Pioneer

r ?oo?#e?lool Merthyr Electric Theatre! • Week commencing Monday? June 4th. | 'I CONTINUOUS PERFORMANCE FROM 2.30 TILL 10.30 P.M. DAILY. j I Monday Tuesday, and Wedneday- I THE DUMB GENIUS  ] I An Exciting and Sensational Drama in Four Parts, featuring ?JACKO" the most highly jI educated Chimpanzee in the world. ■ 5 MAID MAD—Triangle Comedy. g I THE SOO OF Tr;edJEMPIRE j 2 The Beat of all Official War Films. = I Thursday, Friday, and Saturday- .1 HOODMAN BLIND I | | I FOX .Film, featuring WILLIAM FAR MUM. I ? MARY PA G E-Apisode 13: Dawning Hope." I VAMPIRE AMBROSE—Triangle Comedy. I Prices as usual-3d., 6d., and Is. Government Tax Extra. I ? Children's Matinee on Saturday at 10.15-1d. only. L.. II II It It .i —>l—M—1>»—M—ilfl [theatre royai 1 1 AND EMPIRE PALACE, MERTHYR.  Resident Manager Mr. R. T. REA. B I Resident Manager Mr. R. T. REA.  I 6.45. TWICE NIGHTLY. 8.45 | Week commencing MONDAY, June 4th, 1917. I Welcome return visit of the C. WATSON MILL REPERTORY COMPANY ) (For an indefinite period). I In the well-known drama (for the first week) entitled— I J THE APPLE OF EDEN! j BY ARRANGEMENT WITH C. OARLTON WALLACE. I COME AND GIVE YOUR OLD FAVOURITES A WELCOME. YOU ARE SURB OF | I A GOOD SHOW. I POPULAR REDUCED PRICES- I ) Circle, 1/- Stalls, Od. Pit, 6d. Gallery, Sd.?a? ) L- Entertainment Tax Extra. Early Doors to all Parts. 2 SiiiaHBBiitaiHaBiiflHBHiinHeiimBBiiaHiMaHMBiiJ The action taken by the Joint Board and the "Statement" issued by (M labour Party, which are referred to in the following pages, deserve a reply. Here it is. It is addressed to the entire Labour, Trade Union, and Socialist Organisations of Great Britain. Study it well, and discuss it it your Societies, for the future well-being of the Working-class Movement depends upon your verdict. Now Deady Price Sixpence Now Ready, Post free seveipence 'THE TATTOOED MEN,' OR LABOUR LEADERS THE AND WORKERS' MONEY The full story told by FREDERICK TEMPLE, (Author of Interest, Gold and Banking," War Finance and the Worker," &c.). London: THE COMMONWEALTH PRESS, 118, Cannon Street, E.C. BLANCHARD'S PILLS Are unrivalled for all Irregularities, &c., they speedily afford relief and never fail to alleviate all suffering. They supersede Pennyroyal, Pill Cochia, Bitter, Apple, &c. Blanchard's are the best of all Pills for Women. Sold in boxes, III Y2. by BOOTS' Branches, and all Chemists, or post free, same price from LESLIE MARTIN, Limited, Chemists, 34 Dalston Lane, London. jSamples and Valuable Booklet sent Free, Penny Stamp. THERE 18 ONLY ONE OINTMENT THAT CURES And this is supplied by Chemists and the MANNINA OINTMENT CO., FISHGUARD, And is sold in Three Strengths—1, 2 & 3. 'Phone 597. 'Phone 597. WILLIAM TRESEDER, Ltd. THE NURSERIES, CARDIFF.: WREATHS, CROSSES, CUT FLOWERS, &c. BEDDING PLANTS. Asters, Stocks, Dahlias, Marguerites, Lobelia, &c. Tela: 11 TRESEDEP., FLORIST, CARDIFF." RUSSIAN Revolution Conference JUNE 3rd, 1917. INFORMATION FOR DELEGATES TO LEEDS RUSSIAN REVOLUTION CONFERENCE, The following are the Leeds hotols:- County Hotel, Vicar Lane Hotel, Ifetropole Hotel, 6s. 6d. Griffik Hotel, Os. Westminster Hotel, 6a. Trevelyn Hotel, II. j Parker's Temperance Hotel, 3m. Wilson'* Temperance Hotel, 4a. General enquiries with regard to aooorpmoda- tion to be sent to Mr. Tom Queleh, 17rewlyn Hotel, Leeds. Delegates requiring informatiox om arriving in Leeds on Saturday, June 2nd, should proceed to 14 Upper Fountain Street. Delegates are asked to secure accommodation on their own account as far as possible so as to relieTe the burden placed upon the Reception Committee. Time is so short. —ROBERT WILLIAMS. CENTRAL LABOUR COLLEGE LEAGUE (Aberdare Valley Branch, South Wales Division). A DEBATE Will be held art the LESSER HALL, ABERAMAN, ON SUNDAY, JUNE 3, 1917, at 3 p.m. prompt. Subject-" Is Political Action Necessary for the Emancipation of the Working Class? Affirmative—MARK STARR. Negative—A. J. COOK (Porth). Questions. Discussion. Silver Collection. CARDIFF Central Labour College Classes  (under the auspices of CardiS Trades Council). The class will be suspended from June 3rd, and will re-open first Sunday in Sep- tember.

