The Aberdare Leader

Women's Suffrage. Last Friday there was a meeting of the local branch of the N.U.W.S.S. in Thomas' Assembly Rooms, Aberdare. Mrs. Griffiths, Brynhyfryd, took the chair, and an address was delivered by iiiss Foxiey, Cardiff. She spoke of the pioblems of poverty, which under pres- ent conditions were well nigh insolu- ble. It was the consideration of the evils of to-day—poverty, crime, disease -which was the driving force behind the suffrage movement. It was a work which appealed to women, the bettering of the conditions under which women and children lived. There were many women who were comfortably off, and there would be no direct benefit to them. Yet they were taking their places side by side with those who de- manded a happier state of things. it was their duty to help those who were unable to help themselves. Miss Foxley passed next to a consideration of the sweated industries. Women making tooth-brushes were paid 3d. per dozen; it took two hours to make them. The making of artificial flowers, the stitch- ing of boots and shoes, the making of shirts, of paper bags, were all trades which were wretchedly paid. There was now a minimum wage for miners, why not for tooth-brush makers? It was sometimes said, Why not organise these women and get them to demand better things? The answer was, that it was impossible to organise them. They were too pool' to pay any subscrip- tions, however small. Their case was sad and very nearly hopeless. For even organised women had no vote, and therefore no driving force behind their opinions. The men were not very rich, and though many people could see the evil of this there was no organised de- mand by the public nor in Parliament to change matters. In Paris there was a Trades School which did a great deal to- wards producing efficiency in the work- er. Those attending were given a good general education and a good training in their particular trades. When they were ready to leave they were provided with a certificate-if found deserving of one, and were assisted in finding work at decent wages. Women could see clearly the evils of the day, could see in many cases the way to remedy them, and they lacked what was necessary to make their demands effective. They had not the compelling power of the voter. They had worked hard by var- ious means to gain this power, and the society which she represented, she was careful to emphasise, was entirely non- militant and non-party.—After the ad- dress the routine business of the meet- ing was transacted. Miss Griffiths, Poplars, was asked to become vice-pre- sident; Mrs. Prichard kindly consented to continue acting as the hon. sec., with Miss Agnes Jones as assist, sec., and Miss Margaret Williams, B.A., hon. treasurer. The following were elected on the committee: Mrs. Rose Davies, Mrs. Cox, Miss Elsie Jones, Miss Eliz. Thomas, Miss J. Phillips, B.A., Miss I Thomas, C twmaluan Miss Jones, Bron- iestyn; Miss George, Hirwain; Miss Gwladys Evans, Miss Herbert, Moun- I tain Ash; Miss M. A. Edwards, B.A., Mr Idwal Thomas and Mr Matt Lewis.

I r .oØ"- GREAT REDUCTION in PRICES of MUSIC. is. Dance or Song jr j, Albums, 7^d. 11 VICTOR FREED, !|| Mountain Ash. |

