of general distress; and added to this is the ominous indication that on April 1 the coal-miners of the United States will lay down their tools, and add to the general unrest and misery. Already there is a complete paralysis of many lines of industry; and employees, with little or nothing ahead and families depending upon them, are facing a dark situation. The consequences of this strike have ramifications that are almost endless. In England train service has been curtailed for over two weeks, and gas and electric companies have notified their customers of reduced service. Factories are shutting down, and the ranks of the unemployed are growing every day. The world is only beginning to realize the meaning of the words of Scripture, “Distress of nations, with perplexity.” What we see now is only an indication of what we shall see as these forces grow in power and confidence, operating in unison in the various nations of the world.