Pioneer

No Conscription Fellowship To Members, Comi-ades,-Yoii wiil doubtless have observed that there is a strong movement on foot to con- vene another National Convention at the end of November in London. Few of those who were present will forget that memorable gathering, previous to the great fight with militarism in the camps and gaols of this country. We are anxious that the approaching re-union shall not lack any of the fervour and enthusiasm of the last. That can only be secured by careful organisation of our forces in the provinces, as well as in London. With that end in view we are convening another district convention for South Wales (see advertisement in another column). We shall at the above, discuss the future of the Anti-Militarist movement in all its aspects. Now-comrades, let us rally to this conference; let us not lay ourselves open to the charge that we have no further interest in conscription and militarism except in so far as it may prove to concern ourselves. It is not true! Let us prove that accusation to be false. The Militarism which we bate when applied to ourselves we equally hate when it is also applied to others. We ought not, we must not rest until the forces of Militarism are utterly destroyed everywhere. Then only can we be free. « We remain, yours fraternally. MORGAN JONES, Chairman. R. H. LEY, Secretary.

Joy Day of Disabled Men. The first annual outing of the Dowlais and District Branch of the National Association of Discharged Sailors and Soldiers took place on Thursday, September 4th, when a large party of discharged and demobilised men, including nearly sixty totally disabled and incapacitated men—the guests of the day—journeyed to Brecon. Unfavourable weather marked the pro- gress of the journey to Torpantau, but upon reaching Brecon the day brightened consider- ably. The party wa.s received at the historic George Hotel by representatives of the Brecon Branch, and after a preliminary survey of the town, returned for dinner. During the day a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Vicar of Cyfarthfa (Rev. E. R. Davies), Mr. Burr, and all other subscribers for their generous and timely consideration in assisting to give a free outing to these disabled heroes. After tea, the party was entertained, songs land other musical items being contributed by several members from each branch, the singing of the National Anthem fringing an exceedingly enjoyable day to a close. After a rousing send-off from the Brecon members the party entrained and reached Dow- lais at 10 p.m. Great praise and credit are due to Mr. A. Evans, the secretary for the outing. He worked hard and unceasingly to make the day a success. His efforts were amply rewarded.

The Rake's Progress. THE Rake's Progress of the British Government increasingly assumes the family likeness of those old, hideous lithographic pictures that dis- played the progressive wreckage Of the human life from the unrestrained selfishness of an un- disciplined child to the final last dread deed of nauseous murder committed in the last stages of debauchery. It is an edifying parallel for the British citizen to contemplate in these days that clamour for solid statesmanship. And the trouble is that the comparison is rather disreputable to the old artists of the days of hansome cabs and bell-bottomed trousers. There was a limit to the descent that they sketched, and a strong pre- sumption of justice in the officers who bore down upon their fabled rake. To the descent of the Government there is no limit. No path is ton monstrous for it to tread. Elected on lies, it has existed by the abrogation of every principle of honour, and by the suspension of every consti- tutional practice that in the past has safe- guarded the British people from the excesses of dissolute oligarchs. To-day its Premier, faced with the most stupendous calls to single-minded devotion to the nation's crying needs, pauses to engage in invective against an American journal- ist, who at all events gave one earnest of his sincerity by resigning from his position when the tusk he was given to accomplish was quietly buried, to the lasting damage of the whole world, in the interests of high politics. The furore against Bullitt may serve to tickle the ears of a politically unintelligent populaee-^a populace that Is 'that is unable to discriminate between the fine shades of technical definition that dif- ferentiates truth from falsehood in the cham- bers of the mighty, but the Premier who stoops to such depths in face of the greater calls of the times has for ever labelled himself as unfitted for the grave charges that those times have laid upon