Pioneer

Clynes on the Government. I AN INDICTMENT OF NEGLECT. VOTE MUST BE KEPT FOR DEALINC WITH POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC QUESTIONS. A Labour demonstration, organised by the Colwyn Bay Trades and Labour Council, was held on Wednesday a fternoon at Colwyn Hay. Fourteen trade union branches were represented in the demonstration, with a total membership of l,ol4. Practically all the workers in Colwyn Bay and district were given a holiday in order that they might attend the meeting, and the Oban District Council on Tuesday passed a re- solution also to grant the half-holidav to all tileit- stiff. Mr. J. R. Clynes, M.P., who was the prin- cipal speaker, reviewed the history of the Labour cause, reminding the audience that a few weeks ago Manchester celebrated the first centenary of Peterloo. In that year the first Factory Act was passed, to prevent the employment of chil- dren of nine years of age in factories for longer than twelve hours a day. After hard battles three things had been secured for the workers— the vote, the right to unite, and the right to be educated. The latter he regarded as the great- est right of all. THE CULPRIT. The working man of to-day who had some- thing to hide from his comrades was not tlw trade unionist trying to conceal the fact that he I hnt tlH' unorganised man belongeti lo ii union, J" "Ph" .trying to conceal his non-membersnip. political part of the great struggle in which La- hour was engaged was now being commenced, and Labour would do well in its own interests to use its new-found power in such a way as to convince not only its own class but every class in the country, in a mainner to convert and not to coerce, to attract and not to repel. The time was coming, lie believed, when Labour would be responsible for the government of the country, and the lines oil which their policy would be shaped would be to secure to every willing worker the certainty of finding proper work to give him wages equal to his daily need. The present Government had neglected to take in hand urgent tliings-lie spoke of the Govern- ment as a. whole. No sense of gratitude for any past services "could blind the country to the grave neglect of urgent public matters which stood to the account, if not of the Prime Minis- ter certainly of his following. The winter was at hand, and nothing had been done in, regard to housing—not a house had been built, and the condition in the large centres of population was deplorable. At the moment when the housing question was most acute 60,000 builders' la- bourers and other men in the trade were re- ceiving unemployment pay. Food was still as costly as ever, though the Prime Minister and his colleagues at the end of last session had rushed through the Profiteering Act in a state of panic. rnemployment, costing the nation a million n w eek, was another question, which the Government had .neglected, and in spite of threatened bankruptcy they had found money enough for the wicked a.nd wasteful expedition in connection with Russia, which was bringing no good either to the people of Russia or of this country. A CHALLENGE. I Labour suggested a levy on capital, of a dras- tic taxation of war profits to reduce- this coun- try's grave financial liabilities. If anyone ob- jeeted to that. proposa l let him bring forward a better. It would certainly not do to increase the already intolerable burden of taxation borne by the people. Alluding to the question of "direct action," Mr. Clynes said that no permanent good could come of the use of force, and lie advised the people too-rely upon the enormous political power which they could exercise by Parliamentary ac- tion. The trade union weapon should be kept for industrial and trade union questions, and the vote and the Parliamentary machine should be relied upon for dealing with all political and economic questions.

Neutrals Save Starving Children. I Details are to hand of an interesting neutral effort to save some of the children of the famine areas of Europe. Through the agency of a special committee of the Swedish Red Cross, thousands of little alien guests are being cared for and nursed back to health and strength. rlJ- fortunately, the worst cases do not benefit under the scheme as all tubercular subjects and chil- dren suffering from communicable diseases are rigidly excluded by the process of selection, which is supplemented by strict medical exami- nations before embarkation and on arri val. The scheme works under the aegis of the Swedish Government, ami it is interesting to note that they gave their approval on condition that all nationalities were invited to share in the hospitality. France, Belgium and Poland have been unable to accept the invitation, hut there now in Sweden children from Germany. Austria, Czecho- slovakia and the Baltic countries.

