it approached the Government for assistance for the union funds, had embodied the general opinion in a resolution, "that an immediate effort be made to terminate all existing disputes, whether strikes or lock-outs, and whenever new points of difficulty arise during the war-period, a serious attempt should be made by all concerned to reach an amicable settlement before resorting to a strike or lock-out." From 72,000 men involved in various disputes in mid-July the number fell to "practically nil "by the following February: for 99 new disputes originating in July there were only 14 in August. This was the industrial truce, loyally observed in spite of grave provocation during the first winter.
"And lest it be thought that this was a small matter, an obvious and unimportant concession, let it be recalled that the three years preceding the war were years of intense industrial struggle in which for the unions principles as well as pence were at stake; and that, even as regards wages alone, the truce involved spontaneous surrender of the essential factor in their bargaining power, in sheer reliance on the goodwill of employers and the State. Whatever amelioration of the average working-class standard of living the next few years might