his office. Whether Bullitt has kept to the cold letter of truth, or has slipped personal touches of colouration into his story or not, affects the substantial veracity of his indict- ment of the Paris capitalistic thieves' kitchen not one whit. It is not he alone that tells of chances to conclude an honourable peace with Russia deliberately ignored by our self-blazoned statesmen and their fellows of Paris. The Moscow wireless has told the same story, the ministers of the Russian Soviet have repeated the offers unremittingly in the messages that they have succeeded in getting through the lines of blockade the same story is to he inferred plainly in the works of the journalists of America and Britain that have returned from Soviet Russia, and the same conclusion is to be drawn from the unhappy endings to every attempt to open up negotiations. It, was because Russia. conscious of her ultimate triumph, reliant upon the inevitable conquest of her just cause, was prepared to give more than the Allied oppor- tunists had conceived it as possible fbr her to give that Prinkipo collapsed, that the Nansen scheme was baffled, that to-day makes it pos- sible for a British Government to engage in the high-handed practice of kidnapping so reputable a journalist as Mr. Goode, of the Manchester Guardian," presumably because he, too, bears an offer from Soviet Russia. which it would be inconvenient that the Brieish public should hear of. The need is not for the technical proof that Bullitt or Lloyd George tells lies. We have had proof enough, without any new evidence, of the latter's irresponsibility for verbal accuracy. The need is essentially for an honest administration, concerned only for the solution of the world's cri- tical problems. How that is to be done is in- finitely a greater responsibility than deter- mining between the verba l accuracy of Cabinet Ministers or journalists, and how it is to be ac- complished, is a problem from which mere con- victions of double dealing and lying is excluded, for those convictions have been proved and re- proved countless times during the course of the present year. The truth is that the ministers and their bed-fellows of Paris stand face to face with Revolution the world over, and with that knowledge in their minds they are impervious to the restraints and checks that would suffice to curb them in more settled times. A big coup, they opine, might present an alternative to what looks inevitable even to their purblind eyes, and so they take gamblers' chances in reckless plunges. And plunge they will until they are forcibly moved-as moved they will have to be constitutionally, or by force.

Appeal from Clara Zetkin. I Clara Zetkin, next to Rosa Luxemburg the most active woman anti-militarist among the German Socialists, lia-s sent out the following appeal:— APPEAL TO THE SOCIALIST WOMEN OF I ALL LANDS. COMRADES! The difficulties of communication, and the like, which, as an accompaniment of the war, made, communition between the women of the Socialist movement in various lands difficult or impossible, are not yet entirely past. But already travel is easier, and the time seems to be near when nothing will further hinder the unhampered meeting of the comrades of the various coun- tries. Comrades, sisters, we must be prepared to utilise the situation. The old relations must be strengthened, new and still firmer bonds must be created between the women of the Socialist movement of all countries. More work, more struggle for the realisation of Socialism must be our solution. Unity of work and struggle! Events call to us. The world-revolution of the proletariat has begun. Ceaselessly it continues its progress. To us women it brings social eman- cipation, but it also has need of us. Let us group ourselves, more consciously, more reso- lutely, and more eager for sacrifice than ever before, around the red banner. Comrades, a. meeting of the leading women of the Socialist movement in all lands is a demon- strable necessity. The international conference, so long postponed under pressure of external events, must soon be held. The proposals in re- gard to the order of the day have for a long time been known to you. In view of the split in the camp of international Socialism, I do not con- sider it advisable. to hold the international women's conference in connection with a general Socialist congress. It must be independent, taking its stand firmly on the ground of inter- national Socialism. As the country for the con- ference I propose Switzerland, and the time, the end of Septem ber or the beginning of Octo- her. I beg that proposals as to the time and place be sent to me soon. Comrades, sisters, prove that the Women's Socialist Ititet-national lives and is at work, that it will act with vigour and determination. For- ward to work and struggle Long live interna- tional Socialism! With Socialist greetings (Signed), KLARA ZETKIN,

