Pioneer

p BARGOED TRADES COUNCIL. a run report ol the liargoed Trades Council meeting is unavoidably held over until next I I

PROPAGANDA, NOT PROFIT, is the motto of the Pictie-c-r Press." If you are alive to the tremendous social improve- ments that the Pay?y the ? Pioneer" rppres?nts I ieii I t'nds for; theu is "om; duty to aH that all our Trades Union, Co-oative, and n  PriiitiTI7" comes to W'nms' Square? Mertnyr. the Home of the Pioneer."

1 Coalfield Non-Unionist settlement. I H 1", By COUNCILLOR JOHN WILLIAMS. i £ Was my pleasure, as well as my pl'iviIe, "to accompany the deputation that waited upon 4ir George Askwith, the Chief Industrial Oom- ?ssione'i-, during the last two weeks, on the T uth "¡ales Coalfield non-unionist trou_pe. :*? matter at present was raised on the notices IS, ^dered by the Merthyr and Dowlais miners. T'hO official attitude of the South Wales Coal- l?ers' Association in this matter is well known ? this district to be that of "rigid non-inter- ''?&ce." On several occasions the matter has "?u submitted by the workmen's representa- 5y '?8 to the coalowners, with the view of att-n?- 1119 at an amicable settlement. The last effort ?.this direction was some twelve months ago, ?ch is quite fresh in our memory. There a glimmer of hope. then, of having the tnatte,r considered but it was wrapped up with conditions that made it impossible. They l'e then suggesting, or rather demanding, "fat the then existing arrangement ba prolonged I .^ing the war, with an additional 10 per cent. Urease in the general wage rate. Neither of these conditions were accepted, and 6 anti-unionist, who believes that the owners prepared to give them the advantages they !lo", enjoy and could be got without the power '-4I1d influence of the organisation, would do Well to compare what was then offered, and What has been obtained and wrenched from theill since. If the organisation has ever justi- its existence it has done so during the past y?t-. This I think, is admitted, -d one would ?oiude that the success scored in itself would whipped non-unionism from the South "? collieries for some time. Still, this, un- '?'tuna.tely, hM not been our experience, and ?tieularly so at collieries w here the manage- ?nt have taken up a hostile attitude. The ?curing of substantial benefits and peaceful ??'suasive measures have failed to induce the' "Comparative few to fulfil their obligations like b:1-en, and whether we liked it nor not, the only, Urs-e open under such circumstances was the Withdrawal of our labour. The Government, through some of its depart- ? "?n? have now thought it time for them to i ^Wfere. They invited the Executive to ?end f deputation to meet them to discuss the trou- [ ??. and days have been spent during the last two NVZ;,I-s to endeavour to effect a settlement. fj6 may be certain that the owners, who were '?40 invited to be present, did not hesitate to f\l'nl the authorities of their attitude and e-I ? '??Q, and their reasons for it. From our side ? t Was made quite clear that we had exhausted 1?' peaceful methods, and had no alternative to withdraw our labour unless the defaulters ?e cleared out. It is war time. We realise Ahat' Trade Unions all over the country have, -the time, set aside several customs and ?.?tices which governed and maintained the ?Sic?cy of their organisations. The coalowners ?Sht t" do likewise, and would do so if they ? a real desire to avert thœe calamities in this national danger, without even being asked, '?this they will not do, evidently, until they if6 compelled. j?? ?'!ng the negotiations there was considera-  IUtm:changing of proposals. Amongst the ?"?? remarkable was the ona made by them to kded'let all contributions and entrance fees due t 6, Lile organisation from the workmen's wages. >V thinking Fatlerationist will agree that ti I I's wrong in principle. We are not out for Jtj*e* to run our organisation. This, I hope, ? wiLi ?Aw?s 14"-o our own business. Uiti- ?telv an arrangement was arrived at, and, ^iVeri'a fair trial, will, I think, accomplish very ??'gcly our purpose. On a careful reading of. "?Hs historic document one will observe that the Downers were lighting every inch of the way three or four important matters, namely, r? abolition of the practice of show cards, the, ?tiiluation of the existing recognised Trade ?t Ilion's the, exclusion from membership of .what Ycol,,Iiory omcia,k, and regular employ- ??t. The first two are rather important. At dumber of coiiieries the shew cards is a very ^'Pleasant and expensive way of dealing with  '?? troubl, and no one will complain if an '??Sctive alternative can be substituted. The ?iMent, I think, provides this. The owners ?'