Political Notes..1 BY F. W. JOWETT, M.P. I One of the London papers let the cat out of the bag the other day by giving the reason for Unionist opposition to proportional representa- tion, The writer had been discussing the ques- tion with a representative of an important north-western constituency who had pointed out that if the Electoral Reform Bill passed, a can- didate for that particular constituency would be restricted in regard to election expenses to some E200, an amount, it was contended, that would not cover the cost of hiring halls for election meetings. The result would inevitably be that candidates wishing to inform the electorate of their views would have to address street corner meetings. This, frankly, the Unionist member for a north-western constituency said, he and others of his party were not prepared to do. It would be contrary to the dignity and tradition of the Unionist party to rely on street corner meetings though it would doubtless offer no ob- stacle to their opponents who are less exigent on these matters. The writer thought, therefore, that the proportional representation clause, left to the judgment of the House of Commons, was doomed. From the Socialist and Labour point of view, the reason given by the Unionist mem- ber referred to is a good one for passing the proportional representation clause, and it is to be hoped the point will not be overlooked. The, boycott against Labour and Socialist candidates by the owners of public halls would not trouble us then. & The same Tory evening paper, the "Globe," is also very candid and outspoken regarding the proposed Irish convention. It looks forward with ill-concealed satisfaction to the failure of the Convention, and it gives the reasons for its confident prediction. They are wortfl noting. In the first place the Sinn Feiners are expected to prove irreconcilable because Sinn .Feiners want separation pure and simple. In the second place Ulster, it is confidentially predicted by the writer, will not consent to the discussion of fundamen- tals. That is to say, Ulster will not even con- sider a scheme of Home Rule unless it is first agreed that the six counties are to be excluded from the scheme. The writer above referred te then goes on to suggest that the proposed convention is merely a makeshift to enable the Prime Minister to shelve the Home Rule question until after the war. The Prime Minister, according to this view, has relegated the matter to Irishmen for settlement with the idea that if they cannot agree—and the writer relies upon Ulster union- ists and Sinn Feiners to make agreement impos- sible-he will then be in a position to say T'very well, you cannot agree among yourselves as to the settlement of your own differences. We can do no more towards a solution at present. Home Rule must stand over till the end of the war." To this I will add, that, although it may be as the Unionist writer says, and the Prime Minister may think the convention will serve to shelve the Irish question if it fails to agree, yet, escape trom tne Irish problem will not be effected so easily as all that. When Sir Edward Carson's friends persuaded the military authorities to in- timidate the Liberal Government into surrender to his armed rebels, the Sinn Feiners became a powerful organisation in Ireland and the new power will not allow the Irish Question to be shirked now. Before the United States decided to come into the war the "Pall Mall Gazette," "The Morn- ing Post," and many other newspapers in this country, hardly passed a day without flinging gibes and sneers at President Wilson and the American people." The development of Ameri- cam policy has not followed any principle of action which the European mind is able to identify," sneered the editor of the Pall Mall on one occasion. The "Morning Post's sar- castic comments were frequently directed to dis- crediting President Wilson because he hesitated to declare war until the United States became the victim of some overt act deliberately directed against her. The slaughter of two American women, said the Morning Post," after the sinking of the Laconia, is "not sufficiently overt" for the Presidential purpose. "The general opinion is that the death-roll will have to be much heavier to make Dr. Wilson declare war." In order to bring the situation home to this self-centred community," said the "Pall MnTl Gazette," "there is need of some sensational event to rally emotion to the aid of intelligence. It must be 'stampeded,' so to speak. In other words, what the Americans needed to make them bellicose was stoking-up with stories such as that of the alleged corpse factory, and they have got it, since they entered the war, along with many another story not less grue- some, or less likely to be true. The power of the press to