Pioneer

Political Notes, r. W. Jowett, M.P. [ SEE PAGE 2 I

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Bargoed' s Thanks to Russia. SpLENDlD GATHERING IN THE INSTITUTEI ?ho I.L.P. held its May meeting, this time to i¡ehrate the Russian Revolution, on Sunday w  at the Institute, the New Hall 'being re- C'?d -) to us at the very last moment. If the Allt'-80ci-alists were at the bottom of it, and "M thereby to stop us, they failed again; for Ilutituto Hall was well filled (chairs were ?,1o 119 carried in as I got there), and the litera- lii.6 Sa^es ran to about £ 3 5s. The speakers fkfc'),(3 Miss Minnie Pallister, of Brynmawr, and P- onsonby, Jas. Wimtone, ?" A. Ponsonby, M.P., with Jas. Winstone, NV .F, in the chair. Mr. Winstone quoted ^°yd George, not many years ago, going all ? ?aleH to tell the people that conscience was -? the State; and John Wesley's words, "The .O:rla is my a? and to do good, my reli- ?' ?s Revoltion was only the outward gl1, of an inward change that had been long )??g about. He had himself spoken with a o hour member of the Duma, who was going ]? to Russia, with the certainty that once he ? ? there he would be arrested and sent to la; but he would thereby be serving the i Se' so he went. Winstone concluded by read- in»^he resolution, congratulating the Russians, calling on every government to follow their 411,Ple ? particular by re-establishing indus- ¡ e I, civil, and religious liberty, freedom of eeh and of the press; releasing all political ? religious offenders; abolishing all privileges ?lags, race, or sex; and renouncing all claim ? "'Vexations or indemnities.  Pallistm' seconded. She was astonished kt ??e of the people who sent congratulations nobody had any idea they were so d of liberty, democracy, and revolution. Some tl thought we wanted- reminding that 11] ere was a war on," ?? to that end they ?a?? ? Everybody as miserable as they could; t44h1 ?119 other things, they stopped the accustomed ta.^stmas morning eggs of the children in a cer- !¡¡.11 Workhouse. The only way, it seemed, to re- 1"d them of the war was to deprive them of 4"'es,sarie,s. And those who do so, are they in 4 sitioa to say anything about the treatment W ?elgian children P We were met to cele- (lf8., the establishment, in Russia, of freedom "?f. Peech and of the press, and the liberation of 411 ?° prisoners; the very opposite of Vnn,r^t)vernment did. She, "being a Hn?U11 °?^t Gove"nn) ent did. She, being a qn" ?? therefore having no brains and no ?standjng, couldn't understand why such adl:tlOnS' should be. Do suppression and  ?utlOn ever pay? Two thousand years ago l ? ???rmnent uf the-day was tr?uMfd about ,Ille victims of a disease called conscience, which ?d ~reri a rarer disease then than now; and an ¡ Councillor adviRed them to "let these men ?e, if they are in the wrong, they will come tj-??Ught of themselves; but if they are in the ^t, yoU cannot overcome them, and you will toting against God." But to-day, after tbousand y?ars, governments were not yet ?'?sible as Gamaliel. And in Russia, the Gov- W had been ti-y i .ll(, for, say, the last 200 ???t had been trying for, say, the last 200 (> to crush out its consciencious objectors  ? a very hotbed of them), with the re- 441t J, hif at the Government was overthrown in the ??? "'?on we are now celebrating. Indeed, has had them. The Greeks, 400 B.C., P1,;? tlleiz, best and wisest man (Socrates) to ^tlv because he wouldn't give up teaching that %? y didn't approve of; and so they accused him Cupting the youth of the city. Then, in ^jVv s time, there was a great fii?e in Rome, and !ai? ?'?s accused of having set fire to it, so he ? ? Mame on the Christians, and had num- Ks # them tortured to death. Then, in Scot- %<1 when the English Government tried to 10 re^8um on them that they didn't believe  of them laid down their lives rather i4 ?:1 'L%nt; and they, and their fellow martyrs li6,, gland won for us, with their blood, the ??? we have wantonly flung away, but \t() cb the Russians have now just gained. Are we ??e'Pal-E?d to go as far as the Russians? It is t:Englshl1la's peculiar arrogance, to preach W4t lle is afraid to practise. The Japanese were ii1q) rell?ed by the preaching of the missionaires QÆsInd o?t to the heathen," that they sari- ll:tti'J thought of adopting Christianity as their ?ti? '?? religion, but first they sent a commis-  0 Europe and America, to see for them- sives!. 0w it worked. The commissioners, when 1 wa:turne,d, reported against it, saying that ;va« ??'e impotent to restrain crime and vice, II ai1 ■iT)religion.they knew of; and that those vvh, p,roftts ,e?d it lived in direct violation of its ?achin And before the war, the War Office ,4id 11 ttrouble ?iliout preachers, wnters, and ?n't double about preachers, writere, and ? ?? herl'S ??S agamst war, knew they would \If the hl once war came, but it was afraid t? )S.?T.??S of individuals who, when war l ^ii}^ Ufec^ to hght. And considering how liav been treated, who are we to preach to  a.1 |)0Ut ??'ty ? So she offered the Rus- ? ?v? ?t?onaries our envious congratulations, the .? ?? "? .i^tiee, brotherhood, and peace. b ? ?ett  then read from Morgan Jones. ?ssi?t? Us a( "Ilown, t??t despots and diplomats P?pose +?t ?'ople dispose, and would ultimate-  overt hp?Rernhardiesm, whether in Berlin, lenna, I pa ol. I d on. j A. Pons??' London. i >e that an vy then said it was difficult to be- ) ?ye that a? f;?? could come of this war, but %I'swas the rat ^reat victory. I t was not t ?ed witho?? ??'sat v1CtOy, It ws not 4ilaf-,(l with ()lit ?ng preparation Voltairs and lisse-au, b- v t.h  teaching, had prepared the |>nch Revolution Land the Russian one had prepared bv ^e teaching of the greatest "lo<i' ern ELII?o ,t'.eans 'l'olstov Some unex- h'Modern EurotK. T<?stoy. Some unex" C?ed people w??. but not whole. t?ftedly Bonar L^°1C1I1K' hut *ot l e?