Pioneer

Plymouth Notices Withdrawn. HAPPY ISSUE TO WORKMEN'S NEGOTIATIONS. As stated in last week's Pioneer notices were given to 4(g) workmen. mostly wagemen, employed at the. pit-s of the Messrs. Hills Ply- mouth Company, Merthyr. at the beginning of the week. On the Wednesday the miners' repre- sentatives rtsolved that the Goal Controller should be approached in the matter. Mr. Noah Ablett (Miners' Agent) accordingly took the in hand and engaged in the. necessary negotiations, and yesterday (Wednesday) morn- ing he received the welcome that the Ooal Controller had consented to withdraw the notices. In this connection the workmen's ex- aminer of the pits has reported that if there were any further dismissals of bona-fide work- men it would be at the expense of safety.

Did Not Pull Brother Out SHOCK UNNERVES RHYMNEY MAN. An inquest was held at H hpHlley on Wednes- day on Charles MeMahone (39), CoHiers' -row, Rhymncy, who was found in the Brynmenyn Pond on Sunday. Mrs. MeMahone ,-lid her husband had been ill and depressed. He went out on Sunday afternoon and her brother-in- law went to look for him. Arthur Henry McMahonne said he saw his brother in the pond abont three or four yards from the side, the water being about 4 ft. deep, and deceased seemed quiet enough." Ques- tioned by the Coroner, witness said ho did not pull him out., but went for a brother. He was too nervous to pull him out. From the time be Raw deceased to the time he was taken out about ten minutes elapsed. The, Coroner: Just enough time for him to finish drowning. You should not have done that; the water was only 4ft. deep and you are about 5ft. 5in. Witness answered that the shock of seeing the deceased upset him. Another brother in court said the previous witness was excited at the time. A verdict of Death by drowning while of unsound mind" was returned.

Allotment of Sugar SAVING FOR PRESERVES NOT HOARDING. The Director of Sugar Distribution desires it to be clearlv understood (a) That there is no intention in the early future to reduce the amount of the weekly domestic ration of sugar. (b) That in making special allotments of sugar through the local Food Committees under the scheme for providing fruit growers with sugar for domestic preserving, no account will he taken of any sugar saved out of the weekly ration. (c) That the saving of sugar out of the do- mestic ration for jam-making not only does not constitute hoarding, but is a course which is eminently desirable in the public interest under existing circumstances.

Coal Output SOUTH WALES 15 PER CENT. DOWN LAST YEAR. Mr. Finlay A. Gibson, secretary of the Mon- mouthshire and South Wales Coal owners' As- sociation, has just issued a statement showing the output of coal and the number of persons employed from 1913 to 1917 inclusive according to which the production in the United King- dom was last year 13 per cent. less than it was in 1913. The Northern coalfield last year pro- duced 26 per cent, less than it did in 1913. Scotland 19 per cent, less, and South Wales 15 per cent. less, but the Midland and Southern coalfields produced almost as much as they did in the record year of 1913 (28062,201 tons, as against 28,284,387 tons), and the output in the Yorkshire and North Midland coalfield was only 5 per cent. down.

