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Labour Notes. I Lab9urNotes.I
Labour Notes. I Lab9ur Notes. I LABOUR AND THE LEAGUE OF NATIONS. The Executive Committee of the Labour Party has considered the scheme for a League of Na- tions adopted-at the official Peace Conference in Paris, and has appointed a Sub-Committee to consider the calling of a National Conference of Labour to discuss the proposed Covenant and to re-affirm the demands of Labour as embodied in the War Aims Memorandum. The International is also to deal with this matter at a meeting to be held in Paris—.probably at the end of March —of the Paris Commission of the International Labour and Socialist Conference held recently at Berne. This Commission consists of the members of the Executive Committee appointed by the Con- ference: M. Hjalmar Branting, the Rt. Hon. Arthur Henderson. and M. Camille Huysmans, together with the following delegates: Messrs. Renaudel, Longuet, Ramsay Macdonald, and Stuart Running. At this meeting they will also discuss the Territorial Questions left over from j the Conference. THE SOCIALIST REVOLUTIONARIES AND SOVIET RUSSIA. Throughout January, interesting developments have been going on in Russia .between the Soviet Government and Socialist Revolutionaries in Ufa. These Socialist Revolutionaries were Anti- Bolshevik until the Koltschak Government was established, but, according to the reports—some of which have been published in L'Humanite —they see now no alternative between the Soviets on the one side, who in this historic hour are the only revolutionary power of the ex- ploited classes." and military governments of the Koltschak type. There has also been a Conference of the Men- she vik Party appealing for united action with the Bolsheviks against foreign intervention. It is not quite clear to what extent this Conference represented the whole of these Socialist bodies who were formerly against the Bolsheviks, but it is apparent that the position in Russia is changing, and that it is foreign .intervention which is causing the former opponents of Bol- shevism to turn towards it. The Mensheviks say that they maintain their separate outlook, but regard it as necessary that all should come to a "common understanding on the basis of the es- tablishment of a democratic government founded on political liberty." The position in Russia can be little understood from press reports, and much will be expected from the International Socialist and Labour Commission appointed at Berne to visit that country. The Allied Governments are now con- sidering whether permission shall be given for those representatives of the working-class move- ment to proceed upon their journey, and it is iioped that by the beginning of the week they will be actually on their way. IRELAND LEADS THE WAY. The Irish Women Workers' Union, which has been very active for some time among all sec- tions of women workers in Ireland, is organising campaign among nurses in the hope of form- ing an Irish Nurses' Union as a branch of the General Union. A very interesting feature of the campaign is the active support it is receiving from many well-known doctors. This is a very significant new departure for trade unionism, and we wish the I. .U. every success in their efforts to bring the professional workers into ?:hpii: ranks. There is a small association of mid- wives which has for some years been affiliated t-o the Labour Party, but the other self-govern- ing bodies of nurses have like the teachers, so tar held a loof from actual affiliation, though they have had the support of Labour in their ,.pfforts to gain full recognition of their profes- sion by means of state legistration of nurses. Energetic action on the part of trade unions, such as that taken by the Irish Women Workers, might do a good deal to counteract the efforts of such bodies as the College of Nursing, which .-are ni)NN a real danger to the profession, for they are dominated by hospital and philanthropic in- terest s. and governed by the nurses' employers. THE LABOUR PARTY AND THE RENT RESTRICTION ACT. the Parliamentary Labour Party are moving -a large number of amendments to the new Bill, which is to extend the operation of the present Rent Restriction Act. The Bill allows of a 10 per cent, ino-ease of rent, and in special circum- stances even more. Labour claims that there .should be no increase at all unless it is proved that the house is in good repair, and even in that case, it should not be more than 5 per cent. The Bill would extend the Act for a further six months, which would mean that it would be in force for one year after the declaration of peace. Labour demands that the extension should be for two clear years after that happy event. On the question of evict-ions they will move an amendment that evictions should only be per- mitted in eases where the rent 1, not paid, or the tenant is an "undesirable person." There .