Miners' Waterloo. Addresses by Miners' Leaders at Aberdare. A mass meeting of Aberdare and Dis- trict Miners was held at the Market Hall, Aberdare, on Friday evening, and was exceedingly well attended. Mr. Idwal Thomas, President of the Dis- trict, was in the chair, and he was sup- ported by Mr W. Brace, M.P., Prèsi- dent of the S.W.M.F., Mr. C. B. Stan- ton, Aberdare; Mr Wm. John, Rhon- dda, and Mr Illtyd Hopkins (secretary of the Aberdare District). In opening the meeting the Chairman said that this mass meeting had been convened by the District Executive for two very important reasons: (1) The basic principle that all workmen in and about the mines should become members of their Trade Union, because it was ab- solutely necessary for their protection in marching onwards towards economic emancipation. Every worker ought to belong to a trade union; his duty to his family, to his fellow workers, and to himself demanded this. As an in- dividual worker he was powerless to im- prove his working ■conditions. The 2nd reason was the importance to every worker to realise the necessity of pay- ing the political levy, because Labour Representation was imperative to the perfect development of their scheme for freedom. Labour Representation was more powerful in the affairs of the workers than all the guns and munitions of war ever manufactured in the arsen- als of capitalism. Between conflicting economic interests there could be no compromise. It was complete mastery or absolute defeat. Political action on the part of the working class was a struggle for the conquest of the citadel of government in order that its com- mand of industry may be turned to the advantage of the workers. In con- elusion the Chairman extended a very hearty welcome to Mr W. Brace and Mr Wm. John, and called upon the latter to address the meeting. Mr John spoke in very pure Welsh, and made a. good impression on his audience, who cheered his points to the echo. In the course of his speech he said that the Federation was, like the Kingdom of God, within them.1 The miners' leaders, the Executive (muncil, were not the Federation, but the men themselves. If this were realised by the miners, there would be fewer empty questions asked at miners' meetings. It was often asked: "What was the Federation worth, What has it done for us?" He would reply to those questions by asking another: "What have you done for the Federation?" The Federation had done a great deal of good in connection with the Compensa- tion Act. There were many under the impression that once an Act of Parlia- ment was passed, everything was well. But not so. The Compensation Act would be practically a dead letter and not worth the paper written on were it not for the efforts of the Federation to fight cases on behalf of the workmen who met with accidents. This was borne out very forcibly in the litiga- tion following the Ely Colliery cage dis- aster, when the workmen obtained large sums of money after fighting the matter from the County Court up to the House of Lords. That action had cost the Combine Colliery Co. £ 37,000, and what workmen, apart from an organisation, could go on fighting where the risks were so great. The speaker went on to give examples of what had been gained for various classes of workmen through the aid of the M.F.G.B. Their success would depend entirely on the unity of the various trades unions, and 1915 would be the most notable year in the whole history of the Trade I'nion move- ment. Mr John finished his address with a fine peroration, and on resuming his seat there was great cheering. Mr W. Brace, M.P., who was well received, said he was glad to come to Aberdare to fulfil an old promise he had given to his friend Mr Stanton. The workers were passing through a period of crisis, and were reaching a stage when they would have to take stock of their position, and the leaders would have to make their plans for the pur- pose of going forward as a great army both industrially and politically. Only the previous night there was a demon- stration in the House of Commons, where the people of privilege and the aristocracy were evidently trying to break the Parliamentary machine, be- cause they realised that the people were ascending to power. lie would like the men of Aberdare to take a grip of these questions and study them well. Proceeding, Mr Brace asked what was likely to happen in 191¡)? Mr. Stanton had been the forerunner for many years of the movement leading up to the event of next year. He had been in a little bit of a hurry and a little previous. (Laughter.) But now the whole Labour Movement, were prepared to take a general step forward. For the first time all the Conciliation Board agreements were terminating at the same time. The significance of that was that every colliery worker in the Kingdom would be able to take united I and simultaneous action. What did the leaders propose to do? They pro- posed seeking amendments in the con- ciliation agreements. They were ask- ing for a 50 per cent. minimum instead of 35 per cent., they were asking for the abolition of the maximum, so that the miners might have a share of the increasing coal prices. They also want- ed substantial amendments in the Mini- mum Wage Act, and 9d. per day in- creased minimum for every man and boy and in every class of colliery labour in the Kingdom. In all these matters he was pleased to say that thev were hav- ing t he hearty co-operation'of Mr Keir Hardie. (Applause.) Next year's struggle would put the workmen to a test —whether they were going to re- main hew ers of wood and dratvers of Hater, or work out their more import- ant destiny. The Labour Party in Par- liament were supporting Welsh Dises- tablishment not only because it was fair and because the State should have no favourites either in individuals or insti- tutions, but because thev wanted the question out of the wav. And they wanted Home Rule Ollt of the way to enable Parliament to go on with measures of interest to the Workers. (Applause.) In conclusion Mr Brace appeated to those present to stand by their agent, and let him feel that lie was enjoying their confidence. He hoped the workmen would not weaken his hands before the emplovers by adverse criticism. Mr Stanton, who was greeted with applause, offered his sincere and hearty thanks to the two speakers and the chairman for their excellent addresses. He ventured to think that that meet- ing had been an inspiration to them all. They had heard of what was likely to. happen in 1915. He was pleased to say that though they had been divided among themselves, their ranks were now closed once more, and most of the ill-feeling had disappeared. Under these circumstances no man need be pessimistic of the future of the indus- trial movement. Every man jack was taking up the Trade Union ticket, and 1915 was going to be the Workers' Waterloo. Men yet unborn would look hack on 1915 as a year in which great things had been accomplished for the in- dustrial classes. (Applause.) Mr Brace, continued Mr Stanton, had given him many a hard slap, and no doubt he deserved it, but it was only on methods they had differed. He had never seen a period when the leaders were so firm- ly united as they were at present. (Ap- plause.) Mr IIItyd Hopkins, the secretary of the District, seconded the vote of thanks in Welsh, and recounted some of the good things performed by the Federation. It was the strength of their union that had brought many ad- vantages to their door, and these would never have been obtained but for the Federation. He thanked all who had attended that meeting, and was agree- ably surprised to find such a large gathering on such a warm evening, when the open-air was so tempting. The vote of thanks was carried with great acclamation.