make public opinion to appear just as it is wanted to appear is proved once more by the complete change in the nature of comment, and the news, respecting President Wilson and the American people. When the present Prime Minister was sure of the "knock- out blow without the help of the United States —to whom, in effect, he said "hands off, this is our job,"—insults and sneers of the sort I have mentioned were the daily fare of the readers of British newspapers. This has all been changed. President Wilson is now the wise statesman who with incomparable skill has led the great, power- ful, and disinterested Ameriean people. The United States is no longer spoken of as a self centred community," requiring to be stam- peded," but it nevertheless is being stampeded, and unless President Wilson speaks out straight and often about the methods by which the stam- pede is being accomplished he will find his coun- try and himself driven far beyond the limits of strict justice to which he declared his continued adherence when America entered the war. I have to confess to having entertained some little unfriendly feeling towards General Smuts after the South African deportations incident, when Mr. A. M. Thompson, of the "Clarion," referred to him as the "Unspeakable Smuts." But my feeling towards General Smuts prior to his present visit to this country was mild and unob- jectionable as compared with the bitter animos- ity felt against him during the South African War by most of the important people who are now eulogising and flattering him. In those days Mr. Smuts was the emoodiment and chief living exemplar of Boer "slimness." The war party of those, comparatively recent, days, al- most succeeded in passing a new word into tn« British language to describe the particular form of wickedness of the then enemy people who are now our friends. Their outstanding national characteristic was said to be deceitfulness. They were "slim." Thank Heaven, this feeling has passed away. That it ever existed is only worthy of remark now as affording some flicker of hope of a possibility that when the blighting ,and deadly presence of this war has passed away the prevailing bitterness may be healed and an- tagonisms may be removed. But my purpose in speaking of General Smuts and his reception in this country is not merely to draw a moral, albeit a useful one to my think- ing, but to direct attention to the most import- ant speeches he has been making. I wish, es- pecially, to draw attention to his references to the native races of Africa. In this war France has accepted the armed assistance of African natives. We have accepted the assistance of the Ghurkas and Sikhs of India. Mr. Winston Churchill and others have more than once pressed I the Government to mobilize large forces of African natives to take part in the war. But General Smuts, who knows what he is talking ab-out when he speaks on these matters, has shewn the red light of danger. Modern warfare with up-to-date death-dealing implements has brought enough evil and suffer- ing into the world without including within its scheme of operations the untold millions of Africa. And, furthermore, colonisation, with the object of capitalistic exploitation of native races and the resources of the regions they inhabit, has led reputedly civilized nations into wickedness enough without adding the further incentive of new armies of millions to be drilled and equipped for future Armageddons bigger and more de- structive than ever. I know little of the policy of General Smuts in regard to public affairs in South Africa,- except that he' was concerned in the deportation inci- dent and was against the workers on that occa- sion, but, on the great problem that this war has forced upon us of so adjusting international re- lations in future as Itoavoid a repetition of it, his speeches in this country have been most help- ful and illuminating. His warning that the people in the various colonies would refuse to be bound by decisions merely reported to them by representatives on an Imperial Council, after the decisions had been taken, was a healthy and democratic warning of which the Imperialists who wish to establish a super-national council to control the foreign relations of the United King- dom and all the self-governing colonies will do well to take heed. His insistence on a people's peace as against a diplomat's sharing of the spoils of peace is no less significant. The word "Empire" has no attraction for him. He told the Imperialists so to their faces. He prefers the word Commonwealth." In this all Social- ists who have not been stampeded out of their faith by the hate born of the war and fomented by a war-mad press, will agree with him. Mr. Bonar Law in his speech on the introduc- tion of this year's budget acknowledged