| I THEATRE ROYAL & EMPIRE PALACE, Mortar! Licensee—Mr. Will Smithaon. ReMdent Manager—Mr. Fred Dry. ? 16.30 TWICE NIGHTLY. 8.30 j Week commenctn? MONDAY, APRIL .th, 1918. I • Important Engagement of Mr. Frank Liston's London Company in the • I Up-to-date Drama— I I THE PRIDE OF THE REGIMENT 8 I By Mrs. F. Q. Kimberley. = J THE WINNING WAR DRAMA OF TO-DAY! I I Next Week-Once Nightty THE BETTER 'OLE. I • ? Circle, 1/- StaHs, 9d. Pit, 6d. GaHery, 4d, | PLUS NEW TAX. to?? II II r" II It It II II ) Merthyr Electric heatre j ? Week commencing Monday, Aprt! 2eth.  CONTINUOUS PERFORMANCE FROM 2.30 TILL 10.30 P.M. DAILY. J I Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday- | | THE POOR UTTLE RICH GIRL j I Featuring the World-Famous MARY PICKFORD. I I GLORIA'S ROMANCE-Part 15. CUPID'S RIVALS—Comedy. | Comedies, Pathe's Gazette, &c. I I Thursday, Friday, and Saturday- t "IF THOU WERT BLIND. | = THE RED ACE Episode i. jj I Comedies and Pathe's Oazette. I I 'The* money paid for the hire of this film goes to the St. Danst&na Home for I 8 Blind Soldiers, I z 2 I ADMISSION 3d.-Tax, Id.; 6d.—Tax, 2d.; 1/—Tax, 3d. I ? Children's Performance at One o'clock on Saturdays. I ? Ordinary Saturday Performance starts at 3.30 o'clock. Other Days 2.30 as usual. J L. It .1 II .1 HOPE CHAPEL, MERTHYR, SUNDAY, APRIL 2Sth3 1918. Rev. J. Morgan Jones, M.A. SUBJECT—" AFFORESTATION." A CORDIAL WELCOME EXTENDED TO ALL BOOKS THREE ESSENTIALS IN THE SOCIALIST ARMOURY. SOCIALISM AFTER THE WAR 1/- By J. R. MACDONALD, M.P. THE STATE */3 By WILLIAM PAUL. INDUSTRIAL UNIONISM AND THE MINING ) INDUSTRY 1/- By GEORGE HARVEY. The Democrats Handbook to Merthyr 6d., reduced to Id., Postage 2d. (A Mine of local Historical and Industrial Information). OURI SHOP; Postmortals, Merthyr NEW MALL, Bargoed. Mr. Tom Mann WILL DBIILVTBH AN ADDRESS ON MONDAY NEXT, APRIL 29th, 1918, Under the Auapices of the Bargoed I.L.P. ADMISSION-SIXPENCE. Doors Open at 4.15. Commence at 6 p.m. prompt PONTYPRIDD I.L.P. HALL, GRAIG SQUARE SUNDAY, APRIL 28th, a.t 6.30 p.m. COMRADE OWEN HUGHES (Pontypridd), will lecture on William Morris, Artist, Poet and Socialist." BRANCH MEETING on Saturday, April 27th, at 7 p.m. MERTHYR I.L.P. JW MEETINGS. OLYMPIA RINK, MERTHYR, Sunday Next, April 27th, 1918, At 2.45 p.m. prompt. CASEY & DOLLY AdmUsion by Silver Collection. k ■

I South Wales Operative Bakers. I PROPOSED UNIFORM PLATFORM. The Operative Bakers of South Wales, Mon- mouth&htre, and Hereford a.re promoting a move- mouthshire, "the object of obtaining the adop- ment with 'the objeaï of oMa.iDing the ad0p- tion of one uniform platform of wages, hours, and oonditions for the whole of the area, to- gether with the setting up of an Advisory Com- mittee of employers and employed to deal with any disputes. So far the proposal does not ap- pear to have been accepted by the Master Bakers' -Federation of South Wales and the West of England, although it is said to be fa- voured by some of the employers personally. The operatives are hoping to secure some mu- tual agreement, but in the event of this not being arrived at, it is we understand, their in- tention to take their case to the Minister of Labour. Notices sent in by the operatives to twenty- three Master Bakers' Associations to terminate existing (t platforms" mature at the end of next month.

I Labour and University Seats. The Labour Party proposes to content all University seats at the General Election. Mr. Sidney vi ebb will stand as Labour candidate for London University. Mr. R. Brownlie, of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, has been adopted to contest Crewe in the Labour inter- est.

