Pioneer

The Leaders or the Toilers: Which ? Ait ox GST the many upside-down features of these topsy-turvy days, none have contained more elements of cynical amusement than the Napoleonic struts of egoistic little men who are dependent for the very fact that their names have received the publicity of print, let alone their bodies the honours of Capitalistic Cabinets, to their election to Executive Committees of large trade unions; and the case with which par- ties fired with the ardour of military ideals and ideas can turn upon their erstwhile idols and rend them with an iconoclastic zeal that makes popularity and position look a very thin veneer indeed. The same thing admittedly goes on in peace time, but th" the issues involved are not so sharply focussed, or so intimately connected with our daily life to exact the same attention; and again the degree is very much less, war ac- celerates and intensifies and the consequent dis- affections are more frequent, and more conspicu- ous. For instance, we may laugh loudly at the raging and tearing propaganda which the Jingoe Party of Germany is conducting in order to se- cure the down fall of Herr Bethmann Hollweg, who out a short time ago was the, centre of their aspirations, or smile discreetly at the sophisties Mr. Will Thorne conjures up along with his in- dignation at being named a "renegade," to prove that his hands are clean, and that he has not sold Labour in this country—as though any man can support war, and serve the interests of Labour? But the smile is extremely hard to bring to the lips when we read that Messrs. J. (}1Grady, M.P., A. Short (Boilermakers), and W. A. Appleton (Secretary) representing the General Federation of Trades Unions are now in France, in response to an invitation from Mons. L. Jonhaux, of the Confederation Generale du Travail, to discuss with a Committee of their French colleagues the attitude that the two Anglo-French trade union organisations should adopt with regard to the Stockholm conference. It has become more than ever necessary in these days to insist that mighty issues such as may easily conceivably be involved in the Stockholm Conference, should not be left to the discussion and prejudiced action of Executive Committees, or individuals. We are not at the moment com- plaining of the representatives who have been sent to .France-much as we doubt whether Mr. Ja.s. O'Grady, after his Russian visit and his pro-war activity would have been cliosety to re- present British trades unionism on its ballot-ive are more concerned with the greater principle of the ignoring of the man in the workshop, mill or mine, whose views are not consulted, and whose mandate is not sought. All personal pre- delections aside, the necessity for the insistance on the observance of the very elementary Demo-I cratic principle of consultation would be as valid had the deputation been composed of J. R. Mac- donald and Tom Mann, with our Comrades John- son or Inlqnn as secretary, as it is with the pre- sent deputation. No lesson has-been more firmly driven home during the past few months than that of the want of sympathy between executives and the industrialist actually on the work; a. les- son that has penetrated even into the dim seclu- sion of Whitehall and aroused in that home, of metaphysics a faint flutter of concern as is evi- denced by the creation of the fatuous Commis- sions on Industrial Unrest which are to enquire into the causes of unrest, though those causes are well known to all who have paused an in- stant to get the workman's view of the present distribution of wealth. But though the rift be- tween Labour and its appointed executives may be the platitude of the market place; and a re- cognised fact in Government departments, it is a fact that is ignored entirely by the Executives, who hiding their heads ostrich-like in the sands of Capitalist bestowed honours, still pursue the even tenour of their autocratic: ways, ignoring the signs of the new unionism that flare so brightly in the industrial firmament, and ex- aspiration by their interested ignorance the very men whose- suffrages they received because they were believed to be amenable to the in- structions of their unions, and too honest to sell the workers as a whole. But the workers have been sold, and sold wholesale, by these very men, who, raised from the mine or the machine, have fallen captives to the seductive inducements of the workers enemies. True they still prate the old formulae of their better days; still cry the Marxian war call Workers of the world Unite," but at the dictates of interested parties they have altered the world, and have called for unity for purposes alien to the philosophy and science which occasioned Marx's utterance of those words. Nor is this sale peculiar to the man who has been luck enough to tack M.P. after his name it is as conspicuous in many of the lesser luminaries who prate loud mouthedly of their leadership of Labour. Whether it be in high places or low, however, this trafficking corrupts the font of working class inspiration, and it must cease. The man must be amenable to the mass, and any deflection from the path of trades union Democratic principle and policy as inter- preted by the mass themselves in their daily life and organisation must be visited with salutary punishment. If these men whose visions become distorted when they aspire to Parliament; and foggy when fitted with Westminster specs, and bathed in the balms of luxury, cannot under- stand the interpretation of the rank and file, they must go. Above all must this caucus read-J ing of the mass mind cease. The workers must no longer be deal, dumb and blind, totterilig along under the guidance of its puppies. It must speak, emphatically, insist on clear hearing and ample explanation, and see whether it is com- mitting itself. The fmgoid growths that place seeking has covered the tree of Democracy with can be scraped clean easily and quickly, when once old Labour bestirs himself. Already there are unmistakable signs that the organisa- tion of the past is breaking, and that that of the future will be simpler, yet more complete and flexible; and the knowledge that the things that have been done by mock leaders during the past three years, have been done behind the back but in the name of the masses, makes us thankful for the signs of the new unionism that is dawn- ing. The" leader" will soon be unable to talk of "my union" with his tongue in his cheek, but the union will be able to talk of "our leaders" in the assurance that those leaders will represent truly the lead that comes to them from those who toil.

