Pioneer

Afterfillerf Trades 4 Labour Council. IMPORTANT HOUSE SHORTAGE DIS- CUSSION. The monthly meeting was held on Tuesday week at the Tillei-y Institute-,lLfj.- J. Kingston presiding. The "Minute Secretary (Mr J. Owen) read .the minutes of the. previous meeting, which were adopted. b, A mandate had been asked for from the so- cieties affiliated for or against forming a local committee to In organising the Peace by Negotiation Campaign. The counting of the votes showed a large majority against taking action. In the correspondence a notice, of motion was read from the Vivian Lodge that in future no honorary members be selected as dele- gates." A second part of the detter asked that the honorary named be asked to .resign.—This aroused a lengthy discussion, the circumstances creating a good deal of fe,(,Iiii, -Eve-ntii,ally it was decided that the points go back to the lodges and societies affiliated. For some time much discussion: has raged around the question of the status and powers of honorary members on the Council; and now, apparently, matters have come to a head. An important factor is that a committee is at work, on a revision of the Constitution of the Council, and their recommendations will soon be brought forward. The Executive; Committee report was then given. Arising out of it, it was decided to obtain for distibution to mefnbers 100 leaflets dealing with the abnormal war profits of the various commercial companies in the Kingdom. A letter was read dealing with the great increase in the number of cheap Asiatic seamen now being: employed in the shipping trade. Strik- ing figures, showing the danger of such a development, were given; and it was resolved to support a resolution of protest. A letter, asking for assistance, was read in connection with the case of the Russian. Political Refugees, now under threat of deportation. The Council were sympathetic, and it was decid- ed to ask the lodges to render assistance. A report was then given from the Rents Act Committee and also of the case at the last Abeirtillery Police Court, in which the Trades Council undertook the defence of a tenant ag- ainst whom an ejectment order was being ap- plied for. The Secretary (Mr W. Bowen) said he was dissatisfied over the proceedings at the Police Court. It was not taken into consideration as to whether or not there were sufficient grounds for the ejectment. Also there had been no op- portunity to get the tenant into- the witness box for his side of the case to be-fully heard. Again, their solicitor's question to the landlord showing that he was a local councillor was dis- missed as irrelevant, so that he was prevented from making the point that the landlord as a councillor must be aware of the impossibility of COURC- i l l or inti%t be a-ware of the im P? h,,? malgist- obtaining a house in the district. The magist- rates cut the proceedings short by asking were the notices in order, and without further con- sideration a notice to clear out in 28 days was given. He asked, in the circumstances of a workman in that district needing a house, was it satisfactory evidence to prove that he could have had a house, to show that he could have bought one? Mr. W, Harris spoke warning the Council to be sure of the cases in which action was taken, and urging that the Council make it well known that they would see that tenants were protected. To show the moral side of the situation, he quoted from the Local Medical Officer's Report, showing there was not a single house idle in the whole of the district. Coun. T. Williams raised several points. Show- ing the state of housing in the neighbourhood, he mentioned the case of a man in urgent need of a house, who was prepared to buy a suitable one. An agreement was partly entered into to purchase for £ 240. The same night an- other man offered zC250 f or the House: but yet another buyer stepped in and paid a deposit bin- ding an agreement to pay E275. In such a state of affairs tenants must be protected, and he mentioned the possibility of the Ratepayers' Association maffing a fight with that Council on the question. Over the Court proceedings it was made clear that the Council was not responsible for tak- ing the case to Court. Coun. T. Williams asked the delegates to give him a mandate on. the question before the Urban District Council of an application by the district schoolmasters for an increase in sala- ries. £ 24 a year rise was being asked for. He pointed out that the maximum in the Aber- tillery district was £ 230. In a list that he gave of surrounding districts the maximum ranged from £ 250 to £ 270. The Council then went into committee.

