Llais Llafur

THE PEOPLE OR THE ABUT ? Are the people to rule this country or is the army? That is the question that has been raised by the incredible recklessness of the Tories, a.nd the bungling of the Government. We have no fear of the answer. The people of Great Britain will not submit to inter- ference by Army officers, by heredi- tary peers, or by the King. Let the Tories go to the country on the question whether incompetent ofifcers of the upper classes have rights and privileges denied to the common soldier, and an absolute veto over acts attempted or projected by the duly-elected represen- tatives of the people, aiad they will be spewed out of the national mouth as they were in 1906. I.. b." h It is quite obvious that in t e.pMt few months the Tory party has been plunging with, the desperation of a gambler who is within sight of losing j his all. They know that when beaten in the Commons they have still three unique spheres of influence— (1) the monarchy, (2) the army, (3) the judi- ciary. In the past week they have played the monarchy and the army against the people. How far the King has been used as a Tory cats-paw was hinted at by Lord Morley in the House of Lords on Mon- day. He is too good a Radical, and has too bitter memories of the bias of Queen Victoria against, Gladstone, to suffer lightly the unconstitutional pres- sure exerted by the King at this impor- tant juncture. In a curious round- about way, but nevertheless an effec- tive way, he lifted a earner of the veil and lot the British public see what has been going on behind the scenes. It is a pity that the advisers of the King have not warned him of the peril of intervening in struggles between clas- ses. If lie ranges himself on the side of those who are opposed to the democ- racy he is their enemy, and the people's leaders must take up the fight against him. The Labour party, although republi- can in sentiment, believes that the difference between a strictly constitu- tional monarch and a repu blican president is so slight. as not to be worth bothering about. But if the King takes to interfering between parties, they, and the Liberals too, for that matter, will have to reviae their atti- tude. Royalist feeling, despite the showman efforts to popularise the pre- sent Ki*g, is a very thin smear in this country, and one easily wiped out. As to the Army the time has arrived not merely for straight speaking, but for drastic action. An army is an essentially aristocratic institution, and there it no concievable scheme by which it can be made to conform to a demo- orotic state. That fact in itself spells the ultimate dissolution of armies as we now know them. But regard must. i be had to things that are praofticaiT.e now and in the immediate future. We know not what malign deity directs the j tactics of the Tories-malign from their point of their view—but no one could have conceived more favourable sub- > jects for a struggle between the people and the aristocracy than the drawing- room ornaments who officer the cavalry regiments at the Curragh. Now, let us see what rights Mr. Bonar Law claims for these ornamental persons. But before doing that it is well to hark back to a well-known fact, and a bit of secret history. Crowsley, a working-man of Tolstoy an views, dis- tributed a leaflet asking soldiers at Aldershot to refuse to shoot down their working-class brothers if called on to do so during strikes. The Tories took the matter up, and THEY brought private pressure to bear on the Govern, ment to instigate a prosecution. In the sequel Guy Bowma.n, Tom Mann, and Crowsley were imprisoned. The part the Tories played in this matter is not generally known, but the fact is as we have stated. This is what Mr. Bonar Law, develop- ing his new-found dootrine of optional obedience, said in the House of Com- mons. The very least which the Govern- ment in the twentieth century has a right to ask is that officers who on conscientious grounds refuse to un- dertake such service should be per- mitted to send in their resignation without forfeiting the pension which they have earned. Crowsley appealed to the consciences of the private soldiers. This is a pas- sage from the appeal in the leaflet he distributed: You are working men's sons. When we go on strike to better our lot, which is the lot also of your fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, you are called upon by your officers to murder us. Don't do it. What happened to Crowsley at the in- stigation of Mr. Bonar Law and his friends ? What would Mr. Bonar Law have said if private soldiers had acted on Crowslev's advice? What will hap- pen to a Crowsley of the future who gets to work when a Tory Government is in office? I There can be no blinking the fact that the Tories are claiming rights for officers which they deny to private soldiers. What in the mouth of the colonel is but a choleric word is rank blasphemy in the common soldier. They want one code of conduct for the rich, and another for the poor. In the past they have enjoyed that right; they may continue to get preferential treatment in the future; but they will never get it with the consent of the people of this country. FIGHT. That must be the watch- word of all Labour men and democrats from this moment. It is not only we of the Labour party who have oome to this decision, but the Liberals. "The I Westminster Gazette," the official or- an of Liberalism, a mild and tame journal which Bets itself every morn- ing to smooth out the crumpled page of Jife for the Government, is up in arms. On Tnesday its leading article had the following: We say (frankly that rather than that this should go on the record (that the Government caved in to the army officers) we would cheerfully see the Government out of office and the Liberal party sent into the wilder- ness, there to work as free men in defence of their liberties. An Army which can dictate to a Government is a menace to liberty, and a menace, let us add, to public order. Where the tamest of Liberals are in fighting mood it is the duty of the Labour party to lead the van. "Never in my life have I thanked God for a Labour party until to-day," remarked an influential Liberal on Wednesday morning. The feeling of Liberals do not matter one way or the other, but at the risk of further handi- capping ourselves by seeming to identi- fy ourse-ves with them, we must fight the battle of popular liberty against aristocratic pretensions. Without se- curing the pre-eminence of the House of Commons in this country we oannot move one step toward* social reform, not one inch towards Socialism and the general reign of sooial justice. Home Rule may seem on the surface to be a political issue. It is that, but it is more. The Tories would not risk their all on defeating it if it only touched superficial issues. Once the age-long strife between Orangeman and Catholic is ended, the attention of Ire- land win be turned to economic issues. The employers and the sweaters with their legal parasites who are now ex- I (Continued at bottom of next caiumm-)

