Pioneer

Coun. Morgan Jones before the Tribunal. IRIBU-NAL REFUSES TO MAKE DECISION PUBLIC. On Thursday, March 23, Councillor Morgan Jones, Bargoed, Chairman of the South Wales Council Against Conscription, and Executive Member of the No-Conscription Fellowship, ap- peared before his "betiters (?) the Gelligaer Tribunal. Tremendous interest was taken in the "ease," and people hailing from all parts of the Rhymney and adjoining Valleys crowded the corridors of the Council Offices long before the proceedings commenced. Sympathisers and others jostled each other in their endeavour to secure "front seats." Evidently they regarded it as a "field day." When the Tribunal arrived at his case, Councillor Jones was summoned to anpear before them, and was courteously asked by the chairman, Mr. E. Richards, J.P., if he desired his case to be taken in public. The reply was. of course, in the affirmative, and the public entered. The room was soon crowded and business began. Applicant claimed abso- lute exemption on two grounds, viz.: Firstly, that as a Socialist and Internationalist he held that all war was wrong as a means of solving international difficulties and disagreements; and secondly, that he was opposed to this war in particular, and held that his country's entry into it was entirely unwarrantable and without justification. He, therefore had a conscientious objection to participation in any of it opera- tions on moral and political grounds. This statement having been read by the Chair- man, Mr. Jones was asked if he had any supple- mentary statement to make. Applicant immediately thanked the Chairman and his fellow-members for kindly allowing him an opportunity to do so. ;rhings now seemed to b? proceeding quite satisfactorily. But not for long! Mr. Jones had hardly uttered his first few challenging sentences in which he firmly declared that he had not come there to crave or to cringe for any favour, but to demand a right, œfoœ the Chairman intervened. They did not desire to hear a speech I Not they! A sharp wrangle now took place between the Chairman a.nd the Councillor as to -whether the statement Mr. Jones desired to make should be made. The supplementary statement must only contain new" facts. For almost a quarter of an hour the contention lasted, neither side being pre- pared to yield. I am trying to convince you" ( declared Mr. Jones) "that my conscientious objection is not a thing of yesterd ay. It is most material to me that I should be able to advance reasons to show that I am not what people generally call a shirker." Again the Chairman impressed upon applicant the necessity of refraining from a, speech. Mr. Jones: Then I may take it that I am not to advance any evidence except answering what you ask me? v Chairman No, that does not necessarily fol- low. This is a court which desires to do its dut-v with impartiality. I must ask you now to confine yourself to replying to questions which members may desire, to tusk you. Mr. Jones: But what if they do not, in their questions, touch upon points I wish to make? The Chairman was incredulous that such could be the case, whereupon applicant said he was not going to take risks. Chairman: There is no question of taking risks, Mr. Jones. May I ask you a fair ques- tion? Mr. Jones: I don't know that you shall, un- less I am allowed to present my case and try to convince the Tribunal that I am by no means a "shirker." I came to my conclusion about war some years ago. And I have a special ob- jection to this war in particular. You, appar- ently are not prepared to hear that case. The Chairman here hinted that he feared Mr. Jones was under a misapprehension about the purpose of some Tribunals if he judged rightly from some speeches he had recently been delivering. At this point, the PIONEER report of Mr. Jones' speech at Merthyr was cli-loted, in which reference was made to Tribu- nals being constituted of commercial travellers, grocers, butchers, etc., whereupon Mr. Jones pertinently asked if such was not the case after all? On the Chairman hinting that applicant had criticised the local Tribunal. Mr. Jones said he had done that on one occasion only, namely at a public meeting at Bargoed the previous Friday, and that as his remarks had not been reported in the Press, the Chairman could only have got such a report by hearsay! Eventually the PIONEER report was disposed of, though one wondered what relevancy it had to the subject of Mr. Jones' conscientious objec- tion to war! Perhaps Tribunals have become sacrosanct, too. Eventuality. Mr Jones again continued with his statement, saying, I bold that our entry into this war was entirely unwarrantable. Here the Chairman agaim interposed, and airain asked applicant not to make a speech.