South Wales Steel Dispute SKILLED TRADESMEN REJECT EMPLOYERS' OFFER, There appears to be no prospect of an early settlement of the strike of the skilled tradesmen in the South Wales Steel Industry. The Ministry of Labour Conference, which the associated employers and workmen attended in London proved abortive. The offer of the employers was declined by the tradesmen at subsequent mass meetings. The meeting of the Dowlais section further de- cided to a-ppeal to the other workers in the steel industry to show their sympathy by a down tools" action. The conference took place a.t Montague House, London, on Wednesday. The proceedings lasted from 11 a.m. to 8.30 p.m. Eventually the owners made this offer as a temporary arrangement for a resumption of work pending the sitting of the Court of Arbi- tration :— Dowlais, Cyfarthfa, Ebbw Yale, and Tredegar Works.—An increase of 5s. per week to the weekly earnings under the present district rates for six days of 57 hours, viz.: Increasing the earnings from t: ISs, :3d. to £ 4 3s. 3d. Dowlais-Cardiff Works. Cardiff.—The district earnings for similar men in Cardiff City are. at present t: l!)s. 10d., so that with the addition of 5s. per week the men at the Dowlais-Cardiff Works would be receivjng t-1- 4^. 10d. for a six- day week of 47 hours. The employer- were also agreeable to the skilled tradesmen continuing under the sliding scale until the difference could be submitted to an independent Court of Arbitration. That would mean that the skilled tradesmen at the Dowlais, Cyfarthfa. Ebbw Wale, and Tredegar Work- would be earning in a normal week of six days of 47 hours £ 3 1S<. 7< plus the privilege of cheap coal. The workmen's representatives would not en- tertain the idea of continuing under the sliding scale, and the offer of 5s. per week increa.se on the district rates was the alternative offer of the employers. The offer of 5s. per week advance applies to men who now rtK-eive at the Dowlais. Ebbw Yak, Cyfarthfa and Tredegar Works a standard rate under the sliding scale of 32s. per week. and at the Dowlais-Cardiff Works a stan- dard rate of 33s. per week, also to men whose standard rates are less or more, and whose no- tice to terminate the sliding scale agreement ex- pired on the 30th June last, i.e., members of the United Skilled Tradesmen's Unions. On the 32s. per week and 33s. per week standard there is a percentage of IG01. a net bonus in lieu of the Churchill 12i per cent., of Is. 3d. per shift, and a not rati- bonus of lOd. per shift with a maxi- mum in the latter case of 5s. per week. The terms offered by the employers would operate from the day of resumption of work pending the decision of the Arbitration Court. No cheap coa l would be supplied under the terms of the offer of 5s. per week net. added to the dis- trict earnings. Further than this offer the employers declined to go. The reply of the workers' representatives was: Havins: carefully considered the statement sub- mitted by the iron and steel makers association, which embodies the same terms offered and re- jected on Jtijie, 2,5tlh. we regret- that the em- ployers have not availed themselves of the good offices afforded by the Ministry of Labour by making an offer which would have received the serious consideration of the Union representa- tives, and if reasonable would have justified the recommendation of them for acceptance. The counter-proposal of the workmen wa.s:- We agree to reeom mend an immediate resump- tion of work on a. basis of a pro tern agreement of £4 12s. Gel. a week of 47 hours, the same to be without prejudice to existing conditions, and future conferences for the setting np of basis ra.tes applicable to the several .crafts comprising ,tl)plicible to tlik- (-t-tifts compl-s The employers replied that they could not agree to this offer. —————————————-—-———————————————-

