State Socialism 129 



soon spread far and wide throughout the conti- 

 nent. The whole pastoral industry was dislo- 

 cated by a strike of shearers, and, among other 

 actions, the Labour leaders alienated public sym- 

 pathy by calling out the gas stokers, and leaving 

 the city of Melbourne in darkness. It was a long 

 battle, and bitterly fought out. The men had 

 ample funds to draw upon in the beginning, and 

 showed remarkable courage and resolution in 

 fighting to the very last. But they were fighting 

 a losing battle, in which Australian Trade Union- 

 ism was shattered by a blow from which it was 

 predicted it would never recover. 



It is true that the unions have never recovered 

 the prestige they lost in the great strike, but the 

 defeat of the men stiffened the cause of Labour in 

 Australia as even victory could not have done. 

 The method of fighting was altered that is all, 

 and the scene of combat was transferred to the 

 ballot-box. The Australian workman, remem- 

 bering that he had a vote, determined to employ 

 it to the one end of furthering the object of the 

 Labour party. The representatives of Labour 

 who contrived to be returned to Parliament 

 went to work in the same way they consistently 

 played one political party against another, while 

 standing aloof from both, ever on the look-out for 

 some legislative advantage for Labour. 



Before the Federation of the Australian States, 

 the Labourites were continually held in check by 

 the Upper Houses of State Legislature, composed 