-are some smaller points with which also they propose to deal. A landlord giving a wrong statement as to the amount of the rent is liable to a fine of rt is proposed to amend this tIll" land- lord who demands higher rent than he is en- titled to subject to it also. Further, where the tenant has to take a case into court, either be- -cau.se the landlord applies for an order for eject- ment, or because he is attempting to impose a higher rent, and the tenant wins the case, the Party will move an amendment which would place the costs for the action upon the landlord. WOMEN AND THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH. The chief interest in the discussions on the Bill for establishing a Ministry of Health centres round the provision made for the appointment of Consultative Councils. These Councils must, .-ae(-or(ling to the Bill, consist of persons of both sexes, a provision which, as it stands, does not satisfy any of the women concerned in the mat- ter. The Standing Joint Committee of Indus- trial Women's Organisations have issued a statement upon this subject in which they advo- cate that one of these Consultative Councils should be made up on the lines of the Consu- mers' Council at the Ministry of Food, that is, •that it should represent the people generally— the experts of ordinary life-rather than the professional experts in health work. They hold that such a Council should consist mainly of women who, in a very large degree, are' the custodians of the nation's health. The woman jll the home best knows how health regulations will affect its members, and also best knows what provision is now lacking. The establish- ment of such a Council would require no further amendment to the Bill, but the industrial women are strongly supporting an amendment to be moved by the Labour Party, which would re- quire that there shall not only be men and women on every consultative council, but that the num- ber of women on them shall be a very substan- tial one. Meanwhile other organisations, led by Lady "Rhonddn as President of the Ministry of Health" Watching Council, a body whicli does not include thüLahour or the Co-operative movements are pressing for an amendment to the Bill which won id allow of the appointment of a Consulta- tive Council consisting entirely of women. They put forward this suggestion for very much the same reasons as the industrial women put for- ward theirs, but in Labour's opinion it would be a mistake to have such a body consisting of women only, not because they are out of sym- pathy with the women's demand for special re- presentation on health matters, but because they feel that the women should be substantially re- presented on all bodies, and not sidetracked on to one. If it represents one sex only it is impos- sible for it to have the weight and influence of a bcxlv which represents the whole of the people. It will be one of many Councils, instead of being the most important vehicle for lay criticism. UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE COTTON TRADE. The situation in the cotton trade appears from all reports to be extremely serious. To take only one week, the following towns—Accrington, Burnley, Hey wood, Tormorden, Haslingden, Preston, Nelson, Darwen, and Ramsbottom—all report extensive unemployment, and a similar situation obtains in nearly all the industrial cen- tres of Lancashire. The trouble is intensified by the fact that cotton trade unemployment gener- ally shows itself in short-time working. Under the Cotton Control Board, workers who were pa.id off received out-of-work pay; but according to a recent Court of Referees' decision no unem- ployment can count for Government donation benefit unless the employment is actually ter- minated, so that a worker may lose two or three days' pay per ii-celc without receiving any compensation. This trouble is particularly serious among the cardroom workers. An addi- tional soreness is provided by the fact that Gov- ernment donation cannot be paid to workers un der 15. which means that a number of young workers regard it as a serious breach of confi- dence tha.t the Government, which allowed these fliildren to be withdrawn from school under plea of national necessity, should shirk the burden of I providing for them when that need has passed. THE GOVERNMENT & THE DISCHARCED SOLDIERS. An interesting letter was sent by Mr. Cozens- Hardy, M.P., to the Norfolk War Pensions Com- mittee, n'hieh stated that as the National Feder- ation of Discharged Soldiers and Sailors" is now definitely allied to one of the political parties," the Government proposes to form an organisa- tion of their own for discharged soldiers which will probably amalgamate most of the existing societies. The Comrades of the Great War was a failure, so the Government is trying to make a fresh start. But we wonder what the new society is to do. It is to protest against the ac- tion of the Ministry of Pensions in being too generous with its pensions? The Treasury has recently had serious cause to complain of the Ministry of Pensions in this respect, and we pre- sume that the Government will take some action.
