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--■:♦ ABERDARE POLICE COURT.…

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i,— THE LADY SAID SHE "WAS…

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.db. I ABERDARE YOUNG 5 IBERAL I LEAGUE. ENTHUSIASTIC MEETING AT .1' TRECYNON. ——— SPEECHES BY MR. EDGAR JONES, M.P., AND MR. CLEM. EDWARDS. On Saturday evening a v-ery successful meet- ing, under the auspices of the reoently-sstab- lished League of Young Liberals at Aberdare was held in Ebenezcr Welsh Congregational Chapel, Trecynon, to hear addresses by Mr. Edgar R. Jones, M.P., and Mr. E. G. HEM- merde, M.P., on the political questions ;D the day. The latter, however, WAS unable to at- tend, and his place was supplied by Mr. Clem. Edwards, ex-M.P. for the Denbigh Boroughs. Councillor Morgan John Harries occupied the CHAT" and in opening tho" P/cceedings said they met to welcome senior member, Mr. Edgar Jones, to Trecynou ior the first time since his great victory the poll (loud ap olause. During the election, Mr. Jones pro- Tiised to come to Trecynon the declara- "m of the poll, but was :R>IAV^ to do so, so j, ? bad come among them ) evening in ful- filmrnt of the promise then .>J,I)d0 (hear, hear). He was very pleased to LAIR'; )'11-e chair at that meeting of the League of Young Liberals, and he was delighted that they formed such a League in Aberdare. THE V.U-OSJSS of the Lib- eral candidates at the recanr focal elections was such as to prove that IY'berrJism was a great foroe in the town (hear, hear) He was at one time rather doubtful whether he ought to have accepted the invitation of the League to pre- side at that meeting for their junior member, Mr Keir Hardie, had told them in Mid-Gla- morgan that a grocer had dO convictions. He could not see much difference between a man who sold sugar and a. man who sold "Labour Leaders"—(laughter)—except that there was considerably more profit Co', ;J"tP"rs than on sugar (renewed laughter). He was delighted to see such a crowded MEETIRJ^. Mid was also delighted to think that the cloud which a short time ago hung over the h01 iwn in the coal trade had now passed awsy. in the words used at the Eiisteddfod in *TJ.Sto the ques- tion, "A oes could all answer, "Heddwch'' (cheers). SPEECH BY MR. JOWES, M.P. Mr. Edgar R. Jones, M .-vhosc nsiHg -8 the signal of an outbmv;TIETR-IIJI said H" had come among them ?ARIIEAI OC-. siblo nrsroent. in fulfilmer.. oF edg' THTY did not kno— wher another otxl NUGNI bt upon th&tv. and 10; t.T>;U»FOIO behoved come and see that TH* VES were not ALLOWED to grow in the fieid <>.U^nter). He >-as sorry that he was sufferin.- ..iany other .•ambers of the House, from 'K;t; whether inat arose from the depies^R- influence of politics or the prevalent east >I.d, he was not certain. The hon. member then explained, as b: did also at the Merthyr meeting,, how he been able to assist his constituents since entry into Parliament. He said he bad r'-er pr-e:<< APON the authorities the import- ance THA1. 1: i', should be in South Wales a F-W»ciai clœr:I1;).);) in connection with the L beral Exehi-\iisr*-S for colliers. That was im- portant for two 'EISONS: one wa.s, that it was net well that the col'I-srs should be mixed up ••^ITH all the others in the Cardiff Clearing- house, and also thero was a danger lest that clearing-house might SEOD unskilled labour to the pits (loud applause). He had received a promise that this should BI looked into, and he hoped shortly that -wishes would be carried out. He had also gone into the work of the juvenile branches in connection with these Exchanges, and he looked to these juven- ile branches to do a vast amount of good in the future, seeing that boy:, were put to the work they were best fitted for, and not being thrown out of employment, whe-n they were too old to be boy messengers and such like. Feel- ing the importance of that department of the Labour Exchanges, he had gone very carefully into the regulations laid down in reference to them. He had discovered what to him ap- peared to be a weakness. As the regulations were first laid down, a boy or girl of fourteen years of age might go to the Labour Exchanee at Cardiff, and register For work. and work might be found for him or her in Manchester, and their train fares paid THERE without the knowledge of their parents, and in that way the children, and especially the girls might get into the hands of "sharks" who would ruin them. When he drew the attention of those IN authority to this point, he at once obtained an undertaking that it would be remedied, and new regulations were issued whereby no chil- dren would be sent away without the consent of their parents. These were illustrations of what could be done. HAVE PATIENCE. Mr. Jones then dealt with the present posi- tion of affairs in the House of Commons. The LiberaJ and Labour members in the House of Commons had been sent there to do two things —to pass the Budget, which was thrown out by the Lords, and to deal with the veto of that