NOTES and COMMENTS. What a sad world this is! One of the grievances of the "Daily Mail" against the Liberals over the Home Rule Bill situation is that the King has had to cancel his arrangement to see the Grand National. Every vear since the King ascended the throne something has cropped up to prevent him being at the Grand National. Woe, woe! What an absurd fuss Swansea Sab- batarians are making because of the decision to open the Art Gallery on Sunday afternoons What particular sin Ls there in looking at a good picture ? Why, the gospel story itself is better told in the pictures by the great masters than it is by many a modern minister, whose religion is a creed of clumsy vetoes. When an organ was first installed in a Nonconformist church—it was one belonging to the Wesleyans-tbere was a fearful outcry among the unco' guid of the day. What narrow-minded re- actionaries they seem to us now. A decade hence everyone will think in the same way of the conservative folk who are condemning the decision to open the Art Gallery on Sunday. Small wonder that intelligent young men and women are deserting the churches in droves when official Christian leaders are so bigoted. A canard has gained currency in the newspapers to the effeot that owing to "the grave dangers confronting the Progressive cause" an arrangement has been made between the Liberals and the Labour men whereby three-cornered fighits will be avoided at the coming general election. Nothing of the kind has been done, or contemplated. If such a project was countenanced there would have to be a special oonference of the party to consider it. Coulson Kernahan, the author, says that he is prepared to die for Ulster. In that happy event we should look for ve,sion of his book "A Dead Man's Diary." Although the vernal equinox is here, there is precious little sign of Spring, and Mr. James Williams, Ystalyfera's popular expert on the rainfall must be busily occupied in keeping his weather- eye (no pun!) on the guage. The Brecon Beacons are still covered thick- ly with snow-and that reminds me that Martin Tupper, the much-maligned author of "Proverbial Philosophy" wrote a very creditable sonnet on the Beaoons. It appeared in "The Dublin Magazine" in 1858: 0 glorious sea of mountains in a storm, Joyously surging and careering high With angry crests flung up against the sky And billowy troughs between, that roll eno.rm- For miles of desolate grandeur scoop'd out deep- Yet all congeal'd and magically asleep As on a sudden stopt to this fixt form By "Peace, be still!"—well may the filmed eye Of ignorance here behold in cloudy robe The mythologic Arthur on his throne A Spiritual King, sublime, alone, Marshalling tempests over half the globe Or, kindlier now bv summer zephyrs, Blessing invisibly his ancient land. Our John Blunt, who shares with other smart young men a lofty con- tempt for the late lamented Martin, asks what that blameless purveyor of mushy maxims would say if he knew that the throne of the mythologic Arthur had been usurped by Lord Glanusk. At a presentation meeting to Sir W. J. Thomas, the Ynyshir coalowner, the following words, from the pen of a sycophantic bard, were read: Mae'n frenin mewn haelioni A'i glod ar led y tir; Em Francis o Assisisi Yw Marchog Ynyshir. The bard's enthusiasm seems to have knocked his historic sense out of plumb. St. Francis did not own any collieries-- in fact lie voluntarily em braced poverty. Dr. Lewis, in his recommendation to the Pontardawe Council to institute schools for mothers at local centres, an- ticipated an almost inevitable develop- ment of the Insarance Act. The Women's Co-operative Guild inter- viewed Mr Herbert Samuel this week on the subject, and they asked for mater- nity centres to be instituted by local authorities, and for municipal services of midwivea. Mr. Samuel replied sym- pathetically, but expressed doubt whether local authorities could perform the work outlined. The doubt as to the Pontardawe Council is not whether it can but whether it WILL perform the work. A r,- i o,t  was re- A most unusual application was re- ceived one day last week by Messrs. Morgan and Higgs, booksellers, Heath- field-street, Swansea. A gentleman, writing lnom Deyil's linage asked to be supplied with a sample of each of the books they had in stock! It would be diffie-uit to imagine the looks of amuze- ment which would be shown by the railway people had the request been complied with.