that the late Government, of which he was also an important member, had made a mistake in not taking over the control of shipping. He did not inform his hearers that the Government was pressed to take this step by the representatives of Labour and Socialists' organisations at the beginning of the war. The War Emergency (Workers) Committee made formal representa- tions to the Government urging the policy re- ferred to very soon after the commencement of the war. To the best of my recollection this was in October, 1914. At all events it was not later than November of that year. Mr. Bonar Law supplemented this humiliating confession last week with another, equally discreditable to the Government-. Shipping firms, he said, had been making profits, on the average, amounting to 30 per cent. This is after paying the excess pro- fits tax. Now that Mr. Law, as Chancellor of the Exchequer, has been shamed into taking action to prevent this barefaced exploitation of the war, the profiteering shipowners are en their knees, begging for better terms, as if they were poor and in want. Philip Snowden suggests a flag day for them. A flag day for shipowners would be an object lesson, but few would contri- bute. Thero is everywhere a growing demand for the removal of Lord Devonport from the office he holds. As Food Control ler he has proved a gigantic failure. Food profiteers have had the time of their lives whilst he has been in office. His policy of ineffectively controlling, first one commoditv and then another, has invariably re- sulted in" sending up the prices of alternative commodities sky-high, with great pleasure and profit to holders of stocks of the substituted commodities. In the one instance where the pro- fiteers carried their operations so far that even Lord Devonport himself had to interfürein the matter of beans—he might have made his inter, vention more useful if he had published the names of the profiteers who had taken a hand in driving the price up whilst the beans were being transported across the sea. But he didn't. Lord Devonport's policy is to interfere as little as possible with the operation of supply and demand, although in point of fact, no Food Controller is worth his salt during this war who does not see that food must not be subject of speculation or go by preference to those who can pay whatever price is demanded for it. Those articles of food the price of which is allowed to soar beyond the meansot working people might as well be non-existent so far as the workers are concerned, and it is the business of a Food Con- troller to see that famine, among a section of the people, caused by high prices, is not allowed. Any Food Controller who seizes hold of this root. principle will realize that there must be only one buyer of imported food and that buyer must be the State, and, that all home-grown food must be taken over by the State and distributed fairly among the whole of the population with the as- sistance of municipal and local governing bodies. If the war goes on as long as the Government seems to expect we shall have to come to that or there will be trouble. I understand that the Government, after much cogitation on the matter, have agreed to issue passports to enable a Socialist delegation to pro- ceed to Russia. Presumably this decision has also been assisted by'representatives from Russia in favour of such a delegation. It still remains to be seen whether a Socialist delegation will be allowed to take part in a conference consist- ing of representatives of all Socialist parties and sections of the belligerent countries, providing such a Conference is called by Russian Social- ists, as is expected. I cannot understand the opposition of the Government to a meeting of Socialists of all countries. One would expect that in the new situation, brought into existence by the revolu- tion in Russia and the entry of America into the war, such gatherings would be. encouraged for the war aims of the Allies will have to be ad- justed to the new conditions. Socialists of all countries are in general accord with the declared » PresiQeD I aims of Russia, and, of America, if presi? Wilson? declarations regarding ? ?.?pric? a  policy are adhered to. Moreover, as the 44 Neir Age" points out, the leaders of the,, 11133 O,itl party in Germany would have to fa<? ? qrj party n Germany would have to face ,W{ IltllJg questions m a Socialist conference ?'?? -??t)!? the Socialists of all nations at war. The, res ?i would probably be that they would return I will not say chastened, for we ca,c?-' i? the whole truth regarding their ?titud_ebo ?e of the most revolting acts of German niilita'l"'O' but at least under the necessity of in???  more distinct call upon their people to *0jo if the general fight for democratic control (f tional policy. In this way the much ? cleavage between the German r people &11^ military domination of the ruling class 0 f Ger- many would be helped and not hindered. Th? is the way of Salvation in all countries inci? our own. I