I" Breeding of Loafers."
Breeding of Loafers." NECESSITY FOR AFTER-CARE OFFICER AT MERTHYR. After three andidates for the position of after-care officer for children had been inter- viewed by the Morthyr Education Committee on Wednesday an attempt was made by some of the members to abandon the idea of such an ap- poi ntrnen t altogether. The opposition was first voiced by Mr. Gomer Thomas, who did not think the appointment- ne- cessary and considered it would involve an addi- tional }d. rate. Mr. Henry Owen took up a simi- lar position and thought there were better men at home" than those interviewed—all three from various parts of England, though two were natives of the Rhondda Valley. Mr. L. M. Joiies took exception to tlw ascrib- ing by 1lr. Thomas of the creation of the post to a small minority "—by which lie presumably meant the Labour Group—and demanded the withdrawal of the allegation, pointing out the decision was that of a full committee meeting. Mr. Thomas declined to withdraw. The Chairman (Mr. F. A. Phillips) considered that it would be in order if the committee were of the opinion that none of the applicants were .suitable to move the deferring of the appoint- ment and Mr. Thomas submitted a motion to Mr. L. M. Francis pointed out that the new Education Act would compel the Authority to make an after-care appointment and he sug- gested that if the three candidates now before the committee were not satisfactory a further list of the remaining 17 applicants for the post should be considered later. Mr. Thomas: I am going to move after to- night's meeting that the resolution making the appointment shall be rescinded. The Director of Education (Mr. Rhys Elias) stated that though contained in the Education Act the after-care order had not yet been sent out as an instruction, but the Board of Educa- tion had enquired already as to what Merthyr was doing. » Mr. Francis considered that an after-care system was one means of improving school at- tendance and Parliament were insisting upon the necessity of supervision over children in the period of "hitching" them from school to work. He knew of lads w ho had developed into loafers because no otganisation was in being at Mer- thyr to look after them in that transitionary stage. The Chairman: The question of making no appointment at all cannot be ra-ised to-night. On a vote the motion was carried, the nametl of the remaining candidates to be submitted to the next* meeting of the Authority.
Electric TheatreI
Electric Theatre I Exciting, weird and gripping, a thriller based on a most unusual story is hoJ,y the Fox film people describe their five-reel production, A Heart's Revenge," the top of the bill at the Merthyr Electric Theatre from Monday to Wed- nesday of next week. It is a story of the East, beautifully and accurately mounted, and in the lead it seen one of the most gifted of the many leading ladies in the Fox eompanies-Sonia Markova. Butter bun's Busy Day" is a comedy crowded with healthy humour, and "Court Bernstorff's Secrets" in the current in- stalment takes a sensational turn. Thursday onwards will see screened a joyous Goldwvn picture with lots of laughs and crammed with six reels of thrills a.nd action-it is labelled "Nearly Married," .and the woman in the case is the attractive Madge Kennedy. Hearts of Men is a story with a punch per- meated by an atmosphere of strength and pleas- ingly told. The tenth instalment of the "Ro- mance of Olive also comes up at the latter session of the week, and in addition, like the- earlier "show, will be provided a galaxy of star releases going to make up some three hours of splendid entertainment.
