Pioneer

Printed and Published by the National Labour I Press, Ltd., at the Labour Pioneer Prase, Williams' Square, Mertbyr 1rd11.

I Pontypridd Notes. I Labour's Progression. Labour, under the auspices of the Pontypridd Trades and Labour Council, is making rapid strides in the Town and District. We have now five representatives on the County Council and four on the Urban District Council. At the next local elections there is little fear that these numbers won't be doubled. We can confidently say that our present representatives ai-e not wasting their time nor the ratepayers' money on these different councils. I The Social Side. Last Thursday our first .social gathering took place. Several hundreds sat down to a pre- war tea. provided by .a band of ardent Labour ladies, and this w asgfollow ed by an excellent en- tertainment given by the most talented artistes in the district. And, let me tell you, these famous artistes did not ask for a penny for their, services. The organising secretary for the affair, Mr. Pearson, deserves every credit for the excellent way he managed the affair, and he may rest .assured that he will be given many similar contracts in future. The chairman for the evening was Mr. Griff Maddocks, the Presi- dent of the Pontypridd Trades and Labour council, and, as usual, he presided most excel- lently. Mr. Maddocks, during the entertain- ment introduced to the audience, Mr. Satamurti, of India, who gave us a short account of British rule in India. He is out for Home Rule there, and we all agreed with him at the finish of his discourse. I Two Vital Matters. The Pontypridd Trades and Labour Council Jwld two meetings in the Park Cinema on Sun- day last. At both. Conn. D. L. Davies, our fu- ?ttlre M.P., presided. The hr?t was to draw the attention of the public towards "Food and Pro- fiteering," and the second, which took place in the evening, was a discouse on Home Rule for India," given by Mr. Satamurti. There were crowded and enthusiastic audiences at both meetings. Ward Activities. The Labour Parties in the Trallwn and Tre- forest Wards are making excellent progress. Whilst the fine wcather lasts, meetings are being held in the open-air. Ou Monday, an open-air Meeting at Treforest was addressed by Mr. Satamurti. on Home Rule for India," and by Mr. T. I. Mardy Jones on the Nationalisation of'the Mines." Mr. Mardy Jones is also booked to speak oil -Ntt oiial si.tioyt on Wednesday, Sept. 10th. at 7.30 p.m., in the Market Square, Pontypridd. The Pontypridd Trades and Labour Council and the different Labour Parties in the district are highly delighted with the results of these open-air meetings which have been held during the summer months.

Gorseinon Notes. The I.L.P. at Port Eynon. An hour's wait in the rain for the brakes on Saturday morning failed to damp the spirits of those of us who had turned out for our annual picnic. During the ride through Gower our forti- tude was justined by very obvious signs that the elements had settled down to behave themselves for the day. and we arrived in Port Eynon with every prospect of a beautiful day. After a hearty dinner we sought for opportunities to give vent to the store of energy which had ac- cumulated during the three-and-a-half hours' ride in the brakes, and it did one's heart good to see the ladies skipping about in Rounders and 'Twos and Threes." In the former, "Clium" Harris' team, guided by the brilliant general- ship and inspired by the tremendous vocal power of their leader, inflicted a crushing victory on that of Mansel Grenfell, beating their opponents by 50 points to 1. In "Twos and Threes we were at sixes and sevens, and were only rescued from the impenetrable labyrinth into which our very vague notions of the game had led us, by the insistent and vociferous demand of the inner man for tea We ended a most enjoyable after- noon by singing "Commonwealth" and the Red Flag." ard a fter subjecting the camera to a fearful strain for a second time that day (with the Police istation as an appropriate back- ground) we embarked for home. N.C.F. I On Sunday afternoon at 2.30 Miss Pallistpr addressed a meeting under the a-supices of the N.C.F. She dealt in her inimitable manner with Militarism and Pacifism. and presented the case for an unpopular cause with an eloquence and a soundness of reasoning that was simply irresistible. Sunday Evening. -1 It was unfortunate that our meeting clashed with the local Gymanfa Gauu, but we were plea- santly surprised at the size of the ,audience that assembled to listen to Miss Palhster. For nearly an hour she held her audience spell-bound. There was no burking the issue here: it was a clear uncompromising case, not for higher wages, not for profit-sharing and the various palliative devices floated to hood" ink the work- ing-class, but for 'Socialism, the hope of the working man and woman. Literature sold faster than hot cakes, and the record collection of the season was taken. Miss Pallister at Loughor. I Our meeting at Loughor on Monday night was a fulfilment of my prediction that great things would be done here. Our meagre preparations for the event, I must admit, had not entitled us to expect a good meeting, but we were astounded at the extent of the crowd when our organiser rose to deliver her message. I am running the risk of being charged with writing in super- latives, but I must place it on record that this was the most remarkable address of the whole campaign. Touches of pathos and poetry, flashes of humour, apposite illustrations, stories told with the skill of an accomplished raconteuse, and sound economics—all these were embodied in a torrent of eloquence that simply carried e audience off its feet. Loughor has been touched and quickened: it is for us to see that the spark kindled by Miss Pallister is not extinguished. Comrade Win. Hopkins presided and opened the meeting with an address in Welsh, in which lie set forth the nature and the object of the I.L.P. Next Sunday. I Comrade Stan Rees, of the C.L.C. will address I us on Sunday evening at 7.30 p.wi. Comrades, I make this one of our big nights!