Glais Notes. I I Military Gross for Glais Officer, Information reached Glais last week that Sec- ond Lieutenant D. Ivor Evans, of the Post Office, Glais, has been awarded the Military Cross. He is serving with the Royal Engineers. Wedding Beils. 1. A wedding, of considerable interest locally, took place last Saturday at St. John's, Cardiff. The Rev. Williams, Vicar of Milford, offi- ciated, assisted by the Rev. J. Davies. curate, St. Paul's, Glais. The contracting parties were Mr A. I1. David, Choirmaster of St. Paul's Church, Glais, also the head of one of the de- partments in the Mond Nickel Works Ciydach; and Miss Williams, Birchgrove, whose father was the late Vicar of Llansamlet. The bride- groom was attended by his brother (Councillor M. E. David)'. The bride was given away by her brother (Mr Trevor Williams. Llandaff). i Improving. We are pleased to be able to report that Mr Edwin Thomas, Cefn Road, is improving in health. He suffered from chronic rheumatism. Mr Thomas is a checkweigher and a prominent in emb e;r of the I. L. P. We also note- that Mr Charles Williams, the local secretary of the N.U.R. is getting out once more. after a very severe illness of many months' duration. I.L.P. Trip to Porthcawl. the first trip of the local branch took place on Sunday, July 23. The members had been 100 ki ng fnvard to this on ting very keenly, and the question had been asked a hundred and one times, "What will the weather beF" But the JClerk of the Weather had been very- kin d for the week previous, and we did not anticipate that lie would turn nasty at the eleventh hour. And our trust was justified^for with the dawn of the.day. the sun began to peep over the hills, and the. party was assured that the Clerk had done, his part well. At 9-15 a.ni. the members began to arrive on the Square—the place of starting—and the question was asked, "Will the conveyance arrive, or will the same trick be played as was played on the party before?" But the Secretary re-assured us that lie had taken care to see that everything was right this time, and just then the char-a-banc was heard ap"- proaching. A sigh of relief went up. and broad smiles appeared on every face. After waiting five minutes for stragglers, the party clambered in loaded, and the signal was given to start. It "was 11 surprise scene for the local patriots to see, a char-a-banc on Sunday. If they could. they would have prevented it. We entered the coun- try as it were, after passing Portal port, the green fields and towering hills. As we passed al- ong amidst the quietness of Nature in its beauty the thoughts of the party were, "Why cannot the world be as such, instead of a plain of Mars?" Porthcawl was reached about 11-30 a.m, and after an hour's walk round dinner was served at 12-45. After the repast well- known hymns were sung, after wirch -the mem- bers departed for their various walks. Tea time arrived and the members sat down in earnest to enjoy the cake and bread and butter. Tea over the party again walked over to the Rest, as the place is called. A paper was then read by the Secretary of the Party on "Home Rule." He treated with the history of the .Irish Par- liament, and showed how the Irish people had been harshly treated; how the population had dwindled under British rule. He showed that the Irish were entitled to Home Rule, and that they could govern themselves better than others could. A retreat was then made towards tfie 1-point of departure, and the homeward journey began. Glais was reached about 11.30 p.m. af- ter a most enjoyable day. Obituary. The death of Mr Isaac Cleman t took place on Wednesday, July 26. He had been ill many years and suffered greatly.——Also the death of Mrs. Trimstone, Nicholas Road. A husband and a small child are left to mourn her loss.