— Mr Jones retorted "I must formally protest against the way in which you have treated my opening remarks—(hear, hear)-and I shall make that a ground of appeal if I fail." The Chairman finally observed that the Tri- bunal had treated him with every toleration. He added: "You have told us you have sub- mitted always to the laws of the land, and I feel sure you will be prepared to submit to the same proced ure in this court."—Questions now began. Coun. W. J. Giles: Are you prepared, Mr. Jones, to bring this war to a successful is- sue?—Mr Jones- Absolutely nothing. I regret it very much, but I cannot do it. I cannot al- low the law of the land to distate to me whether I should or should not take the lives of other people, or even help to do it. Ooun. Giles: If you knew a man had com- mitted murder, would you hand him over to the authorities?—Mr. Jones: Yes. I would. Mr. Giles: But that would be helping to take life, would It not?—Mr. Jones: I have never subscribed to the legal penalty of death even for mjjrder. Mr. D. M. Yorwerth (Military Representat- ive) What is your definition of a shirker, Mr. Tonc-s: Welt, I a,frai,d I am not an authority on that point. (Laughter.) Chairman Order, please Mr. Yorwerth I aim not one as well as you; but will von give us your definitionPMr. Jones: Well it's a bit difficult to answer at once, rout I should say a shirker is a person who know- ingly and willingly, and of his own accord, av- oids doing what he knows to Be his duty. Mr. Yorwerth: I am pleased to say I con- sider you are not a shirker. (Hea.r, hear.) At this point the Military Representative made public an interesting piece of news. He related a private conversation he had had with Mr. Jones. Having sent for him at the begin- ning of the war, after tile enlistment of Mr. Gill, of Abertiilery, he had inquired whether Jones had any objection to joining the forces, intimating that if he, could find it pos- sible to do so, he (JMr. Jowett) would use his influence, which he thought would be sufficient to obtain a commission for him. This Mr. Jones had definitolv an d firmly declined. Six months later he sent for him again (in the hope, ap, parently, that Coun. Jones might have changed his views), and put the same question. And I again Mr. Jones declined, stating that there was absolutely no change in his views Mr. D. M. Yorwerth: What is your opinion of a young man following an uncertified occu- pation going to a certified occupation in order to avoid coming within the scope of the Tri- bunal?—Mr, Jones: I am afraid I cannot sit in judgment on other people. (Applause.) -But you must tave ajx opinion on the point? I have-, but candidly I cannot express it here.-You are afraid?—I am afraid of no one. I merely don u think I am called upon to do it here. Mr Yorwerth Would you help a wounded soldier ?—With pleasure if I could. but I cannot join the R.A.M.C., because it is apart of the military machine—the machine of war. Mr. Yo-,var-Oh: You are not prepared to do anything ?-I regret very much I cannot do so. Asked by Mr Walter Lewis (miners' agent) if he did not agree that some Socialists had participated in the war, applicant said that, unfortunately, that was so. But he did not mean to give the impression that it was a fixed belief of Socialists to be against serving in the war. It was, however. his interpretation of Socialism, and he believed, holding the Socialist views he did, that he ought to act as he had acted. Asked how he developed his present convic- tions, Mr. Jones proudly attributed it to his parents, the early training he received in deep moral principles, and to his having been taught to respect all life. He did his best to loyally abide by that.—Asked if his parents taught him that on political grounds, Mr. Jones readily con- fessed that that was not so. It was on religious grounds. Mr. D. M. Yorwerth inquired what Mr, Jones would do if a German Socialist hit him or his friend dQwn ?