Steve Walsh and Nationalisation1 SIR A CEDDES FICURES NO BASIS IN 1 FACT." -1 MINISTER'S ARITHMETICAL FACULTIES I DERANCED. i Mr. Stephen Walsh, M. P., ex-Parlfamentary Secretary to the Local Government Board., speaking in the I nee division during the week- end, said there was justification for -saying that the efforts of the Government were intended to show up the propaganda for the nationalisation of mines in all odious light. There was. he declared, no possible justifica- tion for tire enormous increase in the price of coal. The matter was fought out in the House- of Commons, and the speakers for the Lalnmr Party put the ease with emphatic power, and there was no reply to it. The figures given on that occasion by Sir Auckland Geddes had no basis whatever in fact. He could never imagine Sir Auckland Geddes possessing a heated ima- gination, but certainly something or other did on that particular occasion derange his arith- metical faculties. Even the employers' repre- sentatives on the Coal Commission agreed that the old system stocxl condemned. The employers had said through their representatives that un- less they had the responsibility ot the mines they decline! to take any part at all, and if -it ill, in( i if they declined to take any part, then the State must come in and play the part with a greater | responsibility to the whole nation than ever pri- vate enterprise had been capable of performing. Printed and Published by the National Labour Press, Ltd., at the Labour Pioneer Prosa, Williams' Square, Merthyr Tydfil.

Football at Merthyr. i NORTHAMPTON'S SUPERIOR DISCIPLINE I AND CENERALSHIP. I With the nation in a turmoil of unprecedented magnitude and possibilities writing on football seems as sane as Nero's musical efforts while Rome went up in flames, and particularly is that the case when the writing has to concern so unsatisfactory a match as that of last Saturday against Northampton. Personally, I am of opinion that Merthyr was more than fortunate in sharing the points. Even during the opening stages when both Mason and Lloyd Davies were so frequently sending the leather out of play, and when the JlOme forwards were constantly bustling around Smith's quarters, I was more impressed with the visiting line of forwards than with our own. And what impressed me was the fine open-passing with which they fed each other; and the readiness with which they mar- shalled under Loekett. Those were- indications of discipline and what one might call social -,en-,e that should carry Northampton well up the League table, although with the exception of Lockett and the speedy Churchman they have not got an attack that rises above middle level. Still mediocrity well genera-led and disciplined to swinging passing, well judged, is preferable to brilliance impaired by the egoistic desire to fill the picture that mars too many players, and truces of which are discernable in somo + J fIJ" ..L V .U.. I: But the most speetacula r thing of the match wuS-the marvellous recovery of the visiting de- fence. A defence that for twenty-five minutes had been outwitted, outrun and out manoeuvred bv the Nicliolas-Turner-Yarw <>od trio, suddenly pulled itself together, got an iron grip on the home left attack that simply paralysed it for the rest of the game, and presented us with the excellent exhibition of Greuden—easily the most artistic half on the field. What was it due to.' I have been told luck, but the football enthu- siast who banks on luck is likely to find himself pennyless at tho earliest moment. It was generalship and discipline. In contradiction to this notice the lack of these two attributes f i om the Merthvr eleven. Orct- Noi-thampton had trot the measure ot Mertliyr's danger spot they met it; and Merthyr was silly enough to let them. The homesters never seemed to realise that the left wing was dead for the purposes of attack, and met it by swinging the attack over to Davies and Brown, who were quite as much masters of their side of the defence as Turner and Nock. Was that luck that continued to let the fight go where the enemy had strengthened to meet vou ? No. It was lack of discipline and generalship. And yet our lads would respond as readily as Northampton given the lead. In evidence witness -the fact that when for the se- cond time Northampton gained the lead am Merthyr looked all over a beaten side Chivers b?an to force the front line to play, and bv -sheer generalship pulled the game out of the fire. Northampton may be a poor side, but they: have two attributes that I would like to see in the Merthyr squad. If they were there we should be League leaders this year. They aren't. The game was two all, the scorers being Lockett (2), Nock'and Turner (from a pass from Davies). A.P.Y.