? that the workmen employed at the ool- j^'ies shall be required to become members; jJ^t they are prepared to co-operate to mmre ..#asfe. it?ult. That they shall intimate this fact ? their workmen. They shall supply eack lodge ?'eta.ry ?ith a. list of all ?heir present em- ¡ °Yecs, a further list every fortnight of aH! -loyf,,d and left. With such an under- ?in? I (;anot see that there ought to be much ?Un]p. i t involves a considerable amount of 0'1'leal work for the secretaries at first, but ftan done there will be a complete list of mem- :rhjp o| all the employees. To deal with the ?Mges "fortnightly will be a comparatively Ij^ail matter. The question naturally arises— ?hat about those w'ho will refuse to join after ,t4e??o formalities are gone throtghP To me ^ere no alternative; it becomes an obligation the owner to dismiss them, and this view is ??pted as an interpretation of the document ? one of the owners whom I have interviewed .? the matter. ?The coltinuation of thexísting separate ji'ade Unions 18 a sore point. It was evident ^•t the owners were out to maintam and pro- t?C-t. these, and have done so right throh. Wh Y' they do this, we don't want to go far ? !m answer. The salvation of the coalfield is ,te 1!mon-from the workmen's point of view. '? the other ha.nd, the coalowners know it is their interest to keep a live these separate ""Unions. Indeed, the., object must be ob- i.?s to the Unions themselves, and this has demonstrated by the fact that a very 'u'l'ge portion of their membership has come ? '?' itfo the -Federation; in some instances, ? ?e IodWi of them. Under this arrangement Aiin-?P ortiinate, the effect will be a cer- ?? amou-Mt, p'robably a large increase, in this  and will henent by the eS'or? and ?t?ise of others. They are reapRg again ??e ?gy have not sown. It cannot be help-? ltisI' ory repeating itself. The lesson is a '??incing one of the desirability of one or,?Tal ."?tim for the whol? coalfield. Perpetuating ??raM Umons means weakness, the setting of II e oq.;1msatlOn agamst the othcr always suits ?employers. They know this, and I am j oljciT enough to believe that the members and II {Lr' ?f the other existing craft Unions know well. That this matter will have to be ??ht some time there can be no question, but ? ?? ?'el that he pnsel1t JS Not the oppor-  time enter into ? a squabble cf tins kind, to he arrangement is to app?y for the period ij. Wis war. There is quite an accumulation ??pori?.:it. ma??rs ?I?'endy desfgned to last tthe period of bhe war. Everybody, I -'???' ??' ??' ??? the ews of its satisfac- termination. But let us not foraet t? it Is then our home troubles—socially, poli- '? "?y and Industrially—will really begin. The frPtitinion were unanimcuslv agreed to accept document for recommendation to the coal- ?'- The Executive have already agreed to t ?ecommendatior!. and if ?vpn a fair trial, \.i' ?' >ts provisions obsprved m Jetter ??d .spirit. ?!\ir.? fo,?- my own ^^triot. it will go much ??T to solve this question than anything ji^ff aV8 had before. •' i

Stop The War Meeting at Pontardawe. SPREAD OF THE PEACE CAMPAIGN. I A Campaign for Peace was commenced in the Swansea Valley last Sunday evening, when a huge meeting was held at the Pontardawe Pavilion. The hail was packed by the time advertised to commence—nearly 2,000 people w-I ing present. The chairman was Mr. Griff H. Davies, and the speakers were Messrs. Nun Nicholas, J. L. Rees, Tom Jeremiah and Ed- win Thomas (Glais). The meeting started at 7.30, and the Chairman, in a very telling speech, exposed the Military Service Act as a vile piece of Prussianism. He stated that the Tribunals were only a farce, especially the local Tribunal, and he Begretted to say that most of the members were professed Christians. The. speakers, he said, were all local ones, but nevertheless he confidently believed that no one could put the position more clearly than the young men who were on that platform that night. Some of them had appeared before the Tribunal that week, he said, and most of those present knew what kind of a stand they had made. (Cheers.) The first speaker was Mi*. J. L. Rees (Chair- man Tarreni Lodge S.W.M.F.) Mr Rees first of all made clear the position of the miners un- der the Conscription