I' Has your name appeared in ouiOW^Dffi Sear1 j lings' Fund listP If not, week. I

The Position of Russian Jews INTERVIEW WITH A FRENCH DEPUTY. Mr Abraham Bezalel, Honorary Secretary of the Foreign Jews' Protection Committee, has obtained an interview with M. Marius Moutet, Depute de la Chambre des Communes, and a member of the Franco-British Inter-Parliament- ary Cbmmittee. M. Moutet championed the cause of the Foreign Jews in France, and on the position of the Foreign Jews in England rep- lied as follows: I can, of course, only express an opinion on this subject in so far as it touches the common interests of France and Great Britain. These interests are many and far-reaching, because the attitude of The British Government may have serious consequences in France in possibly reviving a campaign to which the French Gov- ernment put an end by the application of Lib- eral measures. The question of the compulsory i enlistment of Russian refugees, especially the Jews, was raised by the Nationalist and Anti- Semite party. The refugee population was al- armed and fearful of being forced into special regiments like the Foreign Legion or of being deported to Russia, or interned in concentration camps. I wrote to the Minister and received a reply that he had never entertained any idea of compulsion or threats, but simply wished to ap- peal to the consciences of those who were re- ceiving protection and hospitality in. France, in the hope that they would regard it as their dutv to defend the land of liberty. We pointed out to the Minister of the Interior We pointed out to the that it was not just to compel men who were in the country, not of their own free will and were not admitted to the army because they were political refugees and had no status as citizens. We added that the victims of religi- ious pet-section could not be expected to fight for a liberty they had never known since they had been driven from their own country where their own people were still suffering terribly. They had not acquired the rights of citizens in the country of refuge. And we declared that the agitation seemed to us both dangerous and futile, since it would make us appear to be tak- ing. to persecution for an absolutely insignificant- result. The Jewish Refugees have done their duty, since, on enquiry, we found that 8,060 out of 40.000,. had attempted to enlist, and that more than 3,000 had fought gloriously with the French colours. The exodus of these refugees to other countries would be exploited by the Pro-Germans as the result of Russian influence on France, at a time iv,lien-we are standing as the champions of the rights of nationalities. Instead of procuring equal rights for the Jews from Russia, we should appear to be sacTificing) many of our liberal principles by thus limiting the right of asylum. The Minister accepted our arguments, .and appointed a committee, on which champions of the Jews, such as M. Burkheim, the well- known sociologist and Professor at the Sorbonne were admitted. This comiiiittee. which was composed of men of very high standing, made the report mentioned above, and the Committee came to the conclusion that it was unnecessary to proceed further. » I do not know the position of the Jews in England, but it is surely to our (joinin011 interest. in this question not even to appear to be yield- ing to a 'demand from Russia while she refuses to accept our demand for equal rights for Jews. If we are the champions of the rights of nationality, as I believe we are. and this war is a. war for Liberty, our duty is to do nothing to coerce those who have neither rights nor liberties. We cannot disregard the opinion of neutral countries, and it is clear that they will believe that England is yielding to pressure from Rus- sia. The refugees will say that, after being driven from their country, they found no asy- l^im in the countries in which thev had put their trust. For my own part, I believe entirely in the cause which the Allies are defending by war. I am a soldier; my nearest relatives have fal- len in the field of battle. My country is suffer- ing unjustly, and I should not be doing my duty if I did not ask all who could to support it in the fearful struggle in which we are engaged. I am bound in honour to defend liberty, and I ask all those who share the same ideal? to defend them with me for those who stand in need of them. That is all I could say to the British Gov- ernment if any of its members were to honour me with a, discussion of this important matter."

