Llais Llafur

GWYS and CWMLLYHFLL Mr. Howell Lewis, son of Mr. Howell Lew is, Myrtle Hill, Gwys, and the well- known Swansea and International foot- baUer, haa now left the locality for Shrewsbury, where he has gone to join the Royal Welsh Fusiliers as a commis- sioned officer. He is the third son of Mr. Howell Lewis who has gone to the colours. Mr. Howell Lewis, junr., is well-known throughout South Wales as a keen football player, having played for Swansea for years. Previous to the out- break of wax he was selected captain of the All Whites. He has also played for his county and country. His large circle of friends throughout the Principality will wish him every success in the ser- vice of his King and country. Private Albert Martin, of the Breck- nocks Battalion, has been home for a short leave, and left the place on Tues- day for a move to Franoe. His friends and acquaintances were pleased to see him looking so well and cheerful, and he left with their best wishes. An interesting evening was spent at the Temperance Hall on Friday, when there was a fine selection of pictures ex- hibited on the screen, entitled the '"Martyr's Bov." Mr. Evan Kinsey ex- plained the views to the audience, while Mr. Willie Williams and Lewis Kinsey were responsible for the lantern, and much credit is due to them for their faithful labour. Next Monday another series ef pictures will be shown. Mr. Lewis Roland Williams left the place for London last Monday to take up duties under the Marconi College, where he recently passed an examination as a first-class operator. Rev. W. D. Thomas (Brynamman) oc- cupied the pulpit at Ebenezer on Sunday, and delivered powerful sermons which were greatly enjoyed. Sunday next the Rev. John Llewelyn, Rhosamman, will preach at this chapel. News came to hand last week that Mr. Morgan Morgans. late of Ystradowen, Cwmllynfell, died on the 17th December in America. Mr. Morgans was a well- known gentleman farmer, and a. native of Cwmllynfell. He left for America. about 32 years ago, and has had a very prominent and successful career. He made three or four visits to his old neighbourhood during his sojourn in the States, al-idi his last visit was not very long ago, when he looked quite hale and hearty. 0 We regret to announce the death of Mr. George Ware, which took place on Thursday at the age of 78, after a long illness. He came to the district as a ganger on the Midland Railway about 40 years ago. His wife predeceased him many years ago, and there remain three daughters to mourn their loss, one in Swansea, and two at Cwmllynfell, one of whom is the wife of Mr. Chas. Ware (one of the Brynhenllys Colliery owners) with whom the deceased had been stay- ing for a number of years. The inter. ment took place at Cwmllynfell burial ground on Tuesday, when a large num- ber of the inhabitants and friends from different districts came to pay their last I tribute of respect. Revs. J. Jeremy Jones and John Rees conducted the burial ser- vices. Nothing pleases the boys at the Front so much as news of home. Send them the "Llais" every week. A meeting of the ratepayers of the Quarter Bach ward was held at Tomen- Owen Council Schools on Tuesday even- ing, for the purpose of electing a District Councillor in place of the late Mr. Rees D. Powell. J.P. There were four candi- dates on the list, and Mr. John Hughes, Cefnbrynbrain, was appointed by a ma- jority of 37 votes. The successful candi- date is well known in the locality, has been a member of the Parish Council for a considerable number of years, and has taken a keen and energetic part in all things pertaining to the interest of the district. We a.re sure he will make an admirable member. A grand concert was held at Rhiwfawr School on Saturday, which proved a great success, through the efforts of Mr. D. J. Price, headmaster. The school children gave this treat also on Xmas night, but by special request of the in- habitants it wag repeated on this occa- I sion. A most enjoyable evening was spent by all. The Rev. W. D. Roderick occupied the chair. At St. Margaret's Church on Sunday evening last the Rev. T. Evans held an- other of his increasingly popular "War Services," during the course of which he read a number of interesting letters from j local soldiers