ILLTYD WILLIAMS I I HAS JUST RECEIVED A TREMENDOUS DELIVERY OF I SUIT IH0-M1E UTS SUITABLE: FOR WHITSUN WEAR. Do not forget to see the Windows; they are Smart, and the Goods are at Sensible Prices.

Merthyr Board of Guardians. On Saturday.—Present: Mr. Chas. Fenwick, in the chair; Mrs. A. N. Jen- i kins, Mrs. Maria Richards, Mrs. j Lydia Price, Mrs. H. E. Wills, Mrs. M. A. Edmunds, Miss Hettie Jones, Revs. W. Ll. Williams, A. E. Suther- land, D. L. Jones, W. A. Jones, Messrs David Edwards, Dd. Jones (Hirwain), Morgan Williams, W. Haggar, T. D. Williams, Wm. Thomas, Tom Morgan, John Hughes, Rees Rees, D. J. Phil- lips, Evan Davies, William "Parker, Staffron Bolwell, Henry Evans, John Lloyd, Patrick Mansfield, Henry Owen, Samuel Thomas, A. J. Howfield, T. T. Jenkins, Edwin Thomas, Joshua Aurel- ius, Joseph Price, Morgan Thomas, and Roger Vaughan, with Mr Frank T. James (clerk) and Mr Cook (assistant clerk). Plain Catarrh. Mr J. W. Young, one of the relieving officers at Aberdare, brought forward a case in which a young man of 21 sought relief. He was supporting his widowed mother. The medical certificate sim- ply stated that he suffered from catarrh. Mr A. J. Howfield: Catarrh? I am suffering from catarrh this morning. Rector: What catarrh? Mr Howfield: Nasal catarrh. Rector: I thought it was catarrh of the tongue. (Laughter.) Mr Howfield: Triat is w.h6t other people suffer from. (Renewed laugh- ter.) Mr H. Owen What is the matter with the manPlain catarrh is too vague. We should have a fuller report. The Rector suggested that 5s. a week be granted for a fortnight, pending a further report. The man had a widow- ed mother, and he understood that his insurance money was exhausted. This course was agreed to.

Our Friends in Merthyr. It is gratifying for us to read such good news as the following, for it shows that the experience of our friends in Merthyr is the same as that of many Aberdare men and women who have spoken out so heartily in these columns. Mr T. Price, of 60 Heolgerrig, Mer- thyr, says:—" I am a gardener by oc- cupation, and about two years ago I caught a severe cold which affected my kidneys. For some weeks afterwards I began to suffer with chronic pains in the small of my back. I could scarcely keep at my work for a time, and when I got home at night I was so exhausted that I was compelled to lie on the sofa to ease my back. The pains were sim- ply cruel some days, and the water was scanty. "I tried other pills without getting any benefit at all. Then I started to take Doan's backache kidney pills; I only needed to take one box before I was quite all right again. Although I am never without Doan's pills in the house now, I am glad to say I have had no return of the complaint. I can h"- estlv recommend Doan's pills. (Signed) Thomas Price." Price 2/9 a box, 6 boxes 13/9; of all dealers, or from Foster-McClellan Co., ft Wells St., Oxford Street, London, W. Don't ask for backache and kidney pills —ask distinctly for Doan's backache kidney pills, the same as Mr Price had.

Mrs. Beecroft: Your little boy seems perfectly delighted with the printing- press Father Christmas brought him. Mrs. Chatterton (resignedly): Yes, he has discovered he can get dirtier play- < ing with it than with any present he ever had. _= ,1

Railless Car Breaks Down. GUARDIANS' SPRINT UP TO ABER- NANT. Time and tide and G.W.R. trains wait for no man, not even for Poor Law Guardians. About a dozen members of the Board, as well as eight or nine other persons, lost their usual train last Satur- day morning under very trying and aggravating circumstances. They seat- ed themselves in a raille-s car at the top end of Commercial Street about 8.40 a.m., bound for Abernant, tp catch the 9 a.m. train to Merthyr, where the fortnightly ..leeting of the Merthyr Board of Guardians was held. There was something wrong with the car before starting, but it got as far as Messrs. W. H. Smith and Son's establishment and no farther. Th3 occupants of the car got out and scampered up Abernant on foot. A few went back to Victoria Square and hired a cab to take them up, But after a hurried and hard sprint all of them lost the train, and so did those who went up in the cab. They reached the station in time to see the tail end of the train leaving the platform, and what added to the annoyance of the disappointed party was the fact that it waited outside the station for several minutes. There was an interval of an hour and a half before the next was due. Two members braved the hill and walked, but the remainder sat down in the waiting- room to recover their breath and to wipe away the perspiration.