The Electric Theatre The Electric have scored another triumph for next week's early programme in securing the very latest Mary Pickford's release, "The Poor Little Rich Girl," as charming a story as has ever been filmed, and one that has been especial- ly written with the forte of Mary's great artis- try in the author's mind. The tale tells of thoughtlessly careless parents and a little child. A party, an accident, delirium--a most remark- able gcone-ond recovery from the very gates of death, reconciliation, renunciation, and finally happiness. As will be seen, the play runs the whole gamut of life's scale, and Mary is given ample apport unities for the exercise of her great gifts. Gloria s Romance" has an exciting chapter for the week and there is among the comedies an especially noteworthy one--HOu.pid's Rival. From Thursday the bill will be headed with If Thou Wart Blind," a touching five reel story, the money paid for the hire of which is going to St. Dunstan's Home for Blind Soldiers. The Red Act is the new Transatlantic serial that is being opened here from Thursday on. The leading part in this super serial is in the hands of that popular artiste Marie Wol- oamp," as Virginia DIxon. The serial ikials with an enthralling mystery, and we are plunged into it right away in episode 1, as will be gathered from its titde of The Silent Ter- ror." There are some good comedies., ifrst-class topicals and fill-ups. In short, the programme is to be an Electric programme, synonymous with I the best. The week's programmes have been tip-top -"Gloria" and the Billy WeRt Comedy "Dough Nuts," that were the principal items from Mon- day to Wednesday night, have fully maintained the Electric reputation for favourite pro- grammes. From Thursday that reputation is being enhanced by that splendid, gripping super- play, Father," which heads the list. "Father" is one of the most distinctive pieces of work that the screen has given us. In addition "Fatty and Mabel" are back in a burlesque comedy of rare delight, "The Simple Life," and "The Grey Ghost is brought to an exciting end. In addition there are some unusually smart minor j numbers. PFCAYGOEIT.

I Labour's May Day. WE axe pleased, that in Merthyr, at all events, May-Day, 1918, is not to be allowed—like so much that is associated with happier times—to sink under the weight of madness that has over- powered our Western civilisations. Labour's May-Day has since its institution stood out as a beaoon of the International; upon it our preach- ing the gospel of hope, comradeship and solidar- ity in the tongues of a myriad nationalities have .hailed the tames when the menace of Moloch I shall have been swept away in the onward march of the common people of earth; our platforms have on that day breathed in the freshness of the springtide of earth, and have arised refreshed to undertake with renewed ardour and rekindled faith the battle for the world under the Red Flag of Socialism. To-day, though all the signs of the times read alike of hatred, malice, dis- trust and ill-will, a wider and wider circle has! become conscious of the ultimate triumph of the ideal of Justice, Fraternity and Equality; the marching army that hails the future with hope- ful joy is larger, more solidly formed, better dis- ciplined, more informed and courageously pre- pared to join issue with the common economic enemy of the workers of the world, than at any previous time in the history of our progress, j Why, then, should we refrain from our great festival of May-Day ? The only answer that can be made is the crazy cry of inexpediency, a cowardly excuse for inaction. Thank God we in Merthyr have refused to be lulled into lethargic inaction by any such talk; and have determined that our May-Day shall give expression to our faith and ideals in no uncertain tones. We are determined that upon that day a purer note ;ball be struck that shall for the moment rise superior to the moans and groans and discords of a world in travail; and that those at a distance, as well as we ourselves, shall catch tlio beauty of that note and be spuiTed to a finer motive than the fibres of our being have yet responded to. It is in no spirit of challenge that our trades union forces will that day parade the town; it is in no vainglorious sense that Bob Smillie and a strong platform will give expression on Qyfarthfa Park to the ideals that move us in our strife; it will be in no narrow sectarian spirit that we shall meet in the Rink in the evening to harken to the strains of music. No; our -May-Day is something bigger and higher, better and nobler than these things, for we are the foreguard of the future of mankind standing upon our moun- tain peaks and gazing with joy at the sun- bathed plains of the to-be where we and our children shall in joy ineffable, because of having been conscious of the purport of our mission, nave fvunJiea that mission ana nave struck from mankind the last gyves and shackles that bind it to a false and archaic system. Our purpose is to give the fullest possible freedom to the expression of the individuality, that is the essence of eaoch of as; an individuality that is robbed from us under present circumstances, oven before we have left the womb i an indivi- duality that is smashed beneath the juggernaut- car of the fa.1se Gods of economic inequality, class privelege and social division; an individual- ity that is pressed into the moold of sameness in the mill, the mine and the shop; but an indivi- I duality that is fast revolting against the destroy- mg pressure of these things; an individuality that is rising superior to the circumstances of the time and is aspiring to aid in the completion of the cycle of time's changes, when the last class in emancipating itself shall emancipate the whole world. Up! comrades. Hail ye the May- Day with its roseate promise of a still more glorious future. Take ye as your watchword the slogan of that great prophet whose centenary we shall on that day celebrate: "Workers of the world unite. You have nothing but your chains to lose; you have a world to win."