- h theex-T?ar was, a l most condoling i4 1908, on the TurS?? ?r'n mlden-speech was tt tht;revolution:rYs revo]utI?n" congratulat- i4 L9 tll(-l revolutionaries and pointing Tlt that ?wa. another ???P??S cut ?t  ?eir Hardie-(clSS' R??-?? ?, forbidden to attend 6 kT^ S ^ard,en- k.t orbldd8> totend the king's ?rden- ?- The Tzar was awe?? ?? au?tocrat, worse ?? a ?rr? .?. ?? ? ? ? ?t,?.ng p?ty f Govert ?? thh?ev ? The new Russian Govern- %t liad r-c?nou..need ??" ? desire for anBexatioM, W \Vand c 1 or annexa, ons, %44 ',alited -onRtnt1ll0p e ""wnationaliMd Wt t iollaw their example, especially now that the war has eome to a competition in star- vation. Resolutions were infectious, as shown in 1830 and 1848, which began in France, but spread over a great part of Europe. It was said that democracies can't wage war; they won't wage this sort of war, but that against destitu- tion, disease, and the like. In Germany, before the War, Bernhardi had only run through three editions (and never a cheap one, as here in the early days of the war); Baroness Suttner's "Lay Down Your Arms" through 210. We had never had democracy here, we had been deluded by great orators into believing thatxwe had it. As Zangwill said, Lloyd George with the Constitu- tion was bad enough, but unalloyed George was insufferable. Those who were filling their poc- kets out of the war, didn't want it to stop; but the people were not going to starve in order to break up the Austrian Empire or annex the German colonies. Military victory didn't matter much, its fruits were often thrown away when it came to making peace. The differences be- tween peoples were superficial compared with their resemblances. Ignorance was the main cause of war; diplomatists forming, as they did, a class by themselves, were among the most ignorant of mankind. In 1742 we were against Frederic the Great of Prussia, and regarded him as a villian; in the Seven Years War (1756-63) we were in alliance with him, and regarded him as a hero. So also with the French, under Napo- leon and now; with Russia (the Crimean War and now) with the Boers (Smuts was now one of the few successful British generals); while in 1898 the "Daily Mail" held up the Kaiser to us as a friend in need! Were the people really so capricious? No; the Governments. But it is no use blaming them unless we assert ourselves against them. Foreign policy was not taught in the schools history was begun at the wrong end, so that the children didn't get to modern history; officials didn't want the people to know aioout Iti. I've been one of them, so I know." Knowing the .Foreign Office, as he did, from within as well as without, he knew where to attack. One thing, we had learnt it was all nonsense about there not being money in the country for old age pen- sions, housing, education, etc. And if it was right to make men under a certain age, sacrifice their lives, much more was it right to make men over a, certain income, sacrifice their wealth. It was a fatal error of the Government to suppress discussion in consequence, they didn't know what they were about. There was a ory of "helping the enemy" whenever something was found in a German paper, on a German, which had been copied from an American paper, which copied a British paper. But our object ought to be, to strengthen the German Socialists; that would weaken the German Government, and make for peat*? instead of which, the knock- 1 out interview, Bottomley, Maxse, etc., were alone allowed to reach Germany as the voice of the British people; and were published broad- cast over Germany, by the German Government, as proof that the British people sought only to destroy them, and that their one chance was to fight it out to the very last. The Study Circle. I In the evening we had our usual study-circle meeting, with Ponsonby unexpectedly present. Comrade Matthews remarked on how alliances were shuffled about; thirty years ago we were in alliance, or at least entente, with Germany against France, and our papers saw nothing wrong in the idea of the German armies march- ing through Belgium, to-morrow we might pos- sibly be again in alliance with Germany, against China and Japan. The Tories might very pos- sibly have a big majority in next Parliament on the strength of the Liberals having blundered into the, war and then mismanaged it. We must consider how to deal with the U.D.O. in such a case. But the new electorate and constituencies should give us more chances. Comrade Will Jones urged that we needed more education, to put an end to our traditional niuddling-tlil-ouoh We must capture the educational machine. Comrade W. T. Lloyd doubted if the existing democracy was competent to rule. How many were able to criticize the ordinary press? We were not ready for a revolution. Ponsonby (some people's names are above all titles), in reply, asked if we could afford to wait for a better educational system. Meanwhile there was public discussion, which he considered better than any amount of reading; and train- ing by responsibility, e.g., having the vote, would do something to train people to use it. We must make an end of having our life in water- tight compartments, confining our religion to Sundays, our politics to the House of Commons, etc., each with a different morality. We wanted the same sort of people in parliament as out, to be really representative, but M.P.'s shouldn't be mere delegates. We must put an end to the absurdity of a hostile vote turning out the Gov- ernment, which, in turn, produced the undigni- fied absurditv of the snap division. Treaties should be revised periodically. The people must be given a, chance to make mistakes, that they might learn by them. M.P.'s usually had nothing much to do in the House; this might be got over by having more committees. The permanent officials, like other experts, were good servants but bad masters, apt. to be mere specialists. The referendum was good as an education; but how many questions can be reduced to a plain Yes or No? Usually there is a third course possible.

