the shape of a strike by the metal-workers,
led by radicals of a pronounced type, who used the strike idea to
further their revolutionary aims, and who devoted themselves to bringing
about a general sympathetic strike in order to paralyse the business of
the city and thus help their enterprise. The radicals succeeded in
securing a general strike even to the post office staff and mail clerks,
and this led to similar sympathetic movements in Brandon, Saskatoon,
Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver. No doubt a great many in the various
organizations going on strike acted honestly with the idea in their
minds that the Winnipeg movement was of a genuine type and for usual and
legitimate purposes. But the leaders at that point showed their real aim
plainly when they started to take the control of the city out of the
hands of the Mayor and Council, and indicated by printed cards that the
only industries that would be allowed to continue were those that would
run "by permission of the Strike Committee." Winnipeg was about the last
city that would stand dictation from any other than their own elected
representatives, and so citizens organized themselves to withstand the
methods of the radicals and to uphold properly constituted authority. It
was a critical hour in the history of that city and the whole of Canada.

The Mounted Police that were in Winnipeg in pursuance of the policy of
distribution over the whole Dominion were under the competent command of
Superintendent Starnes, who, as we have seen, had done important work in
the Yukon, Hudson's Bay and prairie districts, and was known as a man of
experience and sound judgment in emergencies. The Mounted Police did not
interfere in the "strike," except by taking steps to protect life and
property, and to see that public services, such as the carrying and
distribution of His Majesty's mails, were not hindered. But on the 21st
of June, 1919, the Mayor, being unable to cope with the situation,
called for the assistance of the Mounted Police to prevent a parade of
thousands who were defying the city authorities. Thereupon fifty-four
mounted men, under Inspectors Proby and Mead, with thirty-six men in
trucks, under Sergt.-Major Griffin, were sent out from barracks,
Commissioner Perry, as well as Superintendent Starnes, being present
with the Attorney-General of Manitoba. A reserve was held in barracks,
under Sergt.-Major Greenway, but it was not required.

It did not take the mounted me