Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/299

 contumacious ID the same breath. These are solemn words :

" Do not be under the impression that out mamlatdars and our Talatis will realise the assessment by attaching and selling your movable property. We are not going to trouble ourselves so much. Oue officers' time is valuable. Only by your bringing in the monies shall the treasuries be filled, This is no threat, You take it from me that parent! never threaten their children. They only advise. But if you do not pay the dues, your lands will be confiscated, Many people say that this will not happen, But I say it will. 1 have no need to take a vow, I shall prove that I mean what I say. The lands of those who do not pay will be confiscated, Those who are contumacious will get no lands in future. Government do not want their names on their Records of Rights. Those who go out shall never b admitted again."

I bold that it is the sacred duty of every loyal citizen to fight unto deatb againsb such a spirit of vindiotiveness and tyranny. The Commissioner baa done the Ahmeda- bad strikers and me a oruel wrong, in saying that the strikers knowingly broke their vow. He was present at the meeting wbere the settlement was declared. He may hold that the skrikera bad broken tbeir vow (though bis speech at the meeting produced a contrary impression) but there is notbing to sho v thab tba strikers knowingly broke tbeir vow, Oa the contrary it was entirely kept} by tbair resuming their work on their getting for the first day wages demanded by them, and the final decision as to wages being referred to arbitration, The strikers had suggested arbitration whioh the mill-owners bad rejected. Their struggle in it? essence was for a thirty- five per oant. increase in tbeir wages or such increase as an arbitration board may decicb. And this is what they have got. Tho bit ab the strikers and me is, I regreb to have to say, a hit below the belt,

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