House. (hear, hear). Considerable impatience existed that nothing had yet been done. That impatience was not confined to those outside the Houss. It was his privilege, almost im- mediately he was returned, to be introduced to the group of Radical members in the House presided over by Sir Charles DiJke-D. wonder- ful man, who knew everything that was to be known about the procedure of the House, and who, every Tuesday, placed that knowledge at the disposal of every young member of the Radical group. Even in that group, ardent reformers as they were, they had come to real- ise the difficulties in which the Government were, and one of his messages to them to-day was to plead for patience (hear, hear). Yea, for patience and continued loyalty to the lead- ers. He could never forget the throb in Mr. Lloyd George's voice when, a. few days ago, he appealed for loyalty, when he said if they could have the necessary patience, comradeship, they might still be able to win the fight (loud ap- plause). They were not yet without hope— (hear, hear)—but the position was critical. The reason was quite apparent. Mr. Asquith had not an independent majority in the House, but a. composite one. Had he an independent maj- ority, they could place the responsibdity on him; but now ho had to consult the wishes not only of the Liberals, but also the wishes of the Labour Party and the Irish Party. It was a question of bargaining, and so far, Mr. As- quith had not made a single mistake (loud applause). As an instance of the position, he pointed out how the Labour amendment re the wages in the Army raised by the Labour members was dealt with. After the Labour Party had been satisfied, the Tories insisted on a division, and in order to keep the Govern- ment in the Labour Party bad to abstain from voting for their own amendment, and several of them voted for the Government. It taught all of them a lesson that they must not run a.ny risks, and when a good old Radical like Mr. Lough moved a vote to reduce the vote on the Navy, it placed everv Radical in a false position. Every Radical felt that they were bound to keep tho Government m office, al- though they felt strongly opposed to the in- crease in the Navy. He (the speaker) had pre- pared a. speech which he intended to point out what his predecessor, Mr. Henry Richard, had done for the cause of arbitration; but he had no opportunity to deliver the speech, and when the motion was pressed to a, division, he was to vote for the Government, and the minority was only thirty-four-—half of whom were Independent Radicals. These were inci- dents showing the-difficulty of the position. THE REAL QUESTION. At last, however, they had come to a close grip with the real question of the session—the Veto of the House of Lords (loud applause). The Prime Minister had sounded the trumpet call, and the only difficulty, at the moment was that tho Irish would not vote for the Budget except on their own terms. He felt strongly that they must get the Budget through before again appealing to tho country. It was on that question that they went out, and if the Budget was defeated in the House of Com- mons, the Lords could very well say, "You have nothing to complain of; the country has agreed with U3, and has sent a majority back against the Budget, which wo referred to the people for their decision." If the Irish Party brought that about, then their hope of Home Rule was gone. If not, then, in the words of Mr. Churchill, the question would be carried to the steps of the Throne, and the King would be asked to combine with the Commons in defence of the rights of the people (loud and long con- tinued cheering). THE rights of the people against the House of Lords (cheers). Next Monday week would b the critical moment, and the only question was whether the Irish members, would once more prove themselves true statesmen. He hoped to make a •speech on that occasion, and to appeal on behalf of Wales to the Irish members. IN 1884 the Radical of Birmingham came to Wales to ap- peal to Welshmen to oppose Home Rule. He promised Wales in return the Disestablishment of the Church-a measure Wales was longing for, and Mr. Chamberlain won over that great Welshman, Mr. Thomas Gee, who, in the "Banner." took the Liberal Unionist side, but the people of Wales sent the "Banner" back in bundles by post and by train, and stood firm for "old Gladstone" and old Ireland (loud ap- p!ause). He wanted to remind the Irish mem- bers of what Walee had done in 1884, and since that date; how Wales had allowed her own aspirations to be put aside for the sake of Ire- land, and to WARN them that Wales was not going to wait for ever. If Irish members to- day proved traitors to democratic hopes and as- pirations, Wales would have something to say. He did not, however, believe that that would be the case, but that both the Budget and the Veto resolutions would BE passed. Mr. Jones then explained at considerable length the veto resolutions. The first dealt with the question of finance, and merely sought to put down in writing