Socialism in the Rhondda. Last Sunday afternoon, at the Aberystwyth Restaurant, Tonypandy, under the auspices of the Rhondda Socialist Society. an interesting 'lecture was delivered by Comrade Owen Hug- hes. of Pontypridd, 011 "The Life and Labours of Robert Owen." The career of this noted f Welshman was outlined from his birth at New- town. in 1771, until his demise in 1858. His great projects and attempts to solve social problems were dealt with in detail. Owen amass- ed a fortune as a successful cotton spinner, and contact with thinkers like Dr. Percival and Dalton at the Manchester Philosophic Society developed the ideas on which he expended a fortune and strenuously fought for in the teeth of the supporters- of the existing social order. The great success of his infant schools at New Lanark demonstrated the practicability of his methods. The Factory Act of 1819 was passed due mainly to his initiative his desire was that no child between 9 and 18 should work more than 10i hours a day. This the legis- lators altered tolO and 16 years, and the hours 12. Owen spent a large sum on his Lab- our Exchange scheme at Grays Inn Road, Lon- don, in 1832. The year 1834 saw his attempt to n form the workers in one union. The Great, t Consolidated Union of Workers. 1835 was ,thør:,¡[ year Robert Owen began his Socialist movemen encountering considerable opposition. Four yeaJra^ later, at Queenwood, Hants, was begun tIië go.. j. cialist Community. At Roehdale in 1844, started the Co-operative Store movement bv the 28 pioneers at Toad Lane, most of whom were Owenites. Owen also worked hard oil behalf of peace. "L r An interesting discussion., gnsued, Comrades* h()[ Williams, Evans, Jones, the Chairman and otb- ers taking part. All Pioneer xeaders are., invited to these, propaganda, meetings.i:. A■[ > scheme is now being considered; f o,,r -promoting! Socialist unity in the and, oiwtlyjiHg districts, fmnt whioh it is r It

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Retail Food Prices. I J UN!TED KINGDOM AT JULY 1. I 1 COMPARISON WITH JUNE 1. I ,| !^il prices of food on July 1 were hi?ier on June 1 by 1J per cent, says the fi'u of Trade Labour Gazette." Apart from ?oes, however, there was a small net de- ? ln. prices. Old potatoes continued to Rce m py?? the increase during the month  about 30 per cent. In a large number aces n? potatoes had come into general tttortg the working classes by July 1, but Prices of new potatoes are not included am- figures. Although there was very little ange in the price of meat there were a WQmber of fluctuations, many in the na- e-ádjüstments following upon the in- f In prices reported last month. Flour -Jrea were about 5 per cent (id per 3! tlb lespectIvely) lower on July 1 than a earlier. Eggs showed a seasonal rise in a ar&raging nearly 15 per cent, and the f articles included in the returns showed no antial change as compared with June 1. "arisen with a Year Ago. :s COIrlpared with July 1, 1915, retail food ?at. Jn? 1. 1916. showed an average in- ",e f 2 ? of 22 per cent. Potatoes—old potatoes ?h case—?vere moTe than double the price ?..y?ar a?o, aDd sugar was over 50 per *itV higher. The advances recorded in the price I, ?at ranged from 17 per cent for British ribs to 37 per (?ent for frozen breast of rat* /0li, averaging about ?? frozen breast of m?t? R, averag i ng a b out 2?d per Ib. Milk was IwTl ^an a year ago 14? over 20 per cent, the ayerage advance in the prices of other M?tt he average ad vanc?e in the prices of other Utir'l ';s ranged from 10 to 18 per cent, except ??ard bread and flour, which showed but ■f ? C lange in price. iD^Paris°n with July, 1914. rpal'ison with July, 1914. Ole ,"d 1  ?elv va.rv"ing percentage increases re- r&d foi, meat are equivalent to about 6d ifj lb for the better cuts (ribs and legs) and ft  Ib for the inferior cuts. Bacon was 35 ?'" Per cent dearer than in July, 1914, ???h \us 80 per cent dearer on the whole. ?t?oes averaged more than double the price ?.?y, 114; and showed much variation In yri in different places. Granulated sugar re- ?j?dat 5?d per lb on the average, as com- 'f &K W*t1' 2ci per lb in July. 1914. Increases flt 45 to 50 pea' cent are recorded for OUI" bread, cheese and eggs. -Milk and ??'