Act. Many of the miners, he said had been given a false impression re- garding attestation and the provisions of the Military Service Act. Some had been given to understand that it was necessary to attest be- fore appealing at the Local and Colliery Tri- bunals. Others had been deluded, and thought that they were safe as regards the Act. He most emphatically stated that min- ers were not safe, as will be manifested in the next few weeks. He then turned his attack on the local Tribunal. By the administration of the Tribunals, he said, and by bullying ,a ? badgering of certain members on the Tribunal, he had come to the conclusion that it would have been far better for the conscientious ob- jectors if the Government had not inserted the Conscience Clause in the Act. The Pontardawe Tribunal, lie said, was composed of hypocrites and traitors to the Labour movement. He gave an instance where one applicant from Oraig- CRfn-Parc a, young lad of 19, who had never appeared before a public audience, and there- fore unable to express himself, was attacked by a so-called La bour man. This man had asked the youngster several questions regarding con-1 science. The applicant naturally failed to ex- press himself, and thereupon Mr. John Ed- wards said, "You have convinced me that you are nothing but a shirker." (Loud cries of: "Shiame.") The speaker then alluded to the growing peace feeling amongst the people. He referred to the rapidly increasing movement in Germany, Led by Dr. Karl Liebkneeht. He said that 20 members of the Reichstag had voted against the war credits, whereas not one had done so in the House of Commons. The anti- annexationists were still far stronger in num- bers and if the pacifist element had grown proportionately in this country, he had no doubts that the duration of the war would be greatly lessened. But one great blunder on the part of a British statesman had consider- ably thrown back this Peaoe movement in Germany. He referred to the speech of Mr., Asquith in reply to the speeches of Mr. Snowden; Mr. Trevelyan and others during the recent Peace debate in Parliament. The statrnents of Mr. Asquith regarding the "crushing of Prus- sianism had had the natural effect of adding more strength to the pro-was* party in Ger- many. In concluding, Mr. Rees appealed to ail present to unite for a common resistance to Conscription and to other forms of Prussianism. They had hitherto fought against each other m sections. The married men sought to avoid Conscription by forcing the single men before them; the attested did the same. "Let us put aside these petty selfish quarrels," he said, "and form into one solid phalanx, not as married or single men, attested or unattested, starred or unstarred—but as working men with one common interest, and fight this big ugly monster Conscription. (Loud applause. ) fl j The next- speaker, Mi-. Tom Jeremiah (Sec., Swansea V alley Anti-Conseription League) re- ferred in unmistakable terms to a firm that naci advised ali its workmen to attest, with the promise to appeal for exemption for each one of tkeni. That week a list of men had been posted up at the works, with the statement that they were the persons whom the firm could spare. These men had placed their trust in the management, and in return they found out that this trust had converted them into Conscripts. He appealed to the workers to have more trust in themselves, and place less in the capitalists. He then made a slashing at- Kick Ol the District Council. A man, he said, from that place had joined the colours at the vcry commencement of the war, and after be- very in the army for eight months was dis- charged as being unfit through an illness I contrasted in camp. This man has received nothing from the War Office, and has had to go on the parish for relief. He has a wife and five small chidren, and this noble looai council has seen fit to grant to them the paltry sum of 14/6 a week. This man, who is unable to work, and not likely to be able to, has got to keep a wife and bring up five little kiddies. This may be called war-time economy. But another action of this Council did away with excuse. A young employee i (assistant clerk), son of a. man in a good- pcsition, enlisted and for this brace act of patriotisII1 he was presented with a grant of 10/- per week. Was this war-time economy? No; this may be eaUed a, recognition of patriot- ism. This Council had appointed a Tribunal un- der the Military Service Act which had been