-Mr Jones: If I saw even a Ge.rman Socialist attacking; an "ntimate friend of mine. I frankly confess t here is every possi- bility of my being turned into a beast but in mv calm moments I don't do that sort of thing Applicant was then asked if he meant that the four million wldiers who had enlisted were beasts, and he replied that he did not. But he did hold that it was not possible for them to do the deeds that are done in war when in possession of complete self-control. Asked by Mr. Walter Lewis if he would be prepared to win industrial struggles at the loss of life, Mr. Jones promptly repdied, r< I ask people to act, not through strikes, but through the ballot boxes." (Appli-tise.) On being requested to give the political grounds of his objection to the present war, Mr. Jones said that he attributed it to a. set of circumstances which had been made possible by the prosecution of a number of years of wrong head diplomacy, conducted behind closed doors. We had been dragegd into it by a, fatal policy •; understanding alliances agreements the true import of which people knew nothing about, be- cause their very existence was denied by our leading men. particularly Sir Edward Grey. The people had not all the facte before them, when war broke out. Asked by Mr. Lewis whether this country or Germany were the aggressors, Mr. Jones re- plied. "So far as actual aggression in the mat- ter of arms is concerned, as between Germany any oureeelves, Germany was the aggressor." But Mr. Jones added significantly that our own White Paper showed .that Sir Edward Grey had pledged his word to the .French Minister that we would attack the German fleet if it ventured into the North Sea—-and that promise was made before Belgium was even touched! (Applause.) Here a policeman shouted "Order!" where- upon Mr. Jones observed to the Chairman that he was sorry to see the Tribunal partaking so much of the aspect of a. police court. He res- pectfully suggested that- that was in no sense a police court, and therefore the ofifcer had no business to interfere. He did not object to his presence as a member of the public, but as an officer. (Somehow the policeman disappeared.) At this point the Chairman took up the cudgels and opened by asking applicant at what point he would set the limit to the State's power to over-ride conscience.—Mr. Jones replied that that was a difficult matter to decide. So far as he was concerned, he certainly denied the right of the State to compel men to over-ride moral laws. Asked whether he believed in the Conscrip- tion of wealth. Mi*. Jones replied that he cer- tainly did, and had preached that long before the war began. He regarded the wealth winch these men called their own" as being in real- ity the property of the State, and he demanded Its conscription in the interests of the State for the maintenance of life, and not for its dest- ruction But he would point out that though he had often in the past advocated Conscrip- tion of wealth, and much as he believed in it, he was not prepared to accept even that as a sort of bribe to induce him, to accept tion for military ends. A long argument then ensued in respect to the action of the German Socialists voting for the war credits.—The Chairman read from a document which reported the Socialists to have voted such credits unanimously.—This Coun. Jones promptly denied, and sand Liebknecht, for one, had never voted for them. Much point was made about the famous Con- gress where the German comrades declined to vote for tke International strike motion, but this again was demolished bv Mr. Jones, who said: "I know a little more than that about it. The Germans knew well that if once they voted for that motion the German Militarist Government would immediately dub their Trade Unions political organisations and would imme- ditely suppress them, and "acfiou Ike that. added the Councillor significantly "is typical of militarist control everywhere. Trade Union rights soon disappear where they reign .sup- reme. Space will not permit of our publishing all the questions put to Conn. Jones. Suffice it to say that he was called upon to answer interro- gations about all manner of things, sowie of which had no possible connection with the mat- ter of his application. His examination lasted for nearly an hour and a half, and during the whole of the time he was listened to with rapt attention by the crowded audience. Sometimes they broke forth into generous applause, which was quickly recovered. The most intense interest was taken in Coun. Jones' reply to the last question put by the Chairman, who said: Mr. Jones, I suppose you will agree that the real test of a, man's conscience is the amount of sacrifice he is pre- pared to make in its defence. I ask you, there- fore with every respect and with every regard to your conscience since you object to minority rule, and since you aire not prepared to contri- bute to the defence of your country in a time of war, I ask you what sacrifice you are pre- pared to make for your conscience." Mr. Jones rose, and, amid a silence which was almost painful, replied: Let me first controvert, sir, the first part of your statement: that I am against majority rule. The majority were never consulted about this war. Regarding the other part of the question, I say it with res- pect and without flippancy at a.H, with no desire- to shout it from the housetops