Coun. Dollar], Glasgow, Arrested I NO EMPLOYMENT WITHIN 50 MILES. "J Councillor P. J. Dollan, chairman of the Glas- gow I.L.P..Federation was arrested as an ab- sentee under the Military Service Act on Tues- day. Ho was exempted by the Central Tribunal conditional on his taking up work of national im- portance, but the military refused to allow him to enter any employment within fifty miles of Glasgow. Councillor Dollan obtained five differ- ent situations which had been endorsed in the case of other objectors. His case is the first of the kind in Scotland.

AN IMPORTANT SUGGESTION. I .I TO THE EDITOR. I Sir,—The Trade Union and Socialist Organi- sations of the country are being circularised ask- ing that delegates should be appointed to attend a conference at Leeds on Sunday, June 3rd, in order to voice the opinions of the nxaisses of this country regarding the developments in Russia. I know there are many organisations who cannot afford to send delegates to such a conference. But it is the greatest, and perhaps the only opportunity that will ever present itself to the working-classes of this country to effectively voice their opinions upon Prussianism at home and abroad. It would therefore seem desirable that all branches and lodges unable to stand the ex- penses of a representative should at least iden- tify themselves with the inotement by returning a credential with a delegate fee of 2/6.—Yours iaitJirullv, t. taithtiUty, E. Stonelake. Herbert-'str&et, Aberdarg.