The New J.P."s. IN view of the neiiable source from which our information respecting the names suggested to be added to the rota of Justices of the Peace far the Borough of Merthyr has come, that list may be taken as expressing the official intention up to the middle of this weak. How is it that Labour is so conspicuously absent from that KstP Merthyr has been misrepresented all over the oountry by men of the type that it is in- tended to place upon the rota as the very hot- bed of pro-Germanism, its Socialism is appre- ciated throughout these island s on account of its quality and quantity; its Labour Party and trades union movement is not alone strong, but is actively participating in the communal life of the people as a whole, yet our magisterial bench is more tightly closed against Labour's emis- saries than is the Bench of the bluest blue Tory town in England. There can be no question that this differentiation against Labour in these latest selections is deliberate and intentional; and Labour ought to devote sufficient time to this challenge to Mock the game that is being played. Candidly, the wehjctioai does not fill us with confidence, and from the way that Labour has been so ostentatiously overlooked we view the move with suspicion, and counsel our organi- sations to see to it that any juggling with the judiciary is stopped- As a matter of faot, we do not see the use of Justices where a stipendiary magistrate has charge of the proceedings. Lay- men are out of place when there is so able and impartial a chairman as Mr. Griffiths, and par- ticularly when under the rales of prooeedure the possibility of rectifying any chance error he may make is vested in the courts above. It is un- pleasant to see the bench packed with mere or- naments persons who are theoretically justices, but practically no more participants in the pro- ceedings than the moroid-mmdod individuals that fill the body of the Court. At the same; time we must recognise that there is a vast store of potential harm residing in the great unpaid, who have been flattered by the bestowal of the magic suffix J.P. and it is up to us I to see that that term is neutralised so far as possible by the inclusion in the list of new ma- gistrates of a goodly sprinkling of tried and proved Labour members.

I Miners and A. L. Cook. I DEPUTATION SEEK REDUCTION OF SENTENCE. A deputation from the South Wales Miners' Federation Executive saw Mr. William Brace (Under-Secretary of the Home Office) on Tues- day respecting the sentence passed upon Mr. A. L. Cook at Pontypridd, with a view to ascertain- ing whether it was possible to get a reduction of the sentence. After some discussion it was ultimately arranged that the oase sboutd be sub- mitted in writing. „