if, as. a. conse- quence ,i)f my holding my present views, and a,biding by what my conscience dictates, I am called upon to give up my own life, I am pre- pared that that shall be taken." A curious incident then took place. Up to then the Tribunal had nev we understand retired to consider any verdict. In some oases that, of course, had been unnecessary since the oases had been heard in private. But the majority, If llot all, decisions respecting Con- scientioHS Oo^ections had been taken in "open court." The Chairman announced that the Tri- bunal would l etire to consider Mr. Jones' case, whereupon applicant said he was quite willing to retire himself as the others had done. But the gentlemen preferred to retire. They did not wish to trouble the public. They took quite a long time to return with their verdict, and when they did return, they would not make it public. Officialism, .indeed, d;e,s laard! Ooun. Jones, we understand, obtained ex- emption from combatant scrvise only, against which he proposes to appeal to the County Tribunal.

Aberdare Tribunal Revise Their Decision. Mr John Thomas, B.A., of Trecynon, was later inf ormed by Mr. C. K^nshole, Chairman of the Tribunal, that as a result of instruc- tions from the Local Government Board, the Tribunal have decided to grant him exemption from all military duties, both combatant and non-combatant, providing the Local Tribunal are satisfied that he is doing work of national importance. The Tribunal will know in about a fortnight from a Special Advisory Committee appointed whether the occupation Mr. Thomas is now engaged in is to be considered of na, tional importance. Mr. Thomals then withdrew his notice of appeal against the Tribunal's original decision of exemption from combatant service only.

PRINTING SENT TO PRIVATE COMPANIES means Profit for Individual Owners. When WE do your work, the Profit comes in the PROPAGATION OF SOCIALISM AND

I Merthyr Guardians Angry. I AUDITOR'S "CONTEMPTIBLE" ACTION Mem bers of the Merthyr Board of Guardians on Saturday protested against the action of the district auditor in surcharging some of the members to the total extent of £ 1 13s. on the expenses charged for visiting institutions outside the borough. The Clerk (Mr. F. T. James) int.ima,ted that lie had received a. notice from the auditor with respect to the surcharge, and the Rev. LI. M. Williams (Hector of Dowlais) moved that the Clerk write the Local Government Board point- ing out that the expenses were those sanctioned by the Board for a great number of years. The auditors action was "ungentlemanly and con- temptible." The Clerk mentioned that whereas 10/6 per 1 day was the amount allowed for sustenance the auditor now proposed reducing it to 6/8 per day The Chairman (Mr. John Prowle) said that the tendency of auditors all over the country to- day was to undermine the prestige of represen- tatives of public bodies. They want to get it all into the hands of officialism," he added, out God help the poor and the ratepayers whenever that happens." Mrs, A. N. Jenkins remarked that the auditor was "heaping indignities upon us. and it was really contemptible." She would not take the least notice of the surcharge on her, and if the auditor summoned her to attend before him she would not appear. Mr. T. T. Jenkins (Abercanaid) suggested leaving the matter alone. Let the auditor take his own course, and when the auditor's re- port was received, then the Clerk could pre- sent it to the Board. He moved that that course be adopted. Mr. Metli Davies seconded, remarking that the auditor is playing with us like a child." Rev. LI. M. Williams: Before we can become proper members of the Board of Guardians we must become as little children and be looked upon as little things in the nursery, playing with toys and when we do anything else we must be punished. (Laughter.) I can't stand the indignity and insult heaped on tlie Board, and I am going to resign mv position on every committee of the Board that I sit on as a protest. The auditor can take what action he likes, [ have given enough time and money to the Board during the last few years that I think I am undeserving of the indignity and insult contained in this action. The Ohainman: It is pure tyranny, and no- thing else. But the auditor does not worry me in the least. (Laughter.) Subsequently it was decided to take no ac- tion, but to allow the auditor to take his own course. Later, Mr. T. T. Jenkins gave notice of mo- tion that he would move at the next meeting it the next ii),c-.etilig That m future two or three members of the Board be appointed to be present at the audit." Rev. L1.M. "Williams: He will talk vour head off. (Laiigliter.)