proved to be composed of persons devoid of religious feeling, and persons who were traitors to the Labour movement, and who were anta- gonistic to working class principles. These men had conducted themselves most tyranically towards applicants who endeavoured to state their cases to the best of their ability. B?,?? thank God! they found out that there were¡: certain applicants who were well-fitted to meet them and he was exceedingly amused to wit- ness their dseomfiture when facing these ap- plicants. (Laughter.) Why, he asked, were the local organisations not consulted in. the selec- tion of the Tribunal P Did the public of Pontar- dawe approve of the members sitting on the local Tribunal? (Loud cries of No.") He knew that there were certain persons present who would carry all he and the other speakers had said to their beloved bosses. There was a, difference between a spy in the army and a "creeper in the works. A spy, -when caught, gets shot by the authorities; a creeper," when caught, gets the best iob in the works. (Cheers and laughter.) The next speaker was Mr. Nun Nieholas, who. at the Tribunal, had baffled the members in his case. He gave a very strong address again War and Conscription, but owing to pressure of space, the speech will be held over this week. Next week we will give a full report of his speech at the Clydach meeting, t which will be held at the Globe Cinema, when the speakers at the Pontardawe meeting will again speak. The final speaker was Mr. Edwin Thomas (Glais. checkweigher). Though a man oveir mili- tary age, Mr. Thomas is as fine a fighter as any in the Valley, and his eloquent speech was worthy of anyone considerably younger. He proposed the following resolution:- That this mass meeting of the workers of Pontardawe and district regret the airtitude of Mr. Asquith in his recent speech in the Peace debate, and requests the Government to immediately initiate negotiations for peace. The resolution was put to the meeting, and was carried unanimously, not one voting ag- ainst There were a few reactionaries pre- sent who refrained from voting. Questions were invited, but not one was asked-not even from the brave dissentients. At this meeting a number of Tribunals," the organ of the No-Conscription Fellowship, and Mi*. Matthias, newsagent, gave a number of "Heralds" and" Pioneers" to sell the money to go to the funds of the Swansea Val- ley Branch of the N.C.F. The resolution has been sent to Mr Asquith. Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Macdonald, and Mr. John Williams (the local member.) The campaign is going to continue very strenuously during the next few weeks. On Sunday afternoon a mass meeting will be held at the Hall, Gwaen-cae-gurwen, when the spea- kers will be accompanied by Mr. Guy Aldred, the Anarchist.

MERTHYR. OBITUAKY.-—It is with, deep regret that we have to announce the death of Mrs. Tyler, the beloved wife of Mr. Oliver Tyler, lay minister, Dynevor Street, Merthyr. The deceased lady was 61 ) øa's of age, and was highly respected by a large number of friends and neighbours. She had been suffering for a period of 16 months, during which time she bore her illness with true Christian fortitude; but in spite of the excellent medical and nursing attendance, the end came on Saturday, the 11th inst. She leaves her husband, two sons and a daughter to mourn her loss, and with whom great sympa- thy is felt. The mournful cortege left for Cefn Cemetery on Wednesday (the 15th inst.). The obsequies were conducted by the Rev. W. P. Stonier (Ainon) assisted by Mi*. Idris Wil- liams (of Pontypridd Preparatory School). The chief mourners were:— Mr. Oliver Tyler (hus- band) Mr. Alfred Tyler and Mrs. Tyler, Bai- goed (son and daughter-in-law); Nh-. .and Mrs. Hird, Mountain Ash (daughter and son-in-law)'; Mrs. Price (Beaufort); Mr. S. Dorrington and 1\ Whittingham (Blaenavon); Mrs. Williams and Mr. and Mrs. G. Herbert (Merthyr); Mr. Thornev (Dowlais); Mr. T. Evans (Pontiottyn) and Mr. R. Pugh (Merthyr). Mrs. Tyler's sec- ond son (Ernest) is at present somewhere in France with the 1st Welsh. When war was de- clared, he was brought from India with 'his regiment to France. Since then he has been wounded three times, being brought to Eng- land each time after being wounded, and he made his fourth journey to France during the war a month or six weeks ago. Up to the time of writing he is unaware of his mother's death the sad news of which will no doufot af- fect hE greatly.