Merthyr Notes I Pantywaun Presentation. I The members and supporters of the Panty- waun Football Club met at the Royal Arms Hotel on Saturday to do honour to two of their members. The meeting was presided over by Mr. Charles Benbow. A splendid programme of solos, duets, and recitations was contributed bv local men. During an interval in the proceed ings Messrs. Tom Kowen and Tom Jenkins were each presented with a recognition of the club's appreciation. All the members who have, served their country in H.M. Forces have received the same appreciation, two of the oldest soldiers of the village, Mr. David Thomas and Mr. Chailes Williams made the presentation, in very suitable phrases. Among those who contributed songs, etc., were Messrs. A. Marshalsea, T. P. Jones, John Davies. John Jones, T. G. Morgan, David Thomas, Arthur Lewis. An riddross by the lion, secretary, Mr. T. H. Jones, who outlined the past work and the future prospects of the Club, and pointed out the great need of a suitable ground for play, brought to a close an enjoyable evening. Irish Self-Determination League. I At a meeting of the Merthyr and Dowlais Branch of the above held at the Irish National Foresters' Rooms, Dowlais, on Sunday, tlw fol- lowing resolution was passed: That we, the members of the above branch, condemn the ac- tion of the Government in the suppression of the Irish Pns, and at the same time congratu- late the Irish people on their admirable restraint in the face of the strongest provocation of the military authorities." Dowlais Miners' Classes. The industrial classes initiated by the Dowlais District of Miners take place every Monday (Continued at foot of next oolumn).

| Hear Them Howl." STOCK GAMBLERS EXPRESS THEIR SENTIMENTS. WHAT THEY WOULD DO TO UNION j STOCKS IF UNLOADED. I On the Stock Exchange men lead a. feverish life gambling. They a'dd not one iota to the wealth of the world, their function is socially useful only to the capitalist society—which "earns" its livelihood by letting others earn more than their subsistence, and taking all but that subsistence -a-way from them. In other words robbery is the keyword to Capitalism, and the high temple of the robbers is the stock- exchange. Even a burglar may be expected to be grateful to the collector whose silver he takes, or the miser whose hoard he lightens but gra- titude is the major virtue of iii Inoi- tfi eves- those amenable to the protective laws of private property, the greater "Iegalised" robbers of the wealth created by the sweat of honest la- bour reverse all ethical values, and it is not surprising to learn that on 'Change during the early days of the week the robbers were busy devising ways of showing their resentment that mere wealth producers" should dare to refuse to labour for less than a pittance. Here is what the "Daily News financial writer said in his Notes of Tuesday. It reminds one of the iu> in The Iron Heel" where Everard >u.> threatening their money- I makl's them ho.d b, I)ags. i, THE CITY UNDER THE STRIKE. I Business was naturally very much hampered by the railway strike. The mails were greatly disorganised, and people who had been a long time coming from their homes often found little more to do than talk about their experiences. Secluded byways of the City, like George Yard and Bell Alley were used as unofficial garages, in which all types of motor were stored,- whilst offices and passages were strewed with motor cycles and push-bikes One leading bnnl, re- ceived a supply of bedsteads and bedding in the afternoon, with a view to putting up members of their staff who lived at long distances. THE FUNDS OF THE UNIONS. I There was narurallv much apjjry talk about what the Stock Exchange would do if the Unions endeavoured to realise securities with a view to free money for strike pay. A considerable pro- portion of these funds are believed to be in rail- way prior charges and Government debt. As a matter of sentiment the market put down the prices of railway Debenture, Preference, and Guaranteed stocks about a point all round, but apart from this it is recognised that the Stock Exchange can do little to prevent the realisation of such securities, as the system of dealing is such that transactions can be carried through to a great extent, before the names of the actual sellers are disclosed. War stocks of different categories were also put down, but in the ab- sence of important selling prices raHied quickly before tjie end.