in Gallipoli, France, and at t home. Mr. Evans is doing excellent ser- i vice by thus keeping up the keen in- terest of the locality in its soldier boys, who are in turn strengthened and en- couraged in their arduous duties. A fine performance of the Revue "On the Road to Harlech," presented by 20 of the most talented little artistes of Gwauncaegurwen and district, specially trained by Mr. W. Llan Davies, was given at the Public Hall, Cwmllynfe.1, on Saturday last, before a large crowd. The accompanist was Mr. John Oliver Rees, who proved himself a master on the piano. CYMDEITHAS GYMRAEG GWYS. Cynhaliwyd y gymdeithas uchod nos Iau, pryd y traddododd y llywydd, Mr. T. R. Thomas, ysgolfeistr, anerchiad ar "Y ddrama fel cyfrwng addysg." Cafwyd gwledd o'r iawn ryw gan Mr. Thomas. I YMADAWIAD MR. JOSEPH WIL-I LIAMS. I Blin genym gael arddeall fod yn mwT- I iad yr hen dad Mr. Joseph Williams, I llyfrwerthwr, Abergwys, ymadael a'r Cwm am Dreherbert, i fyw gyda'i ferch. Cydymdeimlwn yn fawr ag ef yn ei unig- edd blin wedi colli ei anwyl briod, a'i blant o'r lie. Afrad ar ofod fyddai i ni geisio dangos y golled ga y Cwm ar ei ol. Digon yw dweud y cyll pob achos da gefnogydd ffyddlawn, a'r tylawd a'r anghenus y cyfaill a'r cynorthwywr flawn cydymdeimlad. Credwn nas ddylai gael ei ollwng o'n plith heb i'r Cwm gael mantais i dalu teyrnged o barch iddo am ei wasarlaeth mawr yn y lie. Mentrwn cyhoeddi cvfarfod er ystyried y peth, yn y Temperance Hall nos Lun nesaf, am 7 o'r gloch? Y mae yn deilwng gwneuth- ur ohonom hyn iddo. CYFARFOD YMADAWOL I FILWR. Cynaliwyd cyfarfod ymadawol i Pte. Johnnie Williams, perthynol i'r Welsh Guards, yn y Berrington Arms, nos Wener diweddaf, pryd ymgasglodd llu mawr o'i ffryndiau a'i edmygwyr. Llan- wyd y gadair gan Mr. Jojm Isaac Wil- liams, yna wedi cael ychydig eiriau cynes ganddo a,r amcan y cyfarfod, galwyd ar Mr. Jack Hopkins i roddi can, yr hyn a wnaeth yn swynol fel arfer. Yna caf- wyd can gan Mr. Wm. Kendrick, yn llawn o dan Cymreig; can gan Mr. Mor- gan Jenkins, a chan gan Mr. Tom Price, yr hwn a ganodd amryw weithiau yn ystod y cyfarfod can, Pte. Albert Mar- tin; can, "Y Pacman," Mr. Owen Jones, yn ddoniol dros ben; can, Mr. Ben H. Morgan, yr hv<n a roddodd foddhad dir- fawr. Cafwyd llu o ganeuon digri gan Mr. Charle Oban, yr hwn sydd yn feistr ax y gelf, yn ystod y cyfarfod. Canwyd penillion o waith Mr. Willie Owen. y bardd lleol poblogaidd, gan Mr. Jack Hopkins, ac unodd y dorf yn y cydgan nes gwefreiddio y lie. Unawdau gan Mri. Dick Richards, Wm. Kendrick," a Dd. H. Morgan; anerchiad a chan gan Mr. aniel Edwards, gorsafeistr yn hynod darawiadol fel arfer; anerchiad gan y meddyg parchus Dr. John Owen, yr hwn sydd bob amser yn gefnogydd i ieuenctyd y lie. Y perdonydd oedd Mr. Wm. Rees, a Ilanwodd ei swydd yn anrhydeddus. Cafwyd ychydig eiriau gan y Private Johnnie Williams, sef arwr y cwrdd, yn diolch i'r cyfeillion oedd yn bresenol am eu dymuniadau da a'u caredigrwydd tuag ato drwy v casgliad sylweddol yn ystod yr hwvr. Yr oedd ein cyfaill yn ymadael am Ffrainc dvdd Sadwrn diweddaf. Blin genym ei fod wedi gweld cymaint o'r frwydr mewn amser mor fyr, ac hyderwn y cawn ei weld etc yn dyfod yn iach drwy'r tan. Terfynwyd y cyfarfod drwy ganu yr Anthen Genedlaethol. Cyflwynedig i'r Pte. Johnnie Williams (Welsh Guards). Hawddamor iti gyfaill Mor falch mae pawb drwy'r lie, Gael gweld dy wenau siriol Rol bod yn mhell o dre Mor hapns yw ewrdtl yma Fel hyn o fewn y Cwm, Er pan yr aethost yma.ith Mae llawer cylch yn llwm. Ni garem gael dy gadw Yn hwy o lawer iawn. Am fod dy gwmni'n felus 0 foreu hyd brydnawn Mae rhywbeth mwyn deniadol Yn mywyd "Jack" o hyd, A thystiaf viiia heno Nad oss dy fath drwy'r byd. Pob llwvddiant fyddo'n dilyn Dy famlrau eto'n mla'n, Gobeithio cawn dy weled Yn dod yn iach drwy'r tan; Paid ofni yr un German Beth bynag fydd ei wedd, Ond dangos iddo'n fuan Beth ydyw "min y cledd." Rhown ffarwel gynes ita Fel ffryndiau ieuanc lion, A phaid a digaloni Ar faes y frw ydr hon Ein dymuniadau goreu Fo'n glynu wrthot ti, A phan gei orig fecban GWHa anfon "air" i ni, Bydd hanes dy wrhydri Yn y sbrydoli* aeth fad, I ni sydd yma heno Yn ofnii mynd i'r gad; Three Cheers gaffot genym Am dy wroldeb (Twiw. Dos yn dy flaen yn Ilawen A dere 'nol yn fyw. 0- ———— -w.o.

