A succession of judges went by.

At last came one that agreed with the employers that wages were too high for the welfare of the country.

This had long been a complaint of the manufacturers in particular, who were fond of pointing out how high wages discouraged the opening of new factories, and consequently the development of the country.

This judge, being of the same opinion, apparently, began to decide the cases the other way.
"Then, of a sudden the second fatal defect in the system opened up.
"The men grew restless under the adverse decisions of the court.
That raised a new question.
"How are you going to compel men to work when they do not wish to work under the conditions you provide?
"Nobody had thought of that." Referring, then, to the failure to prevent the strike of the slaughterers against the law in 1907, or to punish them after they had forced their employers to terms, Mr.Russell gives the Socialist opinion of the legislation of 1908, passed to remedy this situation:-- "At the next session of Parliament it amended the law to meet these unexpected emergencies and find a way to compel men to work.
"To strike after a case had been referred to the court was now made a crime, punishable by a fine, and if the fine were not paid, the strikers' goods could be distrained and he could be imprisoned.
Any labor union that ordered a strike or allowed its members to strike was made subject to a fine of $500.

Outside persons or organizations that aided or abetted a strike were made subject to severe penalties.
"Fine, again.