Our City Fathers To Be I II SOME IMPRESSESSIONS OF LABOUR'S I NOVEMBER CANDIDATSE. I I No. 1.—MR. T. J. EVANS. I In November Labour in Merthyr intends to turn its militant minority of Councillors into a permanent majority of local government admin- istrators. I jjersonallv am satisfied that the awakening of industrial democracy to the ur- gency of direct and interested participation in the affairs of its locality, as in national and in- ternational matters, has proceeded sufficie-ntly far to ensure that the Labour ticket is going to be a passport the possession of which alone will secure the exercise of the franchise of the work- ing class; but just as a Social-Democrat I have ever depreciated the so-called illiterate vote —to which I give a much wider interpretation than the mere liability to read a candidate's name—so also I should strongly object to the foisting of any candidate upon the people in La- bour's name, in whose intelligence and integrity I could not place the utmost reliance. I am confident that the nominating lodges, the Ward Committees and the central Party in Merthyr also feel in the same way, and the eight candi- dates who will carry the Red Flag in November are personalities as well as partisans. The municipal programme. whirh they will jointly stand for it will be my duty to deal with later in these columns, and, since the man matters almost as much .1-S the principles for which he sta.nds it has been suggested to me that I should for the next "few weeks endeavour-to outline a briet skeu-'J' J the Ilisajohthatihm/nottaken on without some reluctance, for when one revolves per- petually around a comparatively small centre in a somewhat restricted circle, as the propagan- dist must of necessity do, it is difficult to evade the feoling that all know as much of the indi- viduals that one knows so well oneself in the in- timacy of a_ common bond of fellowship in a n'at cause as one 3oes olw's-self. However, I have said yes, and so here goes. THE ALDERMAN." I I have chosen for mv first victim, the candi- date for my own Ward—Park. Mr. Tom John Evans, or rather as lie is more popularly know n. Alcl." Tom John Evans. The persistence with which the honorary title he won so well during his years of service on the Council, no less than the universal esteem in which even .the "other side invariably spea k of Mr. Evans, in them- selves convey to me a more striking testimonial to Mr. Evans' ability, and condemn the madness of the moment in which the people deposed him from representation than any other fact I know. And of those two spontaneous facts the last is the greatest. Nominally I am inclined to cyni- cism when a man's political opponents take to singing 'his praises, but the idiocy of dogmati- cally inferring a priori a man's inconsistency to principle from any suc? prejudiced tag has been borne in on me in other fields than politics, and so I h?ve learned to know that opponents pub- licly praise and privately dispise one who from ignorance or knaveiy betrays the principles he was elected to represent, whilst they privately honour and eulogise one wliose ability, courage and sincerity has marked him out as probably the most dangerous and relentless opponent to be faced. It is in the last category that Mr. Evans comes. To me he has always .stood as the na.tural leader of a Labour Group on the Council, and in saying that I am not for one moment belittling the consistently aggressive members who to-day represent us. Leadership, after all, is something more than knowledge of the work, something more than the aptitude to express a specific point of view with fluency and force, something more than the power to riddle a policy with shrapnel of irrefragible facts, or barrage it with a curtain fire of satire. Iader- ship compounds all of those things, and some- thing else—that something that even in a circle of able men marks one of them out to be spokes- man, general and shepherd in one. Illhat it, is that so signalises one a hundred different people might answer in a hundred different ways, all of which would eventually boil down to an inex- pressible admission tha.t the man so marked out was possessed of a subtle something in his make- up that defied analysis, but which was none the less materially real because of its mystery. And it is that something that more than all else is the gift that Mr. Evans adds to a profound, al- most religious, conviction in the tenets of La- bour, to a knowledge both theoretic and applied of local government-, and to an eloquence that comes to the man who loves books for the sake of books its Mr. Evans loves them, and not for the sake of a recondite reflection that they might be able to dazzle with. THE HOSPITAL. I ft is a misfortune that the public memory is the public's most unstable natural possession, and if 1 engaged in a recounting of the schemes which during his life as councillor and alderman wee -sealed with his sPill. I should be dealing with historx—and history that goes further than yesterday has no power of appeal except to the I fe\\ who have made it a study. In this the worker hose man un l fatigue constitutes an excuse for mental effort is less blameworthy in this respect than the trading and so-called mid- I dlp-dass whose ignorance is indefensible. It is necessary therefore to take something nearer our