WEEKLY BUTTER ALLOWANCE. The municipal authorities in Berlin are gradually introducing the butter card. The system came into force on Monday throughout the kingdom of Saxony, where a quarter of a pound of butter is allotted to each person per week.

KILLED BY A LOCO. The death occurred at Swansea Hospi- tal of David Matthews, of 616, Neath- road, Llansamlet, from injuries received by being knocked down by a loco. at Messrs. Gilbertson's Works. Pontardawe, on the 7th inst.

BRADFORD and MANCHESTER WAREHOUSE COMPANY. 12 GOWER STREET SWANSEA (Opposite Mount Pleasant Chapel) The Bargain Warehouse of South Wales. GOOD SELECTION OF SERGES FROM Is.9d. to 7s.9d per yd. TAILORS AND DRESSMAKERS, LININGS AND TRIMMINGS A SPECIALITY AT WHOLESALE PRICES. NAVY SERGE SUITABLE FOR BOYS' SWEPS OR ANYTHING FOR HARD WEAR, 54in. WIDE, 2s.9d. per yard. ORDERS BY POST RECEIVE SPECIAL AND PROMPT, ATTENTION.

I CORRESPONDENCE- "THE LABOUR VOICE" AND THE WON'T FIGHT GANG. To the Editor. Sir,-Tlle Government, no doubt, is very proud of the fact that "The Labour Voice," as stated in your "Common Sense of the Compulsion Issue," is on the side of Mr. Henderson, Mr. Hodge, and the Government. What matters it that the Trade Union Congress, with a keener in- sight into the economic results of compul- sion, has condemned the Bill by nearly two million votes. It can now proceed with confidence, knowing that "The Labour Voice" has given them its sanc- tion to bind the workers not only for military purposes but, as the Manches- ter Guardian" pointed out on Jan. 8th, industrially as well. As for Mr. John Hodge I am afraid that in spite of the championship of "The Labour Voice," he will never be returned for Gorton again to represent Labour in the name of Labour. Living in his constituency, and coming into daily contact with the work- ers that made his return to Parliament possible, I have no hesitation in stating that he is now misrepresenting Gorton for the last time. I for one would prefer giving my vote to the greatest Tory in existence than to John Hodge, for the Tory would betray me openly without pretending to be a friend of my class. The Government will also be glad to know that "The Labour Voice" has been converted to a sane way of thinking. During the Merthyr election it was very conspicuous in sneering at the I.L.P. minority. Why, only a few years ago :'The Labour Voice" was actively on the side of the I. L. P. in the Swansea Valley. But when the I.L.P. was the only party in the Valley which was considered of any value, by nature of its great propa- ganda work. It was certainly very popu- lar. Now I ask you why this great change of front? Is it because you wish to be for ever on the popular side? You sneer at what you call the "Won't Fight Gang," but it requires far greater courage to stand by the few to receive sneers such as yours than always to fight on the popular side. What does it matter to such as control .The Labour Voice" that in nine cases out of ten TIME proves the minority to be right in their opinions. Sufficient to such as you Is to know that you receive the open applause—but secret contempt—of your masters, while you have the consolation of knowing that you can always change your views should the unpopular opinions of .to-day's mino- rity become the popular opinions of to- morrow. It is not in natures suoh as your* to understand great movements nor to ap- preciate the convictions of the "No Con- scription Fellowship."—Yours, etc.. JOHN L. JONES, Gorton, Manchester. rMr. J. L. Jones's reference to the Labour conferense. in London last week as "the Trade Union Congress" is evi- dence of his unfitness to discuss ques- tions of public importance. The "Man- chester Guardian" rHd not make the statement he alleges. There is not a solid argument in Mr. Jones's whole letter. We would remind our critic that the 'Labour Voice' was championing the Labour cause before the I.L.P. branch had eome into existence. Suoh popu- larity as the I.L.P. enjoyed a. few years ago was due largely to the "Labour Voice" its present unpopulari- ty is due to the fatuity of Mr. J. L. Jones, and other would-be leaders. Mr. John Hodge is certain of victory at the next election if Mr. J. L. Jones will be good enough to stay at Gorton to oppose him.