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"A LITTLE HOLIDAY!"

[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.

Going on Play, mate, you of the broad shoulders?
Take holiday awhile from pick and lamp?
Well your hard toil impresses all beholders,
Sweating amidst black seams and choking "damp."
A "holiday," for rest and recreation,
None would begrudge you. But at the expense
Of every other worker in the nation?