The Valley Council. Mishtor Iditor,— An' what do ye think of this, sor? Its a mosht awful tonne we are liai-ing, an' Oi firmly heluve its taking loife too seriously Oi am. Begorra, an' that is rich. Well, yer honur. Oi don't shup- pose that ye ixpected the report of the Council this week, but as yer Highness knows we are going through mosht anxious toimes in the history of the Empire. Behave yersilf, Biddy, an' can't Oi put what the divil Oi loike? What is that ye say of the Empire. The manager. An' what do ye know of ishtor Asquith? Biddy is "telling me- silf that Mishtor Perry, of the Mount Empire, is a viry good cricketer, sor, an' made his first appearance for the bhoys of the Mount on Shaturdav lasht. Oi thought she was goin' to say some- thing about the Manager of the British Empire; but, niver moind, Ipswich has said enough. It was all over that swate place that Bolger as secretary of the Council called what they call an extra special mating for Monday noight lasht, an' this is the result. The fol- lowing members were prisint: Spud Murphy, chairman; Bolger, clerk; Con. Regan, Miskin; Shoni Pipes, Abercwm- boi; lanto, Cwmbach; Mike Dunavan, Abernant; Bridget Maloney, Mount; (Con Daly. Aberdare; Dan Hlieane, Llwydcoed Pat O'Keefe, an' Patrick, who was late, gallivanting the strates wid Charlottee Hennessey. Spud Murphy opened the matting by calling Bolger to read the minutes of the lasht mating. After searching his pockets for a viry long toime he found thim an' read thim out mosht swately, an' Dan Sheane moved, an' Mike seconded, that they be accepted as read. Thin Spud had to wroite his name at the bottom, an' whin he had the pen in his fisht, Con gave him a moighty foine shove an' thin ye should have seen the scrawl, oh, begorra, man, an' it is worse than mine. Spud made a foine spache, an' said that Bolger met him in the strate an' towld him of the result of Ipswich, an' thought it a wise policy to call an e-x-t-r-a.o-r-d-i-n-a-r-y meeting, an' did ye see that big word, sor. Oi hope it will pass the press censor alroight. The mating opened wid Congratulations to Mishtor Ganzoni, an' the secretary was instructed to wire at once; an, shure loan, off he wint, an' Oi misilf was towld to wroite the business down an' send it to yer honur. The burning question was brought on once agin of the Canal Bridge in the Mount, an' Spud was asked whin it was intended to sthart wid the alterations of the same. The only reply we'had, sor, was, Wait an' see.' A question was asked as to whether our old friend Dai intended to disguise himself on Thursday noight. Take the tip, Dai, come openly if at all. Proposed by Charlottee that swings b<> erected in the Gorsedd Woods, whin Biddy towld her she only wanted Pat to sing Swing me up a little bit higher. Shoni Pipes of Abercwmboi reported that he was towld of a conspiracy to git riu of Patrick by two members of the Council, an' said of their intention to throw him into the Canal. It was in- tended to investigate into the matter an' inquire if thire was enough water, tli,, quality, the depth, an' as to whether it was wet. Bolger wanted to sing, but Mike objected. He losht a trate. Bolger was instructed to wroite to the station master of the T.V.R. at the Mount an' ask for what purpose was the gate erected on the platform, an' will it be used on Thursday noight next, or is it intended to let all passengers crush through the small doorway. It was also decided to wroite an' ask whin will the stations of Mount an' Aberdare be complated. Furthermore, it was re- solved to open a subscription list to pro- vide the T.V-K. Company wid some new passenger coaches, an' a viry sthrong opinion prevailed that the prisint coaches are a disgrace. This ended the business of the Council, who adjourned an' were entertained at the invitation of the chairman. Oi am., sor. Your obadiant servant, PATRICK RAFFERTY.

THE BUDGET AND NEW TAXES Have worried many but Indigestion, Biliousness, Headaches, or Liver Troubles are much worse. Happily these can be relieved or cured by a prompt dose of KERNICKS VEGETABLE PILLS at a very small cost. Thousands take no other Medicine. Sold in 7'd., and 2/9 boxes by all Chemists, etc. Visitor:. An' is it the rheumatics that's got Doolan again ?-Mrs. Doolan: No; he sprained his back, pore dear, trying to throw me out av the windy.

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