for being asleep below ground. Here was a man," exclaimed the prosecuting solicitor, drawing money for sleppillg Peter Hall com- m Ittk-kl this crime and was fined !2. The Duke of Northumberland commits it every night—and is considered one of the pillars of society. Whether asleep or awake he never ceases to draw money from his mines. THE BROTHERHOOD CONGRESS. An International Brotherhood Congress is meeting in London this week. It is claimed that there are 2.000 Brotherhood meetings held in this country every Sunday afternoon, and similar movements are to he found in America. France, Canada, South Africa, Japan, China, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, and other coun- tries. Ten years ago it seemed that this move- ment might become a real force in the world— bearing a similar relation to the churches as the Labour movement did to the old political parties,—but it failed lamentably to stand for brotherhood during the war, and even before that it had begun, in this country, at least, to lose contact with the really vital forces of pro- gress. The programme of the present Congress illustrates its failure in this respect. There is only one Labour speaker, Mr. Arthur Henderson. Who can deny that it is in the La.bour movement that the main stream of advance is now flowing Yet the Brotherhood move- ment, claiming to be the democratic expression of religion, is content with Mr. Lloyd George, Sir Thoma.s Barlow, Dr. Clifford, Prof. Gilbert Murray, Lord Robert Cecil, Sir Harry Johnston, and Mr. J. A. Spender—some of them excellent persons, but not one of them a representative of the great new forces of life and liberty. ALL PACIFISTS NOW! Some of the speeches delivered in connection Sollie of tile. spc,,o amusing .it,h this conf*ereii(-e areI -tniusiilg w h en coiiti-agto d wit l i by t l ie ,same speakers during the war. Xo one was a <T;eater wa.r enthusiast than the Bishop of London. But listen to him now! "It may," he said on Sunday, have been a necessary evolution that the 6,000 years of recorded human history should have been one long story of cruel and murderous wars, but it never by any possibility could have been the ultimate will of God. Those who say that war is a necessity in human life, how- s l v, do, I be l lei,e, ever unconsciously, do, I believe, blaspheme God." He proceeded to say that the Church had failed to stop the war because it is divided into different communions. But did any of these communions, except the Quakers, show any de- sire to stop the war? Dr. Oliffprd, who led the Free Churches in supporting the war, spoke in a similar way. A new consciousness has en- tered the soul of the world," he said. Brother- hood is on the march. Even the churches are developing an international spirit." Yet he went on to speak of the Covenant of the League of Nations as "on the whole a marvel of justice, generosity, and statesmanship The interna- tional spirit of the Churches must find more in- telligent expression than that if it is to become of much service to the world.

I Our London Letter I I By Our Special London Correspondent- I A FENNER BROCKWAY. I A GENERAL ELECTION? I Political opinion here strongly inclines to tltf view that. we are heading straight towards a General Election. Added to the growing unpf pularity of the Government for its extravagance, its Russian policy, its Irish coercion, and its en- tire failure to redeem its election pledges by hold social- measures. there is the sei-lotis blo^ to Mr. Lloyd George's prestige occasioned by the Bullit exposure, the threat of Direct ActioO by the Trades Congress, and the evident clivil sion in the Cabinet between the Premier and the Geddes brothers, on the one hand, and Mr- Churchill, Air. Bonar Law, and Mr. Chamber- lain, on the other. f think it likely that Mr- Lloyd George will break with the opposite party in the Cabinet very soon and that he will appeal to the country on the lines of his rhetorical con- tribution to the Future. But surely the country wifl not again be taken in with high-sounding phrases which Mr. George's history prore mean—nothing. THE TRADES CONCRESS. I It has been interesting to watch the proceed- ings of the Trades Union Congress from a dis- t because if variety of papers be read, including the Glas- ow Herald," with its almost i-ei-hatlin report, the proceedings can be reviewed in detail three hundred miles away. One misses something of the psychology of the gathering, perhaps, but one gains something by )wing able calmly to consider what has been said and done unin- fluenced by the excitement of the immediate occasion. DIRECT ACTION CONTROVERSY. I And what is one's conclusion, looking back oil the gathering thus:' It is. [ think, that the controversy on Direct Action, the dominating issue, is left after this first round with honours even. Smiilie and Hodges and Williams realised that "the psychological moment for Direct Actioll had passed; but it will come again, and they prepared for that moment. When this fact is it mind, the policy they adopted is seeU to have been masterly. Having secured the cen- sure of the Parliamentary Committee for its re- fusal to call a special Congress, they proceeded to attach to every