ABSTRACT

A strike makes bankrupts of tens of thousands of the most deserving of the people. Secondly, the unknown dangers which in a moment might, by the act of a fool, or a madman, or a malefactor, be let loose upon the reader. Thirdly, the spread of a restless sympathy in the labour market all over the land, and especially in the chief centre of industry. Fourthly, the almost certain injury permanently inflicted upon the Port of London. The charges of conspiracy and secret plotting the author think, he can best meet and refute by brief narration of the chief antecedent causes of the Strike, which will show how open and unabashed have been the methods of its instigators and leaders throughout. Many of, the meetings of the Gas Stokers’ Union were held in the East End, in the neighbourhood of the docks. A sort of antagonism has been imagined as dividing the East End shopkeeper from the East End labourer.