-Ed. "L.V."l A CHECKWEIGHER AND COMPUL- SION. To the Editor. Sir,—Please to give space in your valuable paper for my congratulations on your courage with regard to compelling the young men who till now have been deaf to their nation's call. As a Labour man who was working for the. Federation and Socialism before Mr. Tom Evans, Ynismeudwy, was in his cradle, I agree in toto with you and Mr. Wm. Brace, Mr. Barnes, and Mr. John Hodge, Mr. Arthur Henderson, and other respected leadoi-s of Labour whose records are known to the world. Mr. Tom Evans' ignorance is enough to turn somebody's stomach. He says, "Lord Kitchener asked for 35,000 re- cruits per week, and in nine weeks enlisted to the number of 24 millions. Lord Kitchener asked for 30,000 a week for a few weeks, but he wants 30,000 a week up to end of 1916. Now only about a million of Mr. Tom Evans' 2i millions can be soldiers. Say 200,000 of the 650,000 single men who did not enlist are fit for the army. Well, now then, before the 800,000 fit married men can serve, the 200,000 must be called up, ac- cording to the pledge from Mr. Asquith on which the married men joined. We have to raise the single "dram" which is blocking the road against the married "journey," before the works can be going- full swing. There are living close to me 12 attested married men who haw altogether 39 children. The number of unstirred single j men, to all looks, strong enough for sol- diers, is seven. Now, Mr. Editor, I ask in the name of justice, reason, and com- mon sense, should these fathers go before the young bachelors with no little child- ren depending on them ? Mr. Evans is talking very big if "con- science." Conscience indeed! Where is the conscience ef men who will let other people fight for their homea for them ? To my mind the men who won't fight j is as much a blackguard (and worse) as the man who will leave his children to the pi.h to bring up. The Won't Fight Gang, :J u call them. Mr. Editor, may satisfy L ■ "conscience" and act as they like if it only concerns themselves, but when they stand in the light of little children, and against the best interests of the country what I say, and many with me, is "To hell with them." "Cas gwr na chairo'r wlad a'i macco," a, chasach byth y gwr a adawa i eraill y dyledswydd o amddiffyn ei gartref. I am sorry to differ with Mr. Ramsay Macdonald and Mr. Philip Snowdon, be- cause I have always reverenced them in days gone by, but it is not logical in them to cry out now about the voluntary system, when they did not do a stitch to save it. The I.L.P. at their confer- ence even gave a slap in the face to Labour M.P. 's like Mr. John Williams and others who have been helping re- cruiting. "Disillusioned" gives a kick about "desertion" of trade union principles. We as Federationists have always compelled non- U niortists to join. and if a man should not enjoy the benefits of a Federa- I tion without keeping his card clear should a man enjoy the benefits of British liber- ty without doing his share to defend it against Kaiser Bill and the butchers of Bel- um ? What is the difference be- tween tho non-Unionist and the slacker? I say appty the same principle to both. Perhaps they don't know much about trade unionism in Cardiff, and if "Dis- illusioned" wants to learn something about it let him come to the Swansea Valley. "Disillusioned" is grumbling very much because you slashed the Won't Fight Gang. In my humble opinion, Mr. Edi- tor, you did not give it to them half enough. They do not like a blow straight from the shoulder against themselves, but they will not fight fair, and they even stab any opponent in the back when they get the chance. Look at this week's "Labour Leader." Here is Casey, the I.L.P. clown, saying on page 10—" How can Arthur Henderson's £ 5,000 a year prevent Burston women being evicted ? How can a Roberts whose principal duty is signing cheques, assist the cause of freedom ?" There are some dirty low-down hints for you. What I beg to say, Mr. Editor, is, all honour to Mr. Wm. Brace, Mr. Arthur Henderson, "The Labour Voice," and others who are working. for the good of the country, and good luck to all the Valley and other Welsh boys, including my own son, who are fighting the Ger- mans. Yours in the cause of Labour, CHECKWEIGHER. I MRS. BRUCE GLASIER AND THE GERMANS. To the Editor. Sir,—A letter that has appeared in your paper under the above heading has just been forwarded ta me. It is difficult to carry on a debate in a newspaper on vast and far-reaching principles of faith and action-at any rate, for a woman as busy as I am—but there are just one or two things I would urge in defence of the principles I have endeavoured to up- hold. First, my