LABOUR IN MADRAS 127 you lies a struggle perhaps long and certainly arduous. It is clear that the demands formulated by you are reasonable and are based on grounds which are just and righteous. But the mere fact that your demands are just will not be sufficient to bring round your employers who have already shown a certain amount of unreasonableness in the plea that they have put forward in answer to your requests. Under the circumstances you will have to keep on consulting each other and stand united in face of strong opposition. It is rumoured that from other parts of the country like Bombay and Calcutta people are going to be brought to run the tramway line in Madras. I do not think that such a plan will altogether succeed. For I know something of the wages that are paid to Calcutta and Bombay tramwaymen. And if these men are brought here they will certainly demand wages far in advance of what you are getting now, so that you need not be very anxious and afraid of that rumour. Many other difficulties might arise. But as I said to you on the first day the most important point is that you make up your mind, stand fast to the resolution to which you come and follow the advice of the President of your Tramway Union. Meanwhile don't waste your time; but try to get some work for every day and earn as much as you possibly can. If such a course is not possible for you then you must stand united here and only see that the time that is left to you is not used in anything that is wrong or bad. The most important point for you is to come to a decision, stick to it definitely every day and not divide yourselves into little groups or parties, one group thinking one way and another thinking in another manner. I am told that you are ready
