Page:Speeches And Writings MKGandhi.djvu/511

 1918, Mr. Gandhi explains the circumstances which necessitated this action ;

Perhaps I owe an explanation to the public with regard to my recent fast. Some friends consider the action to have been silly, others, cowardly and some bthers stiJl worse. In my opinion I would have been untrue to my Maker and to the cause I was espbusing if I had acted otherwise.

When over a month ago I reached Bombay I was told that Ahmedabad millhands had threatened a strike and violence if the bonus that was given to them during the plague was withdrawn. I was asked to intervene and I consented.

Owing to the plague the men were getting as much as 70 per cent, bonus since August last An attempt to recall that bonus had resulted in grave dissatisfaction among the labourers. When it was almost too late, the millowners offered in the place of the plague bonus and for the sake of the high prices a rise of 20 per cent. The labourers were unsatisfied. The matter was referred to arbitration, Mr. Chatfield, the Collec- tor being the Umpire. The men in some mills however struck work. The owners thinking that they had done so without just cause withdrew from the arbitration, and declared a general lockout to be continued till the labourers were exhausted into accept- ing the 20 per cent, increase they had offered. Messrs. Shankerlal Banker, V. J. Patel and I the arbitrators apponted on behalf of the labourers, thought that they were to be demoralised if we did not act promptly and decisively. We, therefore, investigated the question of increase, we sought the millowners 1 assistance. They would not give it. Their one purpose was to organise

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