- - - - - - -Items from the…
Items from the House MORE CONSCRIPTION! Notwithstanding the many election pledges and the no less definite posters which exhorted the electors to "Vote for Lloyd George and no Conscription," the reactionary House of Com- mons on Monday of last week gave Mr. Churchill a major,ity of 233 for his new Conscription Bill. By their fruits ye shall know them! THE INNOCENT LITTLE BILL. Mr. Churchill's Hill-which, say the Govern- ment spokesmen, is a perfectly innocent little Bill—gives the Government power to retain the service of a man until April 30th, 1920, and is according to Capt. Guest, who asked for the second reading, "designed purposely to meet wholly the exigencies of the transition period. Mr. Adam son, for the Labour Party, put it in this way: Here you have proposals to compel men to continue in service who were enlisted for the period of the war, and who had the assur- ance given in this House that these were the terms of their service." Capt. Guest's phrase "to meet the exigencies of the transition period" was much nicer and softer, but Adamson's lan- guage had the merit of blunt truth. LABOUR'S POWERFUL OPPOSITION. A powerful opposition to the Bill was put up from the Labour benches. As Thomas said; Not only are we going to oppose the Bill, but we are going to make the people of this country clearly understand what it means. It is a chal- lenge to our election position, it is a challenge to the attitude everyone of us took up. We accept the challenge, whatever the consequences, because we believe that a war resulting in this country being made a conscript country is a war that leaves us not the victors but the van- quished. It may mean that we have won the war, but we have certainly lost the peace." BEN SPOOR SCORES. Mr. Ben SpoorC Bishop Auckland), an I.L.P. member, claimed that the Labour Party was thoroughly representative on this question, for the simple reason that every Labour candidate who went before the electors of the 350 constitu- encies that Labyur fought was pledged to the hilt against Conscription and the 2,250,000 peo- ple who voted Labour cast their votes against Conscription. Seddon represented the vapouring anti-German school which is prepared to submerge common- sense under a sea of vindictiveness and hate, -and Ben Spoor got in a neat hit at him. He as- sured us that lie had no desire to meet the Ger- mans and had no intention of meeting them," said Spoor, "but lie is prepared to vote that 500,000 of his countrymen should go over to them." A GOOD INDEPENDENT RADICAL. A few of the independent Radicals are doing good work in the House. In this debate, for instance, Mr. Sidney Arnold delivered a, plucky speech of uncompromising opposition which string the reactionaries into an attempt to shout him down. THE PERSECUTION OF OPINION. Another Independent Liberal has put up an excellent fight for the men who are suffering in prison as a. result of the policy of persecution pursued by this Government. The Military Ser- vice Acts expressly provided for the exemption of men having a conscientious objection, but the ery men who have most fully proved the gen- uineness and spirit of their opposition by re- maining in confinement for years when they Blight have chosen an easier course, are being kept in prison by the Government—apparently for sheer spite. Colonel Wedgwood in an un- sympathetic House has most courageously pro- tested against this policy because he believes the honour of the country demands a protest. Mr. 'Iliomas supported him in debate on Monday. but little satisfaction could be drawn from Mr. Shortt. and the men who are being tortured for their opinions must remain under torture be- cause the men and women outside have not yet a sufficient faith in Freedom and a sufficient de- votion to Principle to demand a juster attitude from the Government.
Election Registers
Election Registers MERTHYR FINANCE COMMITTEE AND PAYMENTS. Several franchise matters, arising from preparations came before the finance committee of the Merthyr Corporation on Tuesday. In re- spect to expenses incurred on the Representa- tion of the People Act, 1918, the following ac- count was presented: List of electors (Parlia- mentary borough), £ 937; register of electors, £ 429; printing list and register, £ 1,355. The Borough Controller (Mr. W. U. Harris) stated that the checking of the accounts, which were previously submitted to the committee for payment, had not been completed, but he un- dertook to send out his report to all members in time for consideration before the next council meeting. The Town Clerk (Mr. T. A. Rees) as registra- tion officer, asked for payment of £500 on ac- count of expenses in connection with the pre- paration of the Spring lists of electors for the Merthyr and Aberdaxe registers, and Mr. D. Perkins insisted that the committee should have vouchers for every payment. Town Clerk: I am quite agreeable, but I can't get a voucher without the money. You can have that after the money is paid. Mr. Perkins: You have probably from 100 to 200 enumerators. Do each of those sign for the sum paid? Town Clerk: That is so. I guarantee every penny paid will have a voucher for it. The account was passed for payment. With regard to the National Registration Act, 1015, the Town Clerk submitted a claim for £ 22 8s. 7d. (£15 3s. due to members of his staff for overtime on the re-arrangement of the na- tional register and £7 5s. 7d. for advertising, stationery and fittings). Mr. Rees stated that the Government paid for the whole of the work done and a cheque for the amount claimed had been received. The committee agreed to the payment of the clerks concerned from the Gov- ernment grant.