MERTHYR. MERTHYR CENTRAL MISSION ANNIVERSARY. — The anniversary was held on March 23. Rwv. George Byron (Cardiff) preached a most hèlpful sermon in the afternoon. After tea the Com- mittee of the Mission met. Rev. John Hum- phreys presented, a, report of tho uork. it was considered hopeful, The Revs. John Hum- phreys and W. Dockeray were invited to stay another year. In the evening a public meet- ing was held, 'presided over by Mi-. F. Hutch- ins, of Cardiff, who made a most eager, spon- taneous chairman. The Rev. A. J. Southeuse ansvvered the question, "Why does not God interfere in the War," by saying that God always works through men. God would over- come evil, through us. The war had taught ns that we must all do our bit. Several young local preachers had; left his circuit. Ol- der men must do their share in these trying times. Speaking of the drink evil, Mr. South- ouse said that a drinking motherhood was worse for this country than ail the Zeppelins put together. The Rev. George Byron, speak- of I-iiissioi-i work, said he had begun his min- istry among the sliims of Liverpool. tiEd had next worked in the East End of London. (That was at the time of Jack the Ripper's raids.) He beaeveci that the Gospel «otild serve every type of mam. He rejoiced in its power among the poor. He valued most among his treasures gifts of small intrinsic worth given in grateful iove by poor folk. He had sold marble clocks given by well-to-do congregatione. The Rev. John Humphreys gave a financial report. They were aiming at £1001 and he thought the am- omant would be realised. Rev T: Kirkup. of London, spoke of his work among the solders at Aldershot- where there were miles of men in khaki. The whole meeting was inspiring and impressive.

BR^NMAWR TRIBUNAL.The Nantyglo and Blaina Tribu- nal dealt with a few rather insignificant cases 1 at the Council Offices on Tuesday evening Only eight members put in an appearance. The ab- sentees .mcluded the Military Representative Great aimcutly has been experienced when the cases are being discussed of applicants who have accepted the advice, of the Recruiting Officer and appeared before the local recruiting doctor. The certificate of this doctor is regarded as in- sufficient evidence and the applicant has been sent to the Medical Board at Newport. The Court has been adjourned until the Clerk shal have a sufficient number of cases to bring before the body. SNOW STOIIM.-Lilie other districts, this dist- rict has had to suffer from the blizzard of Monday and Tuesday. Pits and schools are closed for the present, and the house coal question is rendered much more complicated on account of the unfavourable weather. Rum- ours of several deaths in the snow are current, but these will be confirmed or denied in next week's report. In one resspqet has the fair of snow showed itself an ally of the Nantyglo people. For months the refuse tip known as Cwm Cracken, has been slowly burning, and t,co,nsequ,entlv an evil smelling unhealthy aimos- phere is carried, hither and thither by the wind. • iYw Percentage of attendances at the neighbouring school is not to be wondered at, while such a public nuisance as this is in ex- istence. At present the odous gases are buried under a few feet of snow. CONCERT AND LECTURE .-Sympathiserm are ad- vised to obtain tickets as early as possible for the benefit concert of Mr. John Fawke on Ap- ril 6 and also for Mr. Ramsay Macdonald's lecture on April 7. Both concert and lecture, will be held at the Market HaR, Brynmawr.

PLEASE MENTION THE PIONEER WHEN ANSWERING ADVERTS.