Briton Ferry Notes I Wallhead at the Ferry. I The I.L.P. had a large open-air gathering on Sunday last at the Orown Park. The draw" was our old friend "Dick" Wallhead. In scathing terms he ridiculed the Peace Treaty as a guarantee of peace and goodwill among the nations. "Dick has kindly recollections of Briton Ferry. It was here he offended Dora." through whom he was introduced to His Ma- jesty's guest-house at Sw ansea, where for a few weeks he "rested" far away from the mad- ding crowd." He was not arrested on this oc- casion (though the crowd were—by him) but wanted to know if the policeman with the "long memory" was present—he wasn't.

Labour Notes. THE POLICE UNION. Though little enough has appeared in the Press about the suppression of the Police Union, there seems to be no doubt that the current of feeling in trade union circles is running very strongly. Not merely the more militant jour- nals, but snme of the moderate journals issued by the trade unions, reveal that considerable indignation and a very uneasy feeling has been aroused by the passage of the Government's Bill. Perhaps the feature to which most exception has been taken—apart from what is regarded as the attack on trade unionism itself—is the clause which penatises any agitation which may cause disaffection amongst the police. This clause is felt to be a suppression of free speech, and those unions which are made up of Government ser- vants, such as the postal unions, resent this most bitterly. From the point of view of the Home Office it would be better to assume that criticism of its official actions or regulations is openly and publicly made, and should be openly and publicly answered. ESPIONAGE. Congratulations are due to the Textile Factory Workers' Conference on its decisive condemna- tion of Government espionage in the workshops. It is well known that this repulsive method of getting information was steadily employed by the Government during the war, and it appears to be one of the "war practices" which the Government is most unwilling to abandon. In their own interests they would be well advised to do so. Not only is the information so obtained generally incorrect or deliberately false, the mere rumour that spies are about is sufficient to create a feeling of resentment a-nd suspicion, which is bound to react against the Government, and does not make for increased production. BUILDERS' LABOURERS. It seems likely that the separate unions in the building; trades are about to disappear. Not only is the Building Trades Federation forming composite branches to a bsorb all members of the building trades in those towns are too small for separate Inane-lies of the several unions to have any real strength, but the various unions of bricklayers and masons are considering amalgamation, and a scheme is now being balloted upon by the four unions of builders' labourers, which provides for complete amalgamation by January 1st, 1920. All con- tributions are to be levelled and benefits aver- aged out. It is to be hoped there will be a re- cord vote in favour of amalgamation. REVIVINC WORKERS' INTERNATIONAL. At the Postal Workers' Conference just held in Paris, attended by representatives of the organised postal workers of Britain, France, Spain, and Belgium, it was decided to take steps to revive the International Fnion of Postal Workers. Already it is announced they are in touch with the Austrian Section, and the further necessary steps are rapidly being taken. Brus- sels is proposed for the headquarters of the re- vived organisation. The postal workers can be congratulated on their initiative, and their ex- ample should be speedily followed by the other international unions whose relations, inter- rupted by the war, have not yet been revived. It is announced that the French, German, and Dutch trade unions of building workers are ar- ranging an international conference of brick- layers, plasterers, labourers,and excavators, at Amsterdam on October 6th. No time should be lost in restoring internationai communications in every industry. THE TWO INTERNATIONALS. The National Congress of Hungarian Social Democrats, attended by over 200 delegates, re- presenting 10 trade unions, has decided to secede from tflie Third (Bolshevists) International, and to re-unite with the Second. Swiss Socialists are by no means unanimous in supporting the Third International. The Con- gress of the St. Galles Socialist Party, by 18 votes to 13, has rejected the proposal to join the Third International, and has repudiated all tac- tics of violence, and the theory of proletarian dictatorship, declaring that it takes its stand on the basis of democratic principles. Although the Swiss Party Congress voted for adhesion to the Third International, the matter cannot be regarded as settled until the decision has been confirmed by a ballot of the members. KOLTCHAK SUPPRESSES CO-OPERATORS. Amid all the turmoil of civil strifè in Russia the Co-operati ve movement has been the one great permanent institution outlasting all the factions and serenely pursuing its way through the vicissitudes of successive Governments. Even under Tsardom the movement lived and grew: under the Bolsheviks it has continued to flour- ish until its operations cover some sixty millions of people. But with the advent of Koltchak a new era opens, and even the co-operator pleads vainly for immunity before the Supreme Rules." When the ninth general meeting of the Siberian Co-operative delegates was held at Novo-Nikolaieysk it was announced that a paper was to be read on The Relations betw een Co-operators and the State." The paper was not read. The official report states that for reasons beyond the control of the board and the chairman of the meeting uo discussion