CASTLE HOTEL LICENCE. I
CASTLE HOTEL LICENCE. I The Rector of Merthyr (the Hev. D. Lewis) entered into recognisances at the Merthyr Police-court on Friday to prosecute an appeal at the Gla.morgan Quarter Sessions against the re- fusal of the Merthyr Licensing Justices to renew the licence of the Castle Hotel, one of the oldest hostelries in Merthyr.
What does it Profit a Man…
What does it Profit a Man to gain the EWorld and Lose his own Soul. BY THOMAS THOMAS. Whenever a British Government want to tighten the fetters which keep the people in bond- age the act is preceded or accompanied by se- ductive pleas of moral' necessity or some similar claptrap. The Conscription Acts, the D.O.R.A., the suspension of Habeas Corpus enforced dur- ing the war were all justified by our wily rulers as measures essential to the safety of the glorious British Empire, and so well glazed with sophistical varnish were the reasons adduced for the abrogation of individual liberty, so cun- ningly manoeuvred the attack upon established rights, that the people accepted the additional yoke with the righteous glow of immolatory de- votion. Alas, the delusion of fools can always be accomplished by the artifice of moral chican- ery. The malnutritioned- mind of the British toiler can invariably he soothed by the narcotic influences of flattery if offered with a: sufficient degree of thickness and polished with the veneer of cant and rank. But, "you may fool all the people part of the time; you may fool some of the people all the t I iiie but, you cannot fool all the people all the time," which perhaps accounts for the rising interest and opposition shown against the new Military Service Bill at present before the House of Commons. I NECESSITY? When the 1916 Conscript ion Act was passed1 under the plea of urgent necessity. a solemn pledge was given that it should automatically annul itself at the end of the war, and tha.t all recruits would regain their freedom. When peace was declared a plea of necessity was again urged to continue Conscription until the ratifi- cation of peace. Now when within sight of a final settlement, Mr. Winston Churchill, for the Government, is asking for Compulsory Military Service until April 30th, ,1020. And so the old sweet game of bluff goes on, with solemn pro- mises treated like the provei-blat scraps of paper," and the gullibility of the people played upon with a brutal insouciance. The war has ended in the complete collapse of the enemy powers, but to ensure the fulfilment of Germany's obligations an army of occupation is supposed to be necessary which, we aro told, can only be maintained by Compulsory Service. Well, if an army of occupation will be necessary until Germany pays the indemnities demanded off her all army of occupation will be needed until the crack of doom, and Conscription must remain an established institution in this coun- try. A QUERY FOR YOU. I .A ssumillg, for the moment, the necessity of an army on the Rhine, must the country accept I?e word of imperialistic-minded n?u that the voluntary principle is unsuccessful kno? iug that the previous Conscription Acts were enforced through chicanery and not because voluntarism had failed? The Coalition Government has been discredited in all its actions, it has falsified its most sanctified pledges. Shall it then receive credit now when attempting to enslave the pre- sent and future generations under a despotic military regime? j CANDID CHURCHILL. Notice that the terms of this new Bill only conscripts men who joined the colours after •Tune 1st, 1916, and that young men in "civil life who attain the age of eighteen are not to be called to the army unless—— Ah. ves. there must. be conditions which will enable the mili- tarists to spread their tentacles. Moreover, even with the stodgy British public, slavery cannot be enforced to an unlimited capacity in one Act of Parliament. It must come through a process of graduation as the nobie Lord Dudley said: It w as tactful and politic not to make tlh? terms of service too arduous at hrst. and to let it grow." Precipitation might disturb the som- nolent British lion and induce it t? Bolshevik its Mr. Churchill, however, with that frankness so characteristic of hisrac<? has kindly men- prodders.  tioned that,th? Cabinet wiU have to prolong compulsory service after April 30th. 1 D20. shou leI neceji-sitv arise for so doillg, Thus are the wavs of a Coalition Government- justified before men. The election stunt of the Coalition three months ago wa.s No Conscription." "Hang the Kaiser." and German indemnity," and when Labour warned the people that a vote for the Coalition meant a vote for Conscription, the Premier indignantly denied the imputation, say- tn? that "it was a calculated and characteristic falsehood," yet Labour was right and the Prime Minister was wrong. WRONC SEEMS RICHT. I There is absolutely no justification for compul- sory service to-day. ■ Germany is impotent the supposed menace to civilization is gone with little likelihood of the militarist element ever again attaining supremacy. Why then burden this (.otmhy with that very evil" which British soldiers set out to destroy in Germany ? lii,itisil ?rong