Chum" Nabbed. OUR GORSEINON STALWART'S FINE I SPEECH. "C0MBED-0UT" BUT UNDAUNTED- I l 's tUJ'6"JI At Swansea County Police Court on Sa? ? Daniel Oliver Harris, Gorseinon (" Chum wo I charged with failing to report for mili??' ?.. vice. Defendant: That is so..  Captain D. Harold Williams represent6^ military authorities, and said that defeo ? who was a tinplater, had declined to enh\ an army munition worker, or to join the ???)<- He was a conscientious objector and a :me of the' N.C.F. Inspector Nicholls said Mr. Harris surreo? ?.ed j himself at Gorseinon Police Station on Sat??? morning. He was treasurer of the Goi'S branch of the I.L.P. Apart from the v?" p#, held defendant was a very respectable of fendant denied that he was treasurer of thl1 or' ganisation. ■ Our friend Chum in a fine and fe' bad speech amply justified the step which be i$ taken. He bore himself bravely and cf? remarkable impression on the Court. i?< He said:—" Many anxious moments hqff passed through my mind as to whether I v?lid, make a statement. It is true that 98 p? c olr of magistrates are against the conscienti? o? of magistrates are 11 jector, but as an opportunity is given me make much of such an advantage. ul With militarists and chairmen of tribuJJ!1 9 should be hanged; I should be shot; I  cowar d —a lunatic,  all this does not ?? Mt coward—a lunatic; but all this does not agect me in any way. This was told the rze fe p0 2,000 years ago, whose life I have tried ??i)< humble way to follow. I have a c,o scie objection to all war because it is morally ?j? socially wrong and spiritually wrong. TiieI more disease, more drunkenness, prosti? ,?) and bastard ('hidren when aiiy war is ?} ? an d bastar d children when any war is ? ? than at any period of history. The workers the class which suffers during, and after, s The aristocrat, militarist, the armament ??)); and capitalists, such as millers, etc., are the 1 it who,' I believe, loathe to see a war end.  I "As a member of the Church of EnglaI1 J have been taught to love mine enemies; to )-? lieve in Christ as the Prince of Peace, and Ileo I. have partaken of the Blessed Sacraiiiell?00 Sunday morning the clergyman has exllol,tea to do no murder; an d when he prays iJ1 Litany for peace, unity and concerd, I I.ep) full agreement.. t0fi rrhe, Bishop of London said: These are very numerous, and I am persuaded though you might smash their bodies yOU not break down their spirit. Lord Hugh i. says: 'The C.O. should be released because JaN scandalous and discrediteble that any pe}J()1 should be imposed upon him.' The Archbt8 of Canterbury held similar views.  "The Act of Parliament under which 1^-2* recruited provides in explicit terms that ib o conscientious objector to war is to be exexvpt. The will or capacity to take an enemy f6 ,,fe is not the only element in good citizenship. ?411i have I been a.n enemy to my village? tovvl" ff country? As a conscientious objector I .j' done that which I ought to have done, ?.?. fwed before and during the war for Hum^ Can the Military Representative or the i»s^ tor deny it? (They could not.) T ry I am com bed-out" of the Tinplate ,0 ø 1 -a tradc? in which I have been all my life, ? .};' replaced by young men or married men of ?'j? tary age, drapers and milkmen, who kn0? 'eø' thing about it. I have a wife and four child1^ Why should 1 not remain at my own partic occupation? It has been stated that the ^°^ send Steel Works is a controlled establish#1 apJi- That is not so. I am also not the treasurer the I.L.P.. You can never change my views. You 0",?i ( bring your companies?'your battalions,  ments; you could fill the muzzles of your c ? ? but all this would not change my views conscientious objector." Captain Williams denied the statement 5Vol L single men and milkmen and nodded his heØ,.ol give emphasis to it. Mr. Harris: You may nod your head, Williams, but it is so. r P > During 1118 oration, Mr. J. H. Rosser, conducted remarks in an undertone to fl. league, whereupon Chum" ejaculated: I am tiring my friend, Mr. Rosser. That tleman thereupon subsided. Chum" was fined £5 and handed oveJ ifi the military authorities. otl The spirit of fellowship must be very ? ? ) in Gorseinon as our valued friend was aerovy f panied by numerous friends. Mrs. Harries fo also present. Before being taken away by the escort and refreshment were provided, of ?ctl? Chum" partook heartily. He wa? P.-rdf | undaunted and expressed his implacable d CO. mination to carry out his principles. We be sure his influence still remains!Witil t?bs ?? c0? ) people of Gorseinon.