I A. C.O.'s Statement. I ON THE OCCASION OF HIS FOURTH I COURT-MARTIAL. [The following extracts, from the statement made by a North Wales C.O., R. A. Jones, on the occasion of his fourth court-martial this Eastertide, in addition to the interest contained in their expression of opinion, bear witness to the moral oourage and stability that character- ises the C.O. Movement, to-day as during its early expression after the passing of the first Military Service Act; a courage that but burns the brighter, the more it is made the victim of official penal met-hods.-Fid.] To myself your verdict, whether Guilty or Not Guilty, is of little significance when con- sidered as the condemnation by martial law of the course I have adopted, the sense of the righteousness and confidence in the ultimate vic- tory of which grows deeper and deeper the more one learns of the testimony of the past and the revelations of history's witness to the failure of war as a means to a righteous end, viz., the present world-wide catastrophe." THE GREAT MYSTERY. I Naturally, one of the greatest mysteries to a C.O., is what he considers to be the misinrter- pretation of the Christian teaching by the mass of Christendom. In each country to-day we have seen the Church giving practically its whole-hearted support to the Military endea- vours of the different peoples. While feeling that the Church has failed miserably in its duty by giving its sanction and encouragement to either party, though personally he sees that the whole of Christ's life and teachings proclaim a message of brotherhood, which, if adopted, would inevitably result in the application of the principles of Pacifism, still lie cannot but recog- nise the sincerity of Christians in the attitude they have adopted towards war, and doiag so, show tolerance and sympathy. Though believing that the Church has been misled seeing the in- estimable numbers who have felt it to be their duty as Christians to take part in the present catastrophe (to-day as the truth reveals itself they are slowly but surely diminishing), one is forced reluctantly and sorrowfully to admit that, apart from conscience, the Scriptures do not, to ail men, contain sufficient evidence and direct guidance on the attitude a Christian should take up towards war. While allowing the toregoing, I feel my position to be stronger than ever against the charge of failure of duty to my fel- lowmen in adopting my present attitude. In i n ,_r iiiy -t continuing the same I claim to be testifying to the Truths which History conveys to men, the ignoring of which is largely responsible for to- day's repetition of the blunders and horrors of the past. The present sway of Militarism, more emphatically than ever the past, emphasised the aame and spea ks to us of the ui>solute folly and i- failure of war as a means to a righteous end." THE WITNESS OF HISTORY. History testifies that at no time has war been advantageous to the gaining of any spiritual end. To take the verdict of the Rev. J. R. Green, M.A., one of England's greatest historians, in dealing with the Civil Wars of 1642-60, struggles for Freedom and Justice in which, if ever, the use of the sword might be justified, here are his words: None of the victories of the new model, the fighters for Free- dom who had swept all 'before them, were so glorious as the victory which it won over itself when, quietly and without a struggle, as men who bowed to the inscrutable will of God, it laid down the Sword of Puritanism. It ceased from the long attempt to build up a Kingdom of God by force and violence, and fell back on ite truer work of building up a kingdom of Righteousness in the hearts and consciences of men. It is from the moment of its seeming downfall that its real victory began. In the Revolution of 1688 Puritanism did the work of Civil Liberty it had failed to do in 1642. It wrought out through Wesley and the revival of the 18th Century, the work of religious reform which its earlier efforts had only thrown back for a hundred years.' Further, he states 'Cromwell saw that Puritan- ism had missed its njrn,' and in words, ,to the ignoring of the truth of which we can place the responsibility for the present calamity, 'He saw tha-t the attempt to secure spiritual results by material force had failed, as it always fails." This is the testimony of all history, and in re- fusing to accept her lessons, which should serve to guide Humanity to other and higher goals, mankind is ivsponsible for a repetition of the past in the present state of affairi--this Hell on Earth. NO RIGHT OF COMPULSION. I I claim tiliat no individual or number of in- dividuals has the right to use oppression or com- pulsion to force others to act contrary to what they consider their duty. The supporters of the present war have no greater right to compel me or any other to give his moral sanction and help to the same, than that one, person would have, if the balance of power were turned, to force I the former, however justified he would feel, and confident in the ultimate blessing his action would prove to mankind, to compel them to halt in the course they have adopted. Is it not strange that while professing such single and high motives, in fear of criticism, the press should be gagged, and the speaking of the truth should have to bear the penalty of imprison- ment? Freedom and brute, force have never had much in common, and to-day's experience is not proving exceptional. It has not belied the testi- mony of the past. Again, I assert that our fight for Freedom is justified and in struggling to obtain man's religious and moral li'oerty-— .Freedom to serve God—by refusing to submit to sruioh laws as the Military Service Aet, which have no moral justification, I claim to be fulfill- ing my duty to my fellowmen." IN ACCORDANCE WITH CHRISTIANITY. i In addition to the above, which I claim to be sufficient in itself to justify the attitude I have adopted, I feel as deeply convinced as ever that I am acting in accordance with the Christian teachings, and in obodience to the dictates of conscience. My duty to my fellowmen alone de- mands thM I should continue my protest, and in the knowledge of the fulfilment of the same, confident that I am acting in obedience to the Highest La.w I know, I gain strength and com- fort. The future has no fear. Whatever your decision (and after wha-t I consider to be the injustice of this Court on Thursday last in scn- tencing two of my comrades after three previous convictions, to two years' hard labour, I have no hope of tolerance and moral justice), I face the future cheerfully, confident in the righteous- ness of the cause, and the ultimate realisation of the ideals to which we a.s conscientious objec- tors are witnessing. Knowing this, that never yet Share of Truth was vainly Aot In the world's wide fallow After hands shoJI sow the seed, Afber hands, from hill and mead, Reap the harvests yellow.