opponent says, "We know that miutual aid is the law of progress towards God." But of what is know- ledge we do not live by ? As was written long ago, "If I have all knowledge and all wisdom revealed unto me and I have not love, it p-ofiteth me nothing." The terrible divorce be- tween the teaching of the New Testament and all that is necessary, once war is declared has made many of us give our lives to the war agamst war. To us mili- tarism is the enemy—not Prussian mili- tarism only. And in a war where we have as ally Russian militarism, it will be hard for even Lodge Secretary" to make fine distinctions. My opponent's own illustration of the contrast between Robert Owen's beauti- ful writing on education and the brutali- ties of the concentration camps in the Boer Waj* is apt here. It ia perfectly true to say that the British naiitm in peace times is incapable of acquiescing in cruelty to even one mother and child. Once we declared war -v, hich is hell"—as General Butler told us, we acted in the eyes of the poor Boer mothers as only devils in human shape could act. Why did we go to war ? Be- cause of militarists in high places, sup- ported by the militarist thinking of so many of our people who told us, as "Lodge Secretary" tells me now, that the time for moralising was gone, "and noth- ing but strong and vigorous action was any use." No one can hate more than I the awful spirit of militarism revealed in the quota- tion from the German school bcok quoted by Herve. (I wish I could get the name of that book. No German friend I ever had had ever had any such teaching. I don't believe any reputable school used the book. The Bernhadi book we have sold everywhere, was unknown practical- ly in Germany. It was published in a 6,000 edition at 10 marks, and 4,000 of it were suppressed by order of the Ger- man Emperor Yet we have been made to believe it was read broadcast by the German people.) But if in the belief that it is possible to cast out evil by evil, the British people suffer themselves to become a conscript nation, we shall soon see every evil thing in Russia copied here. Nay, I am certain of it, there is no essential wickedness in the vast mass of the German workers any more than in our own. And if the workers in each of the coun- tries would only learn to love each other better (instead of hating the peoples of other countries) and stand loyally by each by each other in the trade union, Co- operative and political movements, they could soon oust the militarists in their own governments. If we had had a ma- jority of men in Parliament with the will to work for a United Stated of Europe, to prepare for a righteous peace instead of for a victorious war, and to spend one million a day on the building up of the life of the people instead of five millions a day on dealing out death and destruction, I am certain there would have been no war in Europe new. "Lodge Secretary" speak s of the Boers being friendly with us now. But it was the anti-militarist Campbell Banner man peaoe that won them over, not the brute force, Chinese slavery, jingo Imperialist section who made the war and who are all at the helm just now, and Prussian- ising our nation as fast as ever they can. But perhaps even "Lodge Secretary" is beginning to realise that militarism has to be fought at home as well as in Prussia to want to "ne!ltia.te Germany out of Belgium and France" instead of fighting her out and to begin again to work together with all the kindly people of Europe to make life possible instead of death, is no crime, but the only savinc human wisdom. Let my last suggestion be my main one that the only power that can over- come the militarism of Germany is the anti-militarism of Germany. Our British militarism can only strengthen it and destroy our own freedom into the bar- gain.—Yours faithfully,. KATHERINE BRUCE GLASIER,

Jones (to his landlady)—"Very sorry madam, but I've torn the curtain in the sitting-room." Landlady—"Oh, all right, sir J 1*11 put it down as extra rent r' Mrs. Smythe—"Is there no way you can break yourself of that habit of talking in your sleep?" Mr Smythe (tremulously but hopefully)—"Do you think it would help at all, my dear, if you'd let me talk more when I'm awake?" "Doesn't it humiliate you to have to go through life this way?'' asked the sympathetic woman as she pur- chased a photograph at the show. "Yes ma'am, replied the Bearded Ladv. "If it wasn't for the wife and the kids I'd throw up the job to-day.