become a right when practised at home instead of abroad? If Militarism and Conscrip- tion were an pvil in Germany they surely are not less evil I i tarism is the same everywhere, and as the Ger- man people. were the greatest sufferers from this poisonous creed ill their own eou, so will the British people be the .sufferers it-they allow this menace to dominate our own internal affairs. When British soldiers are used to prevent strikes, or, as in Glasgow to cow workers into submission, such an exhibition of militarism ought to be sufficient evidence to the most dull- witted to discredit this foul thing, despite any sophistical reasoning to the contrary. The plea of necessity is the usual red-herring, and its rank odour is losing its potency as an elusive factor. The plea of necessity was urged by the Government for the introduction of indentured black labour into this country during the war. but our Trade Union leaders prevented this im- ported imposition and no calamitous results are chronicled to have happened to the country by this curb to the militarists. THE SINISTER PURPOSE. I The spread of the Trade Union Movement with its inevitable spirit of independence among the workers, although acting as a bulwark against the encroachments of plutocratic supremacy, has only intensified the imperialistic desire for mili- tary dominance. Not only for war purposes, but perhaps with greater intensity is Compulsory Service desired to keep in subjection trades unionists and agitators. Lieut.-Col. W. H. Max- well manifested the creed of the militarists when he said: Trade Unionism-that shelter for "linking shirkers-is imperilling our existence, and by its action a rot. of our national soul has set in. One remedy, and one alone, can eradi- cate this state of rot—martial law will cure it." That elegant sentiment was uttered during the miners' strike of 1915. Again, the Saturday Review of August, 11915, mentioned that: "National Service is re- quired as much for the effect it will have upon miners and munitions as for tho part it will play in the actual raising of armies." The persons responsible for theso democratic sentiments have not modified their opinions with the end of the w ar and the same desire exists to suppress Trades Unionism and the claims of the workers for improved conditions now as dur- ing the war. For instance, the present demands of the miners have been met by a venal Press and jingo orators with denunciations and charges of Bolshevism, and were it not for the exposures of the Commission which is sitting to investigate the claims, probably many miners would be cajoled by the fallacies and relentless- ness of the opposition. itli an equal spirit of determination against Conscription as is displayed for improved con- (litiozi., of Labour short shrift would be made of the insidious policy of conscripting young men into the army. iSPREADINC THE POISON. V\ e have been told by no less a personage as Col. Sir Augustus Fitzgeorge: "Compulsory service was necessary at this time when the people were getting out of hand"; and Lord Alethuen's little outburst when be said: "Little did we anticipate that withm three years this force (the South African Citizen Army) should have scotched a strike and quelled a rebellion," are rather forcible arguments, from a worker's standpoint, in favour of destroying this militar- ist rpas-tree, root and branch. All over tho country this militarist spirit is bong fostered, and even children in our elemen- ?t,try schools are not exempt from its polluting influence. The Education Act of January, 1918, sanctions the teaching of military drill in public schools, and it was through no fault of the mili- tarists that military training was not a compul- sory clause of the measure. Truly, a scathing commentary on the much boasted assertion of a War to end war," and the oft-told tale of an end to Prussian Militarism. Prussian Militar- ism never reached a higher stage of demorali- zation than the present attempt to prostitute the young of this country with the virus of a merciless and soul-less military regime. Young lads are, in some schools, taught mimic warfare with stab and thrust, and all the hellish prac- tices of modern warfare and unless parents put a. stop to tins nefarious innovation, and unless trades unionists insist on its discontinuation, there will come a day of repentance when, per- haps, the evil will have grown to such propor- tions as to be difficult to remove. It takes a long time tllHI great provocation to arouse the British worker, but once aroused he can accomplish things. Here, then, is something tangible, real for the exercise of his energy. Ihere is absolutely no justification for imposing Cnonscription on this country at the present mo- ment. Tho establishment of the League of Na- tions', the overthrow of the Hohenzollern, the Hapsberg, a.nd Romanoff dynasties, and the ex- pressed wish of abolishing Conscription on the Continent have made the idea of Compulsory Service at home as criminal as it is absurd. For the sake of the sacrifice of the millions of dead soldiers, and the futuro welfare of the coming I generations, let this evil of Conscription be stamped out now and for ever.