what had been admit- ted to be the constitutional usage for over two centuries that the House of Lords had nothing to do with finance. Th second point dealt with the question of general legislation, and it would AM power the House of Commons, after passing a measure three times, to get it into Jaw with- out the consent of th House of Lords. That was the suspensory veto. Tho Tories now said ¡ that these not h? carried through the House of Commca-. without the help of the Irish vole. The Irish vote was good enough to H^LP Mr. Balfour to CARRY THE Education j Act of 1904. If this battle was lost, it was I difficult to know when we should recover the ground lost. It WAS possible that the King would not give the uaranlee6 asked for until after another election hut once the veto was secured, the way would be clear Once Goliath was killed, the Philistines would run away. He believed that the Prime Minister slill had a secret way to get over the- difficulty, which would be got over He felt himself that if that was not achieved, it would behove the Liberal members of Parliament to form a distinctive Welsh Party; and if they were in opposition, they could get Mr. Lloyd George to act as their leader, and thus demand from the Conservative Party what they, as Welsh- men, required (loud applause). A vote of thanks to Mr Jon-es, who then lp for Merthyr, was carried with acclamation. GOVERNMENT CRITICISED. Councillor T. Walter Williams said that MESSRS Edgar Jones and Clement Edwards were on a star tour through the constituency, and while they were waiting the other star actor, the band would play (laughter) he and Mr. John Morgan Jones taking the place of the band (laughter). He was not in love with a Second Chamber of any kind. It was said it would bo useful to prevent hasty and ifl-considered legislation. What was really re- quired was better discussion of nesded reform in the House of Commons, and then the sooner the measure was passed the batter. What he advocated WAS the limitation of the of members in the House of Commons, equal elec- toral districts, one man one vote; and in that he included the women, too-(he,ar, hear) — the cost of elections being thrown on the consoli- dated fund, and the payment of members from £2OG to £300 a year. Dealing with the posi- tion at t11e moment, hø very much regretted to hear Mr. E-GPR Joneo say that another elec- tion might ). necessary b0fore the King was to be asked the necessary guarantees. He thought •I very great, mistake in tactics and- policy (loud applause). Mr. Asquith, at the moment, had a very big majority on the veto, and if he went again to the country on thai question without endeavouring to secure the necessary powers from His Majesty, then the Liberal Party would meet the defeat it deserved. He for one refused to believe that th Kmg wOlÙI he so badly advised as 10 refuse the request oi a Prime Minister with a maj- ority of 120 behind him. The King was too great a diplomatist to do anything of the kind (hear, hear). Once the Veto of the House of Lords WAS done away with, they would have a chance to go in for a lengthened period of fiocial legislation (loud applause). ] "A TERRIBLE THING." The Rev. J. Morgan Jones, M.A., president of the Aberdare Liberal Association, SA'd that although Mr. Edgar Jones had left, he would like to congratulate him on the way }1-e had spent the first two or three months in the House. He had aheady done some excellent, work, and was to be congratulated thereon. He wished also to congratulate him on his maiden speech in the House (hear, hear). Re- ferring to the speech Mr. Edgar Jones intend- ed to deliver on tho Navy, he hoped he would still find an occasion to deliver it, and to pro- tesx—Liberal Government or not—as t- suc- cessor of the great, peace-maker, Mr. Henry Richard, asainst the continued swelling expen- diture on the weapons of war. He did not care what Government was in power, nor how much he admired the Prime Minister, it was a ter- rible thing to see this continued increased spending of money on warlike preparations when there was so much needed in other direc- tions. and when-there were so many other ways in which t'he money could be profitably spent. It was most unfortunate that at the incment the situation was such that no effective protest could be made. He hoped Mr. Jones would keep the speech in readiness, and when he de- livered it he would have the united support of his constituency in the protest (applause) He was willing to trust those in authority and power as to matters of tactics, as to how and when to proceed but the rank and file of the Liberals should let no opportunity pass without telling the Government quite plainly that they expected the CabirPet, whatever might be the difficulties, before they again appealed to the country, to show that they had been in earnest (loud applause). It might be that it would be impossible to win without having to resort to another election, but they must not come to the country without giving the people solid tangible proof