?Were one-third dearer than in July 1914 fent 1 ■ price of margarine was about 17 per •^or- m Tat l 6 t]le country ?? ? i.iid 3-naking Mo \If1g the eounb'}' ,as 8: whole and making rani e ??' the relative importance of the ??n 's articles in working class household ex- "?'e. the average increase in the retail ?)?? of food since the beginning of the war t,0 ? put at. 61 per cent, which is reduced La 7 P?'' cent if the increase in the duties on e.a "Md 4e,diietec1, q D ??"'?s relate to food only, and in esti- ?ti ? the ? creased cost bf living .this per- ient ge per- "'e- nt must not be applied to the total fam- ?PeRdiUirc. but only to that proportion ? ? expended on food. It should be re- ft .?'sd that rants of working class dwellings ot lil,hei, than before the war, tilati(.)u,h many other items of ex- iii(?i,(,a,,icci t, l iev ha-,iL,, not Ldvau- have increased thev have not advan- ?')n the average, so much as food. It may be Ii tl\d the average increase in tc o ?9 t fJ|Lr !u"|Hg\oi' thf working c l asses, taking f^oo d III,, ?of ti classes, taking food,  clot?;j?..?M;l and light and I mIscellaneous ■lfc\ jQditure into consideration, between July, IK. and the p;x-enr time is between 40 and ? cent. disregarding increased taxation and ?ing that the standard of living has not ??cw.l'f?'d in view. of war condition. Ir\jn in May. i\ &1' 1 "1 £ fall (1:7 per cent) was registered in Seucr?i level of food retail prices in Bedm ? g May, according to the returns published ,t6 Prussian official journal "Statistische J?pondenz. As a, result, the percentage J.?ce J\?v. 1914. stood at 116.0 in 'May, as ? 119.8' in April. n.t? ?"st noteworthy change since April was ?.P'?ce of beef, for wIich there came into I ?tio? for the hrst time in May maximum re- ? ?'icc? Jixed at a. level well below that ^$aeYv"°1Sjy obtaining in the uncontrolled retail Cjj ,.On the other hand. meat was so scarce ? .?hn ui May that a system of rationing was y^gtato force similar to that already in opera- (k .,u re,-?ai-(-I,s flour, butter, sugar and «!xr *s. According to the Vossiche Zeitung," ?a,y 21.. the weekly ration per person had jj Wen nxed at a maximum of ?lb of fresh ? or fresh fat, or of both combined. ,'61na in May. further rise of over 4 per cent, in retail 0t1 prices in Vicnna is shown by the figures r the month of Mav published ih the official nUia] Warenpreisberichte. the general level g thus brought up to 128 per cent above 01 July. 1914. (In the returns for May Price is given for rice, the article being ap- "ltl,- no longer procurable in V ienna. But Slts omission, and assuming the price not to tllt changed since April, the general index of the rise since July, 1914, would. fceen 131 per cent.). No data are avail- oe as to the relative importance of the vari- a, oods in household consumption in Vienna. computing the general index number it is I1W' that the same standard exists there as, ^Berlin. • j^Qiupared with the preceding monffi, seven ijj^'es out of the 15 increased in price —the |>(M se being most marked for margarine, 7* and eggs—and 8 remained as in April. [v compared with prices prevailing immediate- >«>, re the war. all articles exespt potatoes* t' e dearer. Sugar had onlv advanced oy IS fof Cent; but on the otiier hand, margarine cost! k- 'bacon an d lar d tole i, times; and beef. pork, bacon and lard, J- three time as much as in July. 1914.. õs an index to the state of food supplies the figures, like those for Berlin, can only be ^Pted with considerable and increasing re- T6. since many of the most essential kinds wpod are no longer sold in a ffee market. Qi, obtainable many but strictlv limited ^tities. 'I it Itly in April. I %??S April there was a decrease of 0.4 per tln the retaH prices of food in Italy, and the S^h^t ei'al level fell slightlv to a point 32.4 per le-el fell s l to a point 32.4 p.er {J above that of Jn!y. 1914. III this case the decrease is only apparent, being due to the fact that the only price l'eturned for potatoes in July, 1914, related \to the new crop. h.