Profiteering Patriots. I WELSH WORKERS, AND FOOD SUPPLY, I CALL TO GOVERNMENT TO STOP I TINKERING. Dissatisfaction with the Government food control policy was expressed during a eionfereiice of Trades Unions, Labour and Co-operative or- ganisations of East Glamorgan and Monmouth- shire, held at Cardiff on Saturday. Mr. Thomas Richards, M.P., who presided, said they required a complete centralisation upon the Government to give up tinkering with the question of food supply and to see that some remedy was found. (Applause.) Lord Devon- fO?l.,f had given them a very interesting descrip- tion of how a cargo of beans had been in the hands of gamblers on the way from Burmah to this country ten times before he stepped in, and instanced this as evidence of hps vigilance and that of his Department. (Laughter.) In his (the speaker's) opinion it was a striking example of the methods that these profit patriots had been allowed to use untrammelled up to the third year of the war. He was surprised on inquiry that the beans he. sometimes ate oost him P-100 a ton, but which the Government said cost only £ 37. It was getting more evident every day that the Government must at once take in their hands the whole question of the supply of food and see that the prices were within reach of the people. Mr. W. J" Whitney, manager of the Co-opera- tive Society, Tredegar, moved a resolution, which asked the Government to deal with the food problem on the following lines :— (a.) The purchase of al essential imported foodstuffs; (b) the commandeering or controlling of all home- grown food products, such as wheat, meat, oats, 'barley, potatoes, and milk; (c) the commandeer- ing of all ships and the control of transport facilities; (d) the placing on the retail markets of all supplies so obtained and controlled at, prices which will secure the full benefit of Gov- ernment action to the consumer; and (e) the selling of 'oread at a price not exceeding 6d; per quartern loaf. This was supported by Mr. Fred Bramley, of the Workers' War Emergency National Com- mittee, who, instancing cases of profiteering, explained how a farmer who produced potatoes on 48 acres of land made a profit of £ 2,713 thereon. The agricultural interest of this coun- try had made enormous fortunes during the war by exploiting the people. (Shame.) Yet the Government guaranteed the farmer a jrnnif price, but not a minimum wage for the skilled labourer. The- resolution was carried unani- mously. Miss M. Pallister, Brynmawr, moved the other resolution, as follows: — "That with a view of securing an equitable distribution of the available supply, that powers be given to municipal, urban and other local authorities to set up special Food Control Com- mittees, to which shall be co-opted representa- tives of Labour, Co-operative, and Industrial Women's Organisations, for the purpose of supervising the registration of consumers, the equitable local distribution of food-stuffs, and the institution of municipal food-services. That failing prompt and satisfactory measures being adopted by the Government to deal with the growing difficulties of the food supply and the continual exploitation of consumers by food pro- fiteers, a National Deputation, drawn from all parts of the Country, should be organised to ap- peal directly to Parliament in person." Mr. T. Lucas (Miners' Agent, Ogmore Vale) seconded. Mr. Jamas Griffiths, Cardiff, supporting, said It is coming to this: we must stop profiteer- ing or stop the war." The resolution was passed with unanimity.

Enveloped in Flames. I FIREMAN'S TRAGIC END AT ABERDARE I OUTBREAK. An inquest was held at Merthyr on Tuesday upon Alfred Davies (56), of Albert-street, Aber- dare, an auxiliary fireman, who, with nine other men, was injured at the blaze at Messrs. Holwell ,and Co.'s oil stores, Aberdare, on Saturday week. Walter Cox, manager, said Davies was playing with a hose on the fire when an oil tank, con- taining 2,700 gallons of petroleum, exploded, and the flames enveloped him. Police-inspector D. Griffiths said he saw Davies running with his clothes afire, and the flames were put out by wrapping him in rugs. Mr. David Edwards ten- dered the firm's sympathy with the relatives, and said an appeal respecting the dead man's family was being put before them. Mr. W. R. Morgan (Town Clerk) said the district council also had passed a vote of sympathy with Davies' family. The Coroner (Mr. R. J. Rhys): That is very nice, Mr. Morgan, but is there any chance of provision for the widow and children?—Mr. Mor- gan I hope so/sir. A verdict of "Death from shock due to burns" was returned.

Technical School Scheme. Mr. Rhys Elias, Director of Education, was asked by the Merthyr Evening Schools Commit- tee on Wednesday to prepare a draft scheme for n central technical school in the town, the Oy- farthfa. Castle Schools being suggested as suit- able for the purpose. Mr. H. M. Lloyd (chair- man), supporting the Director's recommendation for the adoption of such an undertaking, said that in addition to the Board of Education grant under the new regulations with regard to fur- ther education it was likely thatgrantB would also be received respecting any disabled soldiers who might be taught in such an institution. The Director of Education said that such a Tocal college would mean less teachers and apparatus than required as now when technical classes were scattered about the area.