This terrible war is killing a lot of bqsinasses. I Make it a persona4 resolve that the "Pioneer" I shall not bs kilted. • r" It It_ "_II = WHEN REQUIRING | 1 SUITS, COSTUMES, or GENERAL DAPEY 1 J SEND A POST CARD TO Thomas St., S j JOHN BARR j JOHN me BARR28 Thomas St.,  AND A REPRESENTATIVE WILL CALL. j I Cash or Instalment System. | I SUITS and COSTUMES to Measure a Speciality i I i. It .u It .i

Trade Union Notes. I By TRADE UNIONIST. I The non-Unionist problem in the South Wales coalfield has at last been solved; but only temporarily—for the duration of the war only Still it is something—indeed, it is much—that it should have been solved for that period. We shall no% again witness the sorry spectacle of a stoppage of work, which means, as it does. a stoppage of the supply of one of the prime essentials for carrying on the war, viz., coat, owing to the altogether de- spicable non-Unionist. Further, there is a possibility-if not a pro- bability of the arrangement now come to with the employers over this matter being con- tinued after the war. These continual strikes against n011-Unjnists Hiust. of necessity, entail not only loss of wages to the workmen, but considerable loss to the coalowners also. Al- though, as a rule, the stoppage is not of long duration, yet their frequent occurrence must be a source of much anneyance and loss of profits. Having elStabhshwd a system of co-opera- p?rofits. ith their workmen to make such strikes impossible for a given time. the employers may possibly see the wisdom of continuing it not out of any consideration for niie men's organi- sation naturally but for their own persomal gain. I sincerely hope that it may be so; and, l'uther, that the example should be fol- owed in other industries. But I should like to express the need for caution in eoming to any such arrangement, and it is that no privileges now enjoyed should be givett up as a sort of "quid pro quo." The co-operation of the employers must be abso- lutely unconditional, or the workmen had bet- ter be without it. It must not in any way hinder the Federation in the pursuit of its objects, or the employers' co-operation will be too dearly bought. The credit, or aft least, most of the credit of bringing about this arrangement must be given to the Merthyr District of Miners. Al- though many another district was engaged in war with the shirkers, it was the determination shown by the Merthyr District to carry the thing through successfully, even if it involved a stoppage of work, which dfid the trick. Pres- sure was brought to bear on all districts on notice to avoid a stoppage—pressure from the S.W.M.F. Executive, a.nd pressure from the Government The Merthyr District sent a depu- tation to the Executive to thrash the whole matter out and the direct result of tha,t was* the appointing of a strong deputation from, the Executive to the Board of Trade, and the result of that is the present agreement. All readers of this column. I assume, have seen the particulars of the terms come to they may be read in another column—but the essentia! points are that the employers are to supply a list of the names and addresses of all persons employed, to the secretaries of the various Unions, who will then submit to the management the nam?s of those who are not in union or are in arrears. The manager is then obliged, under the agreement, to inform suah persons that they must join and bring themselves into compliance in the Union. If, in spite of this advice and waruing, any person still remains outside, then he must fee given no- tice to leave his employmewt. There is one other matter that must be noticed here, before mentioning anything else. viz., the position of the engmemen and surface- craftemen. Now it is a. well-known fact that not one in six of these men are in any orga- nisation whatever. A few are members of the S. W.M.F, and the remainder belong to the Enginemen and Stokers' Union. We have for a long time been accustomed to beer the state- ment reiterated that the Enginemen and Sto- kers' Union is a parasite one — living on the back of the South Wales Miners' Federation. The S.W .M.F-. would go to die expense and trouble of fighting some improvement in wages or conditions of fcibour, and having secured something, in would come the Enginemen and Scokers and reap the benefit of such efforts for their own members, in this way avoiding both expense and trouble themselves. This little game of theirs has caused much irritation in the coalfield, and soon this would have been brought to a head. In some collieries stoppages have been already occasioned. But the parasitic Union is going to benefit considerably from the non-Unionist agreement. It wll bring in to the fold of their Union the thousands of non- Unionists among the craftsmen, and thus in- directly perpetuating the bitterness and irrita- tion. When will these people realise that their actions are dishonourable in the highest degree, and join the Federation, which has se- cured them the industrial advantages thuy now enjoy. The Government Committee on Production is acting loyally on the declaration of the Gov- ernment that it is not desirable to further in- crease wages. The Clyde engineers have been refused an advance of 2d. an hour. Man- chester engineers also, and the engineers of Sheffield have been refused an advance by this Committee. The profits of patriotic armament firms may go up, but the workers' wages must not rise in proportion. There has been a stride of the Pendleton Co-operative Society employees, which has re- sulted in some very important points being gained. I do not know much aboirt the merits of the strike,ancl one is loth to efevel! upon a strike which happens inside what may be termed a N-ery important branch of thi) Labour Movement of this country; kut I rejoiep, at the result upon one point in dispute, viz., the wages to be paid to female employees. Many, of course, have been taken on since the out- break of war, and the A.U.C.E. have succeed- ed in this case to secure for these tke same rates of wages as applied to their male em- ployees. Every U nioll in the country should insist upon this principle, or thoy vijll certainly rue it. If they don't, the inevitable result will be to lower the sitendard of living of the whole working class of the country.