own movement to give just one glimpse of Mr. Evans at work. And of the multitude of activities that immediately recur to memory with him as central figure, J am choosing de- liberately the G eneral Hospital question as being one that was fought with tremendous intensity over -a period of years, one in which Labour, lighting against the most virulent opposition never waived a principle or committed a dirty action. And the leader was Tom John Evans— it was his incisive logic that cut through the sophistries that blind prejudice sought to spread across the way to Labour's legitimate repre- sentation rights; it was his humanity that safe- guarded the patients, when in the heat of com- bat. the opposing elements were inclined to for- get the purpose of the institution. In Executive Committee, on Governing Board, and in the grander massed meetings of the annuat and semi- annual gatherings his -was the voice of sanity, the appeal to reason, the untiring service that finally guided the problem to solution. Why did he *so untiringly strive for I-;olntion r Because the cause was the cause of Humanity—the only eause that will ever hold Mr. Evans, the cause that will never fail to hold him. A book-lover, a working miner, and the father of a larger family than most of us contemplates with plea- sure these days, who can sacrifice his time of re- cuperation and mental relaxation, and the hour that should be devoted to family li fe, to the hurly-burly of public service must be actuated, by the light of a great faith, a faith and devo- tion that means service to one end—the end that has so well beej) expressed as No weal but the Commonweal." ETHICS AND tUWaMICS. Miss Palhster made the big hit ot 'ikst Hastei at the I.L.P. Conference by characterising the present system of society as compounding" tfw ethics of a bishop and the economics of a bur- glar." Everyone realises the truth of that epi- grammatic piira.se, and it is because Mr. Evans not only realises its truth, but the consequences of such a hypocritical state—its consequence in life and death, in pain, misery and poverty, that he is a rebel. And lie always will be a rebel, till his rebel creed that is planted foursquare on the rock of Christian prineiples to which he also gives such whole-hearted adherence shall have become the code of the nation, and happiness and life shall be the lot of men. I mentioned Christian prin- d ciples just now in connection with Mr. Evans.. J and I did so because Mr. Evans is a Cli-i-isti.,in- a profound 'believer, in the simple faith of the- Sernion on the Mount and an honest disciple of He who preached that sernion. < Amongst 'his other activities are to oe counted his hard work as -a lodge and district official of the Merthyr miners, and treasurer of the Trades Council and Labour Party in Merthyr, in which later capacity Mr. Evans has had to exercise the- economic care of a good housewife, and the finan- cial genius of a Rockefeller. His school has- ■ tx-pn an all-round school of general fxperience, I iu which he lias graduated with personal honour- and to the utility of his fellow- men. 1 Tf the electors do not return him for Park y Ward next November I shall know that I live in the midst of those who prefer that the pharasaie < system of ecclesiastical ethics co-partnered by ■j Raffalian economics, and-I shall remove. But y I have no tear. I

evening at the Carnegie Hall, Dowlais, and com- mence regularly at six o'clock. The classes are open to all interested in economic problems and a general invitation is extended by the organi- sers. Next. Monday's lecture will be delivered by Mr. S. 0. Davies, the Dowlais miners' agent. Our Orchestral Society. I Mr. Laverock is reorganising his orchestra for the .suing season. So far the rehearsals have been well attended, and better still the per- formers are showing a. keenness and enthusiasm that has been the shortcoming in the past. With a. little strengthening in the violas, 'cellos, and an additional string base the orchestra- will be complete. Mr. Laverock is confident that he has the nucleus of as strong an orchestra as is to be found in Wales, providing he can find a few violas, 'cellos and that string base. He has an instrument for any string base player who comes along. History of Industry. I The Merthyr I.L.11. Industrial History classes will commence at Bentley's Hall on Sunday evening at 7.30, Mr. A. P. Yates will he the lecturer. The classes are free to all, and it is Imped that many besides the Socialists will avail themselves of the opportunity to acquaint them- selves with the past historical development of the working classes. Art and Craft Classes. I The following classes under the direction of Mr. A. A. Cooper, A.S.A.M., National Silvei- Medallist, etc., will be held at Cyfarthfa Castle School. General Art Course, Tuesdays and Fri- days, 7 to 9 p.m. Subjects, freehand and model drawing, light and shade, geometrical drawing, perspective, drawing from the antique, painting iu oil and water colours, plant drawing, design and stencilling, etc. Woodcarving, Instructor Miss Peggy Lewis, Wednesdays 7 to 9 p.m., commencing on Wednesday, October 8th. Special Art Class for Teachers: This course is designed to enable teachers to make definite use of it in the schools, Wednesdays, 6.30 to 8.30 p.m.. commencing on Wednesday, Octol>er 8th.