/'NTING SENT TO PRIVATE COMPANIES m, nieang Profit for Individual Owners. When WE do your work, the Profit 1-cornes in the tiOPAGATION OF SOCIALISM AND "PES UNIONISM. ■ Think it O%jer I 1

Tom Richardson, M.P., and the I.L.P. FINE SPEECH AT WEST WALES RALLY. "MORE THAN JUSTIFIED." Comrade Tom Langley made a genial chair- man over the public meeting held recently on the Gilwern Common in connection with the Bally of the Branches of the Mon. I.L.P. Fede- ration. Before introducing the speakers, he mentioned that there were many of our friends not with us who would have liked to be a sympathetic reference which conjured up in many minds the vision of many absent faces who, if present, would have made the gather- ing even more successful than it was. Of the three chief speakers Mrs. Walker (of the W.S.F.), and Tom Richardson, M.P., hardly need any introduction; but the presence of Reg. James, of Risca, did call for some explanation. The, Chairman told how, only on the day before, Reg James had been released from military cus- tody, after having been kept in the army for 11 weeks. He had been court-martialled and sentenced similarly to his fellow resisters, but the authorities had decided that his health made it impossible for him to stand the term of im- prisonment meted out, and he was sent back to a f ter a, fev weeks the military camp; then, after a few detention lie was unexpectedly discharged. All at the Rally wanted to hear a few words from. him. so he had been persuaded to speak. After Comrade Langley's remarks, Reg James was called upon; and, on rising, he received a most rousing reception. He spoke of what the Conscientious Objector had to go through, and save a good picture of what resistance meant— particularly of the ordeal of facing the men of rank and authority in the army. Next he men- tioned the fact of so many men of all sorts and kinds of faith and opinions meeting together as a result of their common determination to re- sist Conscription. Out of them all the I.L.Peers stood out in consequence of the spirit they dis- played. They were, the ones; who put up the most striking ifght—the 'others were not. as a rule, so spirited anil aggressive. The conditions for. Conscientious Objectors were now consider- ably improved. There was now no actual viol- ence- the troubles were the confinement, sleep- ing on boards, sometimes shortage of food and the general inconveniences. The company of friends- he was in had refused every order given them. They would 11 sign for rations, al- though pressed to do so.. As a result they were kept without food for 30 hours. The boys said there were three alternatives—they could be let go, given food, or starved. It was the M.A. who finally gave in. and food was supplied them, although not signed for. Comrade James made a stirring appeal to those outside to do their best for the cause they had at heart. The boys in Wormwood 'Scrtibbs were consoling them- selves with the thought that their comrades who were free were putting up a. fight outside. For themselves thoy had acted resolutely, and had carried a breath of precious, liberty with, them right into the military machine. They would pursue their policy without compromise, not accepting any kind of alternative service offered in order for a bargain to be struck with militarism. They had faith in their fellows outside, prison walls., and were depending on Mrs. Walker spoke next. She said she had lis- tened with special interest -to Reg J!mes' ac- count of his experiences. She had had some ex- perience, and oould 1 estif v to the reliance placed on the friends outside. It seemed in all caselsi that imprisonment only made for strength in the cause, for they were stronger in every way for their fight when, released. Next she referred to Lloyd George and;the Board of Wages and the rate of wages fixed for women. She said in remedying the baid condition's the greatest enemy was the contented slave. The things that had attracted her attention in Wales were touched upon. The Welsh extravagance in coals, com- pared to the way it was bought and sold in London. We piled it on* with shovels; they put it on the fire with sugar-tongs. Then, again, the vast difference in the state, of the children. All of them, apparently, in Wales, were well elothed- even to shoes and stockings. Many other comparatively superior conditions were pointed out. Mrs. Walker then dealt with the need for women having political power. When that came about the first consideration would be the children. She gave figures showing the I t' life, amo,Ti', ?' infants and present' appalling loss of life ainoii^ infants an( the amount of indifference to the fact. one said an epidemic of some kfcd was causing pigs to die at such a rate that a special Govern- ment enquiry would soon be held, a, staff of in- spectors appointed to study the question, and the loss would be prevented by 'some means. It seemed, though, that the deaths of children did not cause any such state of consternation. Other questions dealt with in the speech were those of women labour and the food problem. She mentioned her actual experiences and what she had seen—especially at the Docks in Lon- don. The knowledge women were obtaining would be used in the future against