MINE MANAGER FINED. I SEQUEL TO THE GLYNEA PIT I EXPLOSION. An important Home Office prosecu- tion arising out of the Glynea explosion in October last was heard at the Llan- edly Police. Court on Wednesday-, when Inspector W. N. Atkinson charged Wm. Price, Llwynheraly, the manager of the Glynea Colliery, with offences against Sections 29, 50, 75, and 90 of the Coal Mines Regulation Act. There were six summonses against Thos. Protheroe, Old Road, Llanelly, formerly the under- manager and the chief shareholders of the company. Mr Powell, Neath, on behalf of the Treasury, explained that the summonses in the first case were taken out for failure to provide proper ventilation, and to keep the airways and workings free from in- flammable gas. He reminded the magis- trates that the explosion had resulted in the death of eight workmen. Mr Dyer Lewis, senior inspector, gave evidence. In cross-examination, witness said the quantity of air going into the workings on the day he made the examination proved to be small. It might have been sufficient bad care been taken to turn it into the proper channels. Mr Kenshole, for the defence, said that on November 4th, the fireman, made the usual exami nati on, and found to his own satisfaction and that of the management that there was no gas at all in this par- ticular heading, neither was there the slightest indication of gas on November 5th and 6th. After a short adjournment the presid- ing magistrate announced that the bench were of the opinion that there had been. a distinct breach 8f the regulations for which William Price, the manager, was responsible, and they had decided to in- flict a penalty of B10 and cost-s. They dismissed the. other charges against him upon payment of costs, and the charge against Thomas Protheroe as agent was also dismissed.

n SWANSEA COAL MERCHANT s LIQUIDATION. VALLEY COLLIERIES AI'FECTED. The "French Gazette" ("Gazette des Petites Affiches") contains a notice of judicial liquidation in the case of Peter Alriq, coal merchant, 1, Rue Marcadet and 57, Rue Stephenson, Paris, who has works at Swansea. Mr. Alriq was a very old trader at Swansea, having been in business there for over 30 years. From the following list of principal creditors it will be seen that Abercrave and Ystradgynlais owners are affected: Mr. Hugo Stinnes £5,000 Mr. F. D. Bazzard 6,000 South Wales Anthraoite Colliery Company. 4,100 Abercrave Colliery Company 1,946 Messrs. Cann and Glass 1,352 Messrs. Napier and Co. 1,100 »

LABOUR AND THE ARMY CRISIS "Twice in the years since I have been in Parliament I have seen the House of Commons assert itself indepen- dently of Ministers. The first time was in February 1910, and then it was Mr. Redmond, with the Irish party behind him, who gave a rallying point to the forces of democracy, confused and shaken in their march by a fault of leadership. The second time was on Tuesday, and the lead came from the Labour benches; for Mr John Ward, no less than Mr Thomas, spoko in the name of Labour. This de bate, suddenly sprung on the House, unpremeditated, was even more impressive and significant than the full dress occasions before and after it, in which Mr Ramsay Macdonald drove home the same conclusions with tremend- ous power."—Mr Stphen Gwynne, M.P. in the "Daily Chronicle. ———————