could take place on this question. In explanation of this the Russian Co-operator" is ready to hand: For those unacquainted with the nice- ties of the Russian language," it says. we may explain that reasons beyond control means in plain English the authorities, or, in other words, Admiral Koltchak." INDUSTRIAL UNREST IN ECYPT. The strike of tramwaymen in Cairo, which be- gan on August 11th, ended last week.. Some wage concessions have been made to the strikers I by the Government Arbitration Commission, and their right to form unions has been admitted, though the employers are not bound to recog- nise the unions. The men demanded an imme- diate increase in wages of 30 per cent., three days' holiday a month on full pay, free medical -treatment, the inclusion of iwo delegates from the union on the Board of Enquiry dealing with workmen's offences; and the consent of the union to tllie engagement of new workers. Among other classes of workers who have been on strike in Cairo are the waiters and restaurant workers and the newsboys—the lattter demanding an in- creased commission on street sales. Middle- class tenants in Cairo have decided to pay no rent after this month unless present charges are reduced. Postal workers threaten a strike. To establish a co-operative society for officials in the Ministries, for the purpose of reducing the cost of living, the Egyptian Government has authorised a credit of tl") 000. Gardeners' as- sistants have been on strike for a 50 per cent. increase, lawyers' clerks and bank clerks are agitating for improved conditions, and even the clergy attached to the mosques have petitioned the Government for increased allowances. ONE BIC UNION. I The "One Big Union movement in Canada, I which caused the general strike in I Winnipeg' -I::C_ -> .r"C-"c" -o-o. "o.; last May, is still active, and a new crisis is de- veloping. Both the Dominion Trade Union Con- gress and the American Federation of Labour cancelled the charters of unions in sympathy with this movement, such as the Winnipeg Trades and Labour Council, which, by a majority of 8,841 to 703 voted to join the One Big Union." The latter has announced its intention of granting new charters in place of those that have been revoked, and Winnipeg Labour leaders have promised to support the movement to organise unions on this principle in every Canadian city. "PLUM" FOR AMERICAN RAILWAYMEN. The Railwaymen's Union in America have put forward a definite plan for a tri-partite control of the railway system, involving a genuine mea- sure -of representation for the workers them- selves. What is known as the Plumb Plan" is a Bill which proposes that the railways shall become the property of the Federal Government, and be leased bo a Corporation representating ,iii(I ?t)(, leased to ?t C?oi,lioi-i.tlOjl employees, in equal proportions. One-third of the representation on the Board of Directors will be elected by the employees, another by the Government. Control of wages and salaries will be primarily in the hands of the Board, but it is proposed to set up a central Board of Wages and working conditions, composed of equal num- bers of employees and officials, with authority to determine any general question of this kind by a majority yote. In addition to regular w ages the employees will be entitled to one-half the annual profits after paying expenses and fixed charges; the other half goes to the Federal Government. It is provided, as a guarantee against the workers and officials combining their votes for undue increases in wages and salaries, that, when the sharing of profits reaches 5 per cent, of the gross returns, freight rates are to be re- duced. This plan is put forward simultaneously with a demand for an immediate increase of money wages. WORKERS PRONOUNCE SENTENCE. Wels, the President of the Social Democratic- Party of Germany, has been expelled from the German Upholsterers' Union, by a decision of its Conference held at Leipzig. He was accused of complicity in the bloodshed in Berlin in Decem- ber, 1918, when he was Police President. Wels was one of the delegates to the Berne Interna- tional Congress and attended the meetings at Amsterdam and Lucerne as a Member of the Per- manent Commission appointed at Berne. TOWARDS INDUSTRIAL PEACE? President Wilson, following the example of Mr. Lloyd George, has invited representatives of employers and workpeople, in both industry and agriculture, to attend a conference for the discussion of means to promote better relations between Capital and Labour and "to place the whole question of labour and wages upon another footing. A plea for the re-introduction of piece-work bonus systems has been made by Vorwarts." the organ of the German Majority Socialists. Two Members of tHe French Socialist Party, MM. Erlich and Nectoux, have resigned their Membership on the ground that the principles of the Party cannot no" be distinguished from Bolshevism. In sympathy with the actors, musicians, and stage-hands on strike in New York, the bi!I- posters, baggage, parcels and delivery drivers, and the railway switch men, ceased work, the binpostersdecliningtopostnp theatre biHs, and the switchmen refusing to handle railway cars containing scenery and other theatrical good's. CHANCE OF ADDRESS. The Labour Research Department is now in occupation of new premises at 34 Eccleston 1 i t 34 Square, adjoining the main office of the Labour Party, whose growing -activities have made an extension of space necessary. The work of the Department covers a wide field, and its Monthly Circular," which is a record of facts compiled by Its several sections, can be obtained by any of its affiliated societies or individual subscribers on application to the secretary at the new address.

