By Annie Besant

The strike of Bryant and May's match girls has aroused public interest to a remarkable extent, and the East-end of London is in a state of almost unprecedented excitement. For a long time the discontent has been seething beneath the surface at the Fairfield-road factory; but the final explosion seems to have been due to the clear and precise voicing of their complaints in the article on "White Slavery in London", and the sense of triumph felt in the prompt visit of the inspector of factories after the appearance of the article, and the consequent abolition of the whole system of fines. This first and startling success inspired them with a desire, like Oliver Twist, to "ask for more", and the strike at least testifies to the disappearance of the placidity of hopelessness. The refusal of Mr Matthews to prosecute Messrs. Bryant and May for their illegal deductions from the girls' wages has not acted as a discouragement, for they are so accustomed to injustice that to them it is normal. It was justice and brotherhood that came to them with all the delight of surprise.

We now see any array of some fifteen hundred women and girls workless and therefore wageless. The number may be lessened today by the return of two or three hundred of the better paid women to their work; but it is probable that the bulk will remain out. What is the policy to be urged by those who care for the triumph of the case of labour?

First, the necessity of organization. This strike has been a sudden and spontaneous act - an act most encouraging, be it noted in passing, because it is the first time that these match girls have acted together as though informed by one will and one emotion - and of necessity it cannot endure for very long. There is no fund to fall back on, no organization to direct the girls or to formulate their demands, no preparation for a prolonged struggle. Their great wish is to be enabled to hold out for a week, and this, one may hope, the public will help them to do. A long strike is out of the question; they have not even the ordinary sorrowful expedient of the poor open to them, for their low wages have not permitted them to buy property suitable for pawning. They can manage to get food enough, one way or another, to keep them alive, but contribution from the public will be wanted to pay the rents of their poor rooms, so that they may not be turned homeless into the streets.