Merthyr Motor Squadron. APPEAL FOR VOLUNTEERS BY SIR JOHN CURTIS. Speaking in favour of the formation of a local squadron of the Glamorgan Motor Volunteer Corps at Merthyr Town Hall on Tuesday night, Sir John Curtis, Commandant of the Corps, de- tailed the duties of the squadron, dwelling in particular on its essential importance as a co- operating unit with the Volunteers. There was always a possibility of a mobilisation taking place. He was one who took the view that the Germans would not let her fleet remain whero it was now without making some effort to have a last kick at England, which was blamed so con- siderably for the war and the way in which it had gone. If mobilisation took place it was quite certain that the battalions would have to be transported, and there was always a possibility of the train service being interfered with, and in that event there was only one way of reach- ing the point of iiiobilisatlon-motor-cax. Touch- ing upon the question of the petrol supply, Sir John said that this was a very difficult question. Cardiff was absolutely starved. They could not get a gallon unless they were on duty. Repre- sentations were, however, being made which he trusted would have the effect of bringing about a supply. The military authorities would have to be told that, although the squadrons were willing to move out at call, they dijii hot intend to push the cars, for that was the position they would be in.' Captain J. P. Higman (adjutant and or- ganiser) declared that Merthyr and Aberdare had been a source of worry and trouble for the last eighteen months, because while the motor volunteer movement had spread rapidly else- where, they had not been able to get a footing there. Major Jr. T. James (commander of the loÇal V.T.C.) spoke strongly in favour of the foijlia- tion of the corps, which would be a great utjjity in connection with the hospital at Aberdare, And particularly in connection with the V.T.C., which in his district was very scattered, being spread over the Aberdare and Merthyr Valleys and along the Rhymney Valley as far as Caer- philly. He explained that a motor volunteer squadron consisted of 132 men, 56 cars, andi20 motor-cycles. Merthyr was unlike Cardi#, si^De, as a big industrial district, there were net the number of private cars in use, and 56 might be a tall order; hut judging from convictions there would be no difficulty in getting the cycles and moil willing to ride at some speed. Capvaitt Isaac Edwards uffclaUM it .to fcT'tii* duty of every man unfit to take his place in the fighting line to join the volunteers. It was unanimously decided to form a squadron and an executive committee was appointed.

Fleecing the Public." I, MERTHYR COSTERS FINED 95 FOR IN- FRINGEMENTS OF POTATO ORDER. These people are simply taking advantage of a shortage of food to fleece the public in a most shameful way," said Mr. R. A. Griffith, the Mer- thyr- stipendiary, on Tuesday in fining two cos- termongers, Walter Winstone and John .Foley, of Quarry-row, Merthyr,£5 each (with an al- ternative of 31 days' imprisonment) for selling potatoes by retail at prices exceeding lacl. per lb. Evidence was called to the effect that Win- stone had sold two pounds of potatoes to a woman at Dowlais Top for eightpence. Foley was said to have sold two pounds for sevenpence. Mr. F. S. Simons, solicitor for defendants, said the potatoes were seed potatoes, the maximum retail prices for which was 3d. a pound. Mr. J. A. Wilson (chief-constable) said that there had been great difficulty in obtaining seed potatoes in the town, and seed potatoes being used for consumption made it even more difficult for allotment-holders to get supplies. Mr. Simons pointed out that the potatoes were not meant by defendants to be sold for eating, and were only supplied to these women at Dow- lais as a favour. The Stipendiary said that both were very bad cases, and described the potatoes Winstone sold (which were very small) as miserable marbles."

Merthyr Recorder. APPOINTMENT AS COUNTY COURT JUDGE. Mr. Albert Parsons, K.C., recorder of Mer- thyr, has been appointed county-court judge of Circuit No. 7, in place of Judge Barnard Lailey, K.O., who has been transferred to the county- court of Circuit No. 5, in place of Judge Mar. telli, K.C., deceased. His Honour Judge Parsons, who has practised for some years on the South Wales Circuit, is the fourth son of Mr. Robert Parsons, of Brad- ford, and was born in/1865. Settling at Cardiff in 1894, he became one of the best-known coun- sel in South Wales, and he had a wide range of practice in both civil and criminal cases. He was a contemporary of Mr. Justice Sankey when the latter was attached to this circuit. His forte is in cases under the Workmen's Compensation Acts, on which he is an authority. His book, "Workmen's Compensation Acts," in which he collaborated with Sir Anton Bertram, now 1 At- torney-General for Ceylon, is largely quoted. It was published in 1899, and a fifth edition is in the press. In addition to his wide county-court practice his honour has appeared in many of the more important compensation cases both in the Court of Appeal and the House of Lords. For the last few years he has been one of the revising barristers for South Wales. He has written several notable works in addition to that on compensation. Among them is one published in 1893 on the liability of railway companies for negligence towards passengers. He married in 1890 Ada, the daughter of the late Mr. Lewis Harrison, of Pewsey, Wilts. His chief recrea- tions are golf and cycling.