that they had tried to settle the question, and were not engaged in playing a political game (cheers). He had not any strong prejudice for or against a Second Chamber. What he was concerned about was that the direct representatives of the people should be able to carry out their will on every question. He did not object to a Second Chamber as an ornament, provided it was harmless (laughter). He hailed the formation of the Young Liberal League, as it would help to educate the people and make itself felt as a power in the district. The great difficulty of the moment was that Liberals did not clearly realise what they wanted, and the League should give the young especially a thorough education in Liberalism. Ten years ago, when some of them, as young men, look-ad at the social problems of the day, —pauperism, unemployment, and other ques- tions—they doubted whether the Liberal Party were going to grapple with the situation and drive huner, destitution, and unemployment from the land. For the last four years, how- ever, the Jeader5 of the Liberal Party had proved themselves courageous enough to deal with situation and what was now neces- sary was that all friends of progress should unite in that work. Let them not divide these powers with tiny labels of Socialism, Labour, or what not. In South Wales they were all Radicals, and well-nigh all Nonconformists, and such a fight as had just taken place in Mid-Glamorgan was a great pity (hear, hear). Let their motto rather bo unity. CROWN, LORDS, AND PEOPLE. Mr. Clement Edwards, who was accorded an enthusiastic reception, congratulated the Mer- thyr Borough electors upon securing such a strong young Radical as his friend, Mr. Edgar Jones, to represent them. The late Mr. Tom Ellis had said that he looked upon politics as a sacred thing, and not a thing to be left to those in the evenings of their life, but something to devote a life to (hear, hear). In Mr. Jones they had secured a real worthy successor to the late Mr. Henry Richard. At the moment they were all concerned with what was about to happen at the next General Election, if such was forced upon them. They thought that things were. very grave at the last General Election, but people hardly realised how exceedingly grave they would be at the nex, if IT came soon. If there was to be a General Election between now and July, it be not merely because the House of Lord had refused to pass the Veto resolutions, but because His Majesty the King had refused, at the request of the Prime Minister, to create the necessary num- ber of peers to carry those resolutions through the House of VLords (hear, hear). That was a very serious position it was really the Crown against-the people. Had they noticed how the bishops, parsons, and curates fought at the last election? It was because Tariff Reform would help them by increasing their emoluments. The tithes depended on the cost of corn, and the fact that Tariff Reform would send up the price of corn meant an increase in the value of tithes which ware regulated by a sliding scale. The hunger of the people was nothing more to these Tariff Reformers and clergy but a pawn in the game. The relations of the country with the Colonies were but pawns in the game, and now they were prepared to force a conflict between the monarch and the people. This was a very serious position in- deed. If we lost this time, it might mean a fight- for ten, fifteen, or twenty years. It was now laid down that no Liberal Government would in future take up office while the will of the people could be thwarted by the House of Lords (loud applause). The remainder of his spesch was devoted to a discussion of the claims of the House of Lords. Mr W. J. Phillips, Aberaman, proposed a vote of thanks to the speakers, and made an appeal to all who were present, and who had not yet joined the League of Young Liberals, to do so forthwith, pointing out the advantages of joining the League, and thus helping along the work of true Liberalism (hear, hear).—Mr. James Evans (Gadlys), in a brief speech in the vernacular, seconded the resolution, and ex- pressed his delight with that magnificent meet- ing, and with the progress made by the League in the valley. The League, of which he had now some experience, was doing really good work in the Aberdare Valley. It was giving the right, lead, and was voicing the best aspirations of Welshmen. They must once more have an army of Ironsides and Puritans, like those in the days of Cromwell, to fight the Lords, and he hoped that in that Borough they would not only have Aaron—they had him—but also a Hur, to hold up the hands of Moses in the fight (loud applause).—The vote was carried with acclamation, as was also a vote of thanks for the use of the chapel.—Mr. Clement Edwards then proposed a vote of thanks to the Chairman, which was seconded by Councillor H. II, Evans, and carried.

TAKE THIS TO-DAY

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Mr. Keir Hardie, M.P.,on India4

Is Your Skin Disfigured? -'

ABERDARE VALLEY NOTES. -i