SMALL PREPAID ADVERTISEMENTS. One In- Three In- Six In- sertion. sertions. sertions. s. d. s. d. s. d. 20 words 0 6 1 0 1 9 30 words 0 9 1 6 2 9 40 words 1 0 2 0 3 6 50 words 1 3 2 6 4 6 60 words 1 6 3 0 5 6 In all cases the tSrame and Address are counted as part of the Advertisement. These prices apply only to Advertisements ordered for consecutive insertions and which are prepaid. Trade Advertisements are inserted under the Heading Personal" at 9d. per line. All Advertiiementii should be posted to the Office on or before Monday. Medical. 6 4-P AGE BOOK ABOUT HERBS AND HOW TO USE THEM, post free. Send for one. TRIMNELL, Tna HERBALIST, 144 RICHMOND ROAD, CARDIFF, Established 1879. Literary. ITNITARIAN PAMPHLETS on "The Bible," ) Heaven," and "Hell," given post free.-Miss BABMBY. Mount Pleasant, Sidmouth A N Dlucatrve Percentage Book for Miners ?' and Colliery Clerks post free 6d.— E. EVANS, 38 Church Street, Penydarren, Merthyr. M i seel te n e««s A STROLOGY.-Life events, changes, for- A tunate days, business success, matri- mony; two years' future added; send birth date 1/- P.O. Prof. GOULD, "The Nook," Heathfield Road, Cardiff. Found. F OUND.-A PURSE at the Theatre Royal on JL Tuesday, March 14.-Enquire X12, Box Pioneer."

The Electric Theatre. It has seldom been our let to witness a dain- tier and more fascinating production than "Ir- is," which occupied the screen during the ear- lier part of the week. Too- often we find a subject with only one or two principals of note, and the liemaindter of the parts relegated to people with neither talent nor any pretension to good looks. In "Iris," founded on the famous play by Sir Arthur Pinero, we find the world's stars—Alma Taylor, Chrissie White, Violet Hopson Henry Ainley, Stewart Rome, Never before have we witnessed such an array of talent in any picture. Mr. iiowen has had his hands full! in coping with the extraordinary crowds which attended the theatre daily. On Thursday night The Daughter of Dark- ness," a 3-reel subject full of sensation and thrills," was screened. We say without hesi- tation that this film is a gripper, and leaves one wondering what is going to happen next. We see a realistic fire, a iuotor-car actually smashed in front of us by an express tr^u • a liouse blown up bv a bomb; and othe': numerous situations. "A Blot on the Shiehlj) is a 2-part exclusive with a touch of n.'akire in it wMch will certainly please. In addition there is a variety of I ra.ma.s. comics intere.st sub j ects. variety of dramas, comics find interest subjects. On Monday the beautiful Margarita Fischer apoears in Her Hearts Desire." The story is magnificently portrayed in pictures, and the acting of all concerned is superb. Space does not permit an account of this wonderful pic- ture but we say this: it has reached the highest pinnacle in movie work. "The Way of a Mother" is a 2-roe1 exclusive, showing how the love for her bov ruled her life. On Thursday next "Th/j House of a Thous- and Candles" is advertised. The scenes are ckeaans of beauty. The filmed version is taken from the novel and play ray Meredith Nichol- son. It is being shown in CardhT this week for the first time. and the opport-unity io see it here next week should not be missed. WI, may mention that there has been a decided improvement made at the Electric in the seat- ing, which makes it really cosy and comfort- Mr. Bowen's patrons this week have been showering 'upon hini. both as regards to his programmes and the re-seating. Family tickets are now on sale—10 tickets avail- able to reserved seats 1/-) at a price of 7/6. Applications should be made at once: as the enquiries are pouring in. and the supply is only limited.