able and slavish condition. We have quite enough of the Iron Heel as it i*. They had looked up my leave during the past three years whilst attending the business of the N.U.R. as showing their generosity. It was no thanks to them, the necessities -of the industrial situation during that period compelled them, and even then at the extreme pressure of our General Secretary and our E.C. Another point in this connection is, that our Constitution lays it down that only actual working railwavnien per- mitted to sit upon the Executive Committee, which as a consequence, requires a great deal of time off to attend to the duties and thus effects their employment. This point must be borne in mind when considering the time off granted hy the Company in this period. Out E.C. has al- most been sitting in continuous session this year. When the workers are prepared to fight for principles as they are prepared to fight for increases in wages then I believe we shall he making real progress. The Police who are now stranded, fought for a principle., i-lz., the right to organise," in which the whole Labour Move- ment ought to have rallied to their side, and the same, I believe, is the case in which I have been directly involved, for it means very much more to the future well-being of the working-class than even increased wages. If freedom means anything at all. it is a condition of our lives. Our Executive Committee have already had un- der consideration complaints respecting refusal by railway companies to grant facilities to rail- way employees to attend public duties. I am hoping my case will push the matter on and that some national policy will be agreed to in this connection in view of the large number of rail- waymen now contemplating standing for public bodies. Railway-men in common with other workers are desirous of taking part in the local governing bodies in their districts. Well may the governing class become alarmed at the ascendancv of Labour, whose activities they are anxious to restrict. I MY REINSTATEMENT. The question or my dismissal became a na- tional issue. My reinstatement was agreed to as. the result of an interview with the Company and representatives of our Union at which I at- tended. [made it clear that I would not accept reinstatement unless there was an assurance upon the point of facilities being granted to at- tend public duties when necessary. After a little discussion, an amicable arrangement was come to upon this point, which was inserted in terms agreed by both sides, which stipulated that the Company is always prepared to grant to their employees reasonable facilities to attend public duties where such does not prejudice the efficient working of the railway." This will ap- ply to any employee who is placed in a position that requires time off for such purpose. We NUl therefore compliment ourselves upon haying made this point Clear as the result of the inci- dent which challenged the Company's action in my case. The principle has been accepted, and now having been clearly established, it must be seen that it is adhered to in future cases.

