October Strike of 1907

in Hungary, a mass political strike that took place during the period when the government of S. Wekerle (1906–10) was beginning its campaign against the social, economic, and political gains made by workers during the political crisis of 1905–06.

The decision to stage a mass political strike was adopted at a meeting of deputies from the socialist organizations of Budapest that was convened on Sept. 9, 1907, by the leadership of the Social Democratic Party of Hungary. The strike was timed to coincide with the opening of the autumn session of the Diet on October 10. On Red Thursday, October 10, workers left their jobs and went out into the streets. About 200,000 took part in various cities, including 100,000 in Budapest itself.

The strike and accompanying demonstrations were carried out under such slogans as “Long live the right to vote!” and “Down with class rule!” The chairman of the Chamber of Deputies was given a petition demanding the establishment of universal suffrage. In order to weaken the movement, the government was compelled to reiterate its promise, first made in its program of April 1906, to reform the electoral system. However, the government’s reform bill, announced a few months after the strike, was moderate.