SENGHENYDD DISASTER REPORT J Professor Redmayne, H.M. Chief In- spector of Mines, has. plaoed his draft re- port on the Senghenydd disaster before Mr R. Smillie (of the M.F.G.B.) and Mr Evan Williams (of the South Wales Coal- owners' Association), who sat with him as assessors at the inquiry. If approved the report will be sent to the printers; but there are several plans which will take some time to complete and print. and it is hardly possible tof the report to Le issued for three or four weeks. Such an important report must formally come before Parliament before it is made public. It is understood tfhat the Com- missioner a-nd the aaeessors devoted the whale of the day to the consideration of the draft report. The work was not com- pleted when they adjourned to a further date. It is understood that the report of the delegates of the M. F.G.B. who attended the inouiry will not be presented to the Federation until after the Home Office report has been presented to Parliament.

HELL-TO THE VALLEY OF DEATH! I It is reported that about one hundred I officers in Dublin refused to obey orders. -Da.ily Press. WITH APOLOGIES TO LORD I TENNYSON Forward the Light Brigade, Was there a man djsmay'd ? No, for each solder knew Someone had blundered. Their's 'tis to make reply. Their's 'tis to rauxwi why, Their's net to do or die. "Hell--to the Valley of Death," Noble one hundred "Daily Herald." I i J 1 1

SOCIALISTS IN GERMANY I From about 100 German election dis- tricts comes the following increase in membership of the Social Democratic Party—66,300 new memb ers. This does not include 10,000 new mem- bers who joined the movement in Ham- burg, the first day of the Red Week. The party paper "Vorwartia" has gained 53,100 new members. When will England follow this fine example ? ————— J. <.——————

Worried by having to sell furniture and take a smaller house, Robert Bicker- ton of Brixton, formerly a K.C.'s clerk, I took his life.

E L =  S! & Sr ?  -UL  ?'  S ? ??!!tII3f??.ja? !H t  T ( I* TTT" I-— —— -——.<- — OUR MODERN PREMISES are now complete with the NEWEST IDEAS in Spring Wall Papers May we request the favour of an early visit? We are showing a larger range of Artistic Wall Papers than any other Firm in Wales. Our Prices are lower than ever. but our Quality is still the highest All requisites for Spring Cleaning in Stock. THE SMARTEST CORNER SHOP IN SWANSEA. I A. RUBENSTEIN WALL PAPER SPECIALIST, 125, GOWER STREET, SWANSEA Ij t TEL. 67 DOCKS. ——— Wall Paper Pattern Books sent Carriage Paid on application. I

SWEATED TEACHERS IN ENGLAND. OFFICIAL PAPER ADVERTISES FOR SLAVES AT JS20 A YEAR. The idea see ma general that English children are required to attend school till they reach the age of 14, and are taught by qualified teachers. There are still many areas where the statutory leaving age is 13, and some where it is 12. Moreover, in many schools children may be, for nearly half of their short school life, in the care of 'supplementary' teachers. These are persons whose only qualifications are that they are (i) over 18, (ii) re-vaccinated, and (iii) approved by His Majesty's inspector. TEACHERS AT 12s. A WEEK A glance at the advertisements in the current issue of the "Schoolmaster" will show how the authorities appraise the services of these teachers. Brecon and Salop offer them £ 30 per annum in full remuneration, Lindsey and Dorset £ 30— 940, Norfolk, £ 35, rising to £40, and Essex a minimum of L30, with rather better prospects. Radnor suggests that a headmaster should bring with him "a wifoo or other relative," to be rewarded with L27 19s. to E32 10s., and Bedford offers B20 as its minimum. 13.473 such teachers (!) were in the employment in 1912-13, having the care of about one-twelfth of the elementary school population, and a recent order per- mits local authorities to oontinue their services till 1919. EDUCATION ON THE CHEAP. I But this is not the whole of the story. Very many more of our elementary scholars are supervised by uncertificated lads and lassies paid not very much better, of whom a number are plucky enough to try to "qualify." To what an extent thi3 obtains in some quarters may be guessed from the. Nor- folk advertisement, which appeals for 50 supplementales, 83 unc rt iioatcd teachers and one trained certificated teacher. It will be evident ,that one may not argue from the moderately good con- ditions of the larger urban authorities and of the few efficient counties, nor from the existence of Mer-ars. Pease and Selby Biggs in their snug bureaux, that all is well with the ?ducationaJ world. Stepney Council abolished the order by which its employees were forced to dwell in the district.