I Why I Took Direct Action I BY T. C. MORRIS, N.U.R. I The Capitalist Press, true to its tradition, functioning as the mouthpiece of the governing: class, distorts, misrepresents, and abuses* any- one or any movement that dares challenge its. power. The past week has brought me under its lash, and noanwlIllt of explanation would suffice to counteract the prejudices of the Press. [f eulogies had been forthcoming, then it would be an indication that my credentials would re- quire to be carefully scrutinised, ft is therefore- a fairly safe standard by which the workers may judge the invective or eulogises of the Press as. to what is the view-point- of the individual effected. MY CRIME. i So far a.s the crime, of which 1 was guilty ami which necessitated drastic punishment in my dis- missal after service, is concerned, it is. after all, a cime because it challenged the right of a railway company to dictate as to the nature- of duties to which it is willing to grant leave to its employees. They reluctantly granted me leave to attend Trades Union matters, hut w lieu it became a matter of politics, they felt that it cut across the class prejudices of the directors- and shareholders. The refusal of the Company to grant me leave for July 21st I took as a direct challenge, seeing that I pointed out to> them that the nature of my appointment was an important one. ft is generally customary for railway employees to make their application out in the following way I beg leave to apply. This begging attitude rather savours of a ser- vile spirit against which my whole being revolts. It would be no exaggeration to say that outside- the civil service there is no service to-day that is so much permeated with servility as the* raihvays. RAILWAY CONDITIONS OF SERVICE. I The first Rule in the General Rules and Regu- lations of Railw ay Companies to which every em- ployee must agree as a condition of employ- ment runs as follows :— All persons employed by the Company must devote themselves exclusively to the Com- pany's service; they must reside at whatever place may be appointed, attend at such hours as may be required, pay prompt obedience to all persons placed in authority over them, and conform to all rules and Regulations of the Company. Therein you have set out the governing con- ditions of employment on a railway. We are- living m the 20th Century, and a rule of this description would aptly apply to the I.3th Cen- tury. Exclusive service to a railway company means that they want all your energy, time and labour to be devoted to tlifm at a cheap price. Not only body and soul as .well. The new spirit vvhich is stirring our times should demand flit" elimination of such a rule and such a condition of service which is purely slavery. Liberty and democracy have no meaning, if such conditions are allowed to remain. Discipline and inaiivge- i it en t have been for many years past the pet tiieme of the Railway Companies and any at- tempt to interfere with these sacred rights of the Companies has met with their strongest op- positioni The railwaymen must press for in- dustrial control as the essential to freed om, free f rom the trammels of the autocracy of officialdom and railway magnates. We must insist upoo having a say how our lives shall be determined and the right to determine the way we shall work. THE COMPANIES CAMOUFLAGE. I Ihe laff ale have been hard pressed to pub- licly defend their action in their interference with "Civic Rights," so they have said if effect "• that whilst we would be willing to grant you leave, the men object to work the extra hours entailed to meet the position. This is the k-inct of plea regaled out to the Press in justifica- tion of their attitude. They posed as angels of I light and the paragons of virtue and innocence. They have by implication accused me, that whilst advocating eight hours, [ required others to work 12 hours. For a considerable period right up to the time I was dismissed, T had beeO working 12 hours duty myself winding up aD the last night with a continuous duty" of 14t hours, to which I sent in a written protest to the company. Fully 85 per cent, of the signal cabins on the Tatf Vale are on 12 hours at the moment to facilitate leave for holidays, the turD of dllty being distributed between two men tv j enable the third to get off. Cabins in some cases are working 15 and 16 hours duty and only last week similar instances occurred. It ha» been a growing scandal on this system for sonle time, and is well known amongst the men, aDd to which strong protest has been made against what is nothing mare than a form of white slavery. The Company have been repeatedly ap- pealed to upon the matter and to which they have made ro response. The high technical n?' I' ture of signalmen's duties, require a sumciet? number of trained men to meet the occasion of leave, i/fetead of which we have oue man ta every hundred, hence, the reason why men are I placed on extra hours of duty to enable leave to I be granted. VITAL PRINCIPLE. I the tacts cited are sufficient proof of the Cow- ( panics' insincerity in their professed concern for their employees. The action of the CompaU1 was a deliberate attempt to restrict the activi- ties of its employees to participate in public work in the Labour Movement. This was clearly revealed by the fact of the admission made by the Superintendent at the interview, when I l-e minded him of his promise following a previous refusal when attending to business in connec- tion with our Union, when he told me to infornj him on the occasion of any future refusal. cited this instance and his previous promise, to which he replied Yes, but that was in con- nection with the N.U.R." Whilst I was on the KC. of the N.U.R. they were a bit cautious, but seemingly they don't care much for the Libotllr Party which cuts across their political class- prejudices. Nor can we expect the Government to be adverse to actions of this kind. I refused to acquiesce in the Company's policy and took the only course that, it appeared in my judg- ment, T was justified in taking, by refusing to accept their refusal of leave on this occasion- Hence the Press talk of French leave" strike, which was but following a precedent in this con- nection similar to Driver Knox's case ou the N.E.R. when he was dismissed for getting drunk so the Company alleged, and the Press called it the right to get drunk strike." The Taff Vale action was but the culmination of a policy which had long been developing, to which there could be no other reply. It raised the vital principle of the rights of citizenship." It remained whether manhood, with its fullest right of free- i dom of soul, freedom of civic rights and freedom f to participate in the exercise of public duties should be sacrificed as a condition of employ- ment. To accept less would make us purel.,ftN automatons to do the bidding of the Company. I refused absolutely to submit to such an intoler- t (Continued at foot of preceding column).