the capital- ists. The Labour women had grown-into a force to be reckoned with, and they would be united with the men in the coming fight. Tom Richardson, M.P., said the T.L..P was to be congratulated on such a representative assembly. He said he was sure the men would not complain when he said he was delighted to see so many women and children enjoying the outing of that day. In the future a larger place would have to be found for women. He mentioned the state of Parliament and politics. For a Labour member the times had been very rough. "What, to him, had been a most .appall- ing fact was the betrayal of the Christian Church. He next spoke of the Conscientious Objectors, and said he believed they were the saviours of the earth, and that in the future the historian would recognise it. (Applause.) The world was not undergoing the present pain because it does not know the good, but because it is suffering from the want of the spirit of obedience. In passing, the position of women and the suggested Registration Bill were dealt with. He ventured to say Parliament had rea- ched low water, and the proposal to have a registration scheme on a military basis, was very unworthy. He would be no party to any exten- sion of the Franchise that woii^d. deny the claims of women. Then he had somethine: to say more particu- larly about the I.L.P. He knew he was speak- ing to the converted therefore, his speech was not an ordinary propaganda one. The represen- tatives in Parliament had very much need of coming in contact with the people of the coun- try. He had come from London not only with the hope of strengthening them, but also to enable him to return cheered and inspired. Civilisation has been passing through a stage that has put to the test movements and places in every part of thought and activity. Revolu- tions have taken place within the last 22 months. Such a testing time has never been experienced before. They were entitled to ask the British public whether the happenings and education of the last 22 months has condemned or vindicated the I.L.P. policy. They were justi- fied in advancing the proposition that they were more than justified. (Applause.) He always read the London Daily News" on Saturdays for the sake of the article by A.G.G. appearing on tha,t day of the week. A. GG., in his articles on the war, had been compelled to pay tribute to the I.L.P. position. (Applause.) He wanted to suggest that the time had come when they were entitled to great success in pursuing their policy. Go forward; strike while the iron is hot. The happenings of the next 12 months will speak with great force. Mr. Richardson went on to show the position of capitalism during the war. It had been more ruthless than before. The advances and profits for many years were shown. Capitalism knows no difference between peace or war — unless that during war its power is greater. The only remedy was in the communal owner- ship of the common means of production. (Ap- plause.) Then, in many ways, the retrogression of the past 22 months was pointed out. In the name, of war everything had been sacri- ficed The proposals of the Paris Economic Conference were denounced Let us as a nation prove our worth by superior intelligence and by the creation of a high standard of life. That is not what the capitalist class wants. They are talking of keeping Germany out of the world's markets, of capturing trade, of Protec- tion. etc. The methods advocated would only give to capitalism a new lease of life. As I.L.Peers we wanted better conditions for the childram, better education, and the best inter- ests of the Democracy looked after. They would not be ruled by dukes and lords. The war had demonstrated that as industrial toilers they must lose many of their narrow ideas. For instance, the miners must have a larger place for their less favoured comrades. Socialism is much bigger than Trades Unionism, and Socialism, in spirit and practice, must dominate. In that connection a great fact was that. at the head of the Miners' Federation was one of the soundest Socialists in Europe. (Loud applause.) It- was a great ray of hope. Thè"-Miners' Federation had brought into one great .Federation the Miners, Railwaymen, and Transportmen. A great debt was owed to Rob- ert Smillie. At the close of the war our policy must be formulated. An ultimatum lllust be presented to the Government. Conscription, for one thing, must he wiped off the Statute. Book. (Hear, hear.) When the end of the war does come, it must find the great Labour movement of this country, with a well-considered policy.. In conclusion, he said, with all the earnestness he was capable of, that this war was not going to be settled bv military conquest. And some- thing more. It had got to be settled around the conference table by intelligence and good sense. Our great work was to try and create that proper public opinion which was necessary. Get the Peace Petition, signed, or work to that end. By so doing a great national service could be rendered. The historian woujd pay this compliment; "that when the storm raged, the I.L.P. stood squarely to all the winds of heaven. They stood maintaining their belief in Internationalism; in peace on earth and goodwill to all men." (Loud applause.)