resolution dealing with a ques' tion of first-rate importance—Mines Nationalisa- tion, Withdrawal from Russia, and Conscription —the addendum that should the Government fail to concede the demand of Labour the Con- gress should be summoned to meet again to con- ider artiou to compel concession. Thus the greatest unity and strength have been secured in making the demand upon the Government, whilst the driving threat of Direct Action in case of refusal remains. DISSAPPOINTMENTS. I The Direct Act, oil controversy so dominated the proceedings that the means often over- shadowed the end. This was particularly the in t-iie. Russia and Conscription debate- The indignation of Labour was scarcely ex- pressed at all once arose the theory of Direct Action was the theme of the principal speeches- it was natural that Hoh Smiilie should take the first opportunity of denyiny Tom Shaw's accu- sat ion that he desired to set up a Soviet systRJ11 hy means of a revol ution of violence and blood- shed, but he lingered on the subject and Clynes the opportunity to deliver in reply the speech on Direct Action which the closure hat. prevented Irim delivering the previous day. level of speaking was very high, but the debate did not fasten the attention of the country upon the Russian question as it should. And wbn was responsible for the ?rave omission from the resolution of any demand for the raising of th? Starvation Blockade agamst Russia and for th? immediate reversal of the policy by which Ko!l* chaT\ and D?nikin :ue bem?: supplied with mun'- ,ions? The mere withdrawal of British troop3 will not satisfy Organised Labour. THE PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE. I Another disappointment was the feebleness of the Parliamentary Committee which has been elected. I don't think it is much better thai1 the last. Trade Union officials have what amounts almost to a rested interests in tilell, posts, and when one of their colleagues i;oi threatened they rally to him loyally. Thu* when it was known that the Miners' Federation intended To vote against certain members of the Parliamentary Committee the rest of the Coil- gress Ja..sÜ)JH:{l to support them—and the m)n?!'S < were <lefeated. I A GRATEFUL COUNTRY. I The unemployment among discharged soldier* continues to be serious, and an official of the Ex-Service Men's Union informs me that it i9 the literal truth that many of them are nolif walking the streets hungry. It is a common idea tht all these men are receiving unemploy- ment allowance, hut the fact is that many hun- I dreds of them are not doing so. A large num- ber, he told me, have for one reason or another thrown up the jobs found for tliei-n-liv tli(, bour Exchanges and consequently havelost their right. to allowances. Often the reason is sheer physical inability to do the work, owing to weakness following upon wounds or disease. The day following this conversation I read the re' port of an inquest upon the body of R. T. Cooke, 34, late private of the South African In- fantry, which had been found in the river Xene at Peterborough. Cooke left the army with it good character and a gratuity of £ 37 10s.. which lasted 17 weeks. On August 27th, he left Leeds, where he had been living, to search for a Job. On August 30th, lie turned up at Peterborough, where he said to a policeman, I've no home, no bed, no money and nothing to eat." He ex- plained that he intended to tramp to London to see if he could get a passage to South Africa. He proceeded to Huntingdon, but, finding him- self penniless, returned to Peterbordugh, where the Pensions Committee explained that they had no power to do anything for him. A few days later his lifeless body was found in the Nene. The assistant secretary of the Pensions Commit- tee gave evidence at the inquest that Cooke's was not an isolated case. Tht^jjoroner returned a verdict of "suicide while o?jt?sound mind." But what else could a man eve of sound mind have done under the same circumstances? Go to a w orhouse, I suppose,—the only home fit for heroes whi(4h this grateful country provides. ) ITHE IMPERTINENT DUKE! Can anything surpass tlio inipei-tiiience of tbo ) Duke of Northumberland ? I invite Mr. Smil- lie to clear out at once and resign the presidency of the Miners' Federation." he said in a speech on Saturday, as the sole means left to him to avoid the contempt of all right thinking men." The Duke seems to imagine that he not only owns the mines, but the miners and their Unl<)n! In the same newspaper which reports this speech a paragraph appears recording the fact that Peter Hall, a miner, was fined L2 at Durham, (Continued at foot of preceding column).