Minnie Pallister in Merthyr
Minnie Pallister in Merthyr ENTHUSIASTIC h:K. MEETING. THE INSPIRATION OF A GREAT IDEAL. Miss Minnie Pallister, our South Wales or- ganiser, held a splendid meeting in the Rink, Merthyr. on Sunday. Full of revolutionary fer- vour—not the anarchic, chaotic, blood-letting that is the common view of revolution, but the -ciystalline pure translation that Socialism stands foi an economic and intellectual revoltitloll,- and the high lIloral tOile that has always char- acterised her rebel speeches, she moved her audience deeply, Few of us possess her grlt faith in the truth of the lines: I' or the cause alone is \vorthy, 1 ill the good days bring the best," but we all vibrate responsively to the splendid enthusiasm of one whost. whole life is enwrapt with tIw heautilS nidiance of that great ideal. It is that absorbidness in our movement that marked Miss Pallister out as the one organiser we have produced in our area, it is that which has made her organising work so successful. The contagion of her enthusiasm is magnetic, hence her success in the polls, apart from work or house to house visitation and persuasion, or the more spectacular platform thundering of oratorv. Her theme on Sunday was the olf]. ol(i one oi thf common p<'op)e, a.nd more e-sj>ecially of the common everyday wife of the common everydav man, hut it was treated different. Treated so that one realised that to Minnie Lincoln's remark that (od must love the common people or he would not have made so many of them, is some- thing more than .a clever sentence—it is to her a vital truth. THE HUSBANDS. Of course, she had something to say of the selfishness of the superiority of the everyday husband, but it. was all taken in good part, be- cause even the husband who reahstnl the truth of her cliargess recognised that here was no carp- ing critic, but a comrade who sought from a square facing of the facts a philosophy of truth which is right. And the women, women who since the day of the passing of the matriarchy have been ground down to the level of the domes- tic animals, by their common owner, lordly man, the private property right established and holder, she, too, was taught'a. lesson of emanci- pation, not a sex emancipation, but a broader and more glorious huiuan emancipation in which the woman would complement the man, and as comrade and colleague work out with him her own emancipation and his. And it was militant too, that speech. Not by the old, old devices of flattery and fawning, begging gr praying, is this new world to be established on earth: but by fighting, shoulder to shoulder, steady a.nd un- flinchingly. remorselessly and' without compro- mise. That alone was the way to salvation. The task seemed hard, and mayhap to the individual consciousness not worth while, but playing around the feet of such an one were the chil- dren, and in shadowy outline beside them were the children of the generations unborn. There was the prize. The turmoil of to-day meant that those little ones and their progeny should es- cape; the horror of it all: should miss the dehu- manising ministrations of capitalism, and should emerge men and women for the first time in his- tory. Real men and women, shining gloriously in their splendid robes of individuality, un smear- ed by the unsightly blotch of selfishness. Mrs. Follard made a remarkable debut as chairman.
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