PARENTS DEFY A COMMITTEE I Before the Merthyr School Attendance I tommitt.ee on Wednesday, J69 parents were summoned, but did not appear. Thery intimated in a letter that they had ha.d a meeting, and declined to send children to the sc hools until the Merthvr Education Authority had given an ade- quate hearing to the complaint of the managers. Tke committee after a long discussion resolved to take police court proceedings against the whgle of the signatories for not sending the children to 3choo4.

HOW REBEL TTAS PERSECUTED I About three weeks before his death Babel asked Kantsky to publish the last volume of his autobiography after Bebel's death. This wsuu what Bebel was struggling to finish before he died, and he aucceeded in acoomipliBhing his task This volume deals with the period be- fore 1882, and is a very exciting account of the persecution of Bebel and Sociedists at that time. Their dealings with the police vere very amusing at times. Of Bebed's private life this volume con- tains very little, for he was a man who belonged entirely to the movement. A Federal Constitution, excluding part of Ulster, is suggested to Mr Asquith by H,ome ?P.?"l.e 7,,i rt,ed to Mr Asquith by Dr. Chappie, M.P., as a solution of the Home Rule mess.

THE PLAYHOUSE YSTALYFERA NIGHTLY AT 7.45. Another Star Programme of First- Class Films this Week-end The Death Weight Remarkable Star Film, and FIVE OTHER SPLENDID PICTURES Remember-The Playhouse 3 Changes Weekly Children's Matinee every Saturday at 3 p m PRICES FLOOR 6d.; BALCONY. 3d. THE COLISEUM YSTALYFERA Where Everybody Goes! NIGHTLY AT 7.45. Friday & Saturday, Mar. 27th & 28th Great Star Programme Including (by special request) the wonderful picture— The Musgrave Ritual (Sherlock Holmes Series.) SATURDAYS- Non-stop Programme 6-30 to 10-30. Stalls, 3d. I Grand Circle, 6d. Two distinct parts of the House. Child- rein Half-Price throughout. Coutts' Circuit. Why AW you should use a I SINGER 4W BECAUSE it will halve your labour, double ijih your leisure, and reduce your expenses. Wl BECAUSE you can dress yourself £ ? children ||3|| ? in the latest fashions, at least expense. h)g BECAUSE you can darn and mend table- 14 M ?B? linen, stockings, curtains, etc., etc., ? ? ??7? better, and in a fraction of the time taken by hand. £ LCAUSE, in short, you can't afford 1 J ?????t to be without one, when they can ? if ????B8W\ be had on our Free Trial System, | £ jj j ???mSSttN??'???? purchased from   ? ?? ?' wards, or on easy terms, and can be rented by the week or month. T,;o ??j????.?'?M?SINGE? SEWING MACHINE ???ij?????M "i). CO., LTD. 0 1. MY To- W. A. WILLIAMS, Phrenologist, can be consulted daily at the Victoria Arcade (near the Market), Swansea.

I TRY COTTON ONES, EMILY. Miss Emily Winters recently knitted herself a pair of stockings out of aoffc Scotch wool, but ehe can't wear them being as they scratch her so. Emily is very sensitive to wool. Why not wear a pair of thin cotton ones under them, Emily?—Bingville "Bugle" (U.S.A.)

(Continued from preceding column) ploiting working men in Ulster will have to defend themselves. That is why they want a divided Ireland, and they will risk everything to maintain it. As Welshmen who know something of the deep feeling of nationality, it is our duty to stand by the Nationalists and see Home Rule through. As Labour men it is our duty te fight for popular liberties until the last gasp. And if the King, the army, or any other aristo- cratic institution stands between us and the freedom, political and economic, for which Labour stands, then we must not rest until we have broken Tory domination in the Army, and broken the King, too, if needs be.