The Case of Henry Thomas SIR G. CAVE ON THE POSITION. h At the House of Commons on luesday Mr. Snowden (Lab., Blackburn) asked the Home Secretary if he could state what action had been taken as a result of the decision of the Merthyr Tydfil stipendiary* (Mr. R. A. Griffith) on June 19th in the case of Henry Thomas, who was dis- missed from the Home Office settlement at Dart- moor and handed over to the military for return to the Army; and. in view of the decision of the stipendiary that since the Central Tribunal had judged Thomas to be a genuine conscientious ob- jector he could not be a military absentee, and was, therefore, discharged, would the Home Office immediately demand from the Army the re- call of all men who had been returned to the Army under identical conditions.. Sir G. Cave: In this case the magistrate ap- pears to have been erroneously informed that the man had been exempted from military service. The tribunal dealt with it on that assumption. A decision based on that assumption does not affect the action of the Home Office Committee, which deals only with men who have been ex- empted. No further action seems to be necessary in this case so far as the Home Office is con- cerned.

The July "Plebs" and Education. I The July Plebs contains much matter of especial interest to all those keen on the ques- tion of Working-class Education. Ebby Ed- wards (Northumberland miners) and J. F. Hor- rabin write a joint reply to the criticisms directed against the educational principles and policy of the Central Labour College and the Plebs League by Mr. J. M. Mactavish, general secretary of the W.E.A., in a recently issued pamphlet. Mr. Mactavish seeks to show that the C.L.C.-Plebs method is one of instruction' merely, and is not "education at all; Messrs. Edwards and Horrabin reply that, if to take a definitely working-class attitude on social history and social problems and to inculcate the prin- ciples on which the Labour movement is actually based, be instruction," then it is precisely instruction of which the movement- stands most in need, and with which it is above all else concerned. Other articles include "The Luddite Movement: A Summary," by W. H. Mainwar- ing, and a translation of an article by Turati, the Italian Socialist leader, by Eden and Cedar Paul. There are, besides, reviews and book notes, and correspondence on sundry live questions. (2d. post paid, from 127 Hamlet-gardens, Ravenscourt Park, London, W.6.; or from numerous agents throughout South Wales.)

Political Nqtes. I BY F. W. JOWETT, M.P. I Horror on Horror! After the Dardanelles Re- port the country is now faced with the Report on the Mesopotamian Expedition. Mr. Winston Churchill on a, memorable occasion described the Dardanelles expedition as a "gamble." The Commissioners who have made searching en- quiries concerning the Mesopotamian expedition state that the expedition was an offensive movement based upon political and military mis- calculations, and attempted with tired and in- sufficient forces and inadequate preparation." There were 28,000 casualties during the Kut re- lief operations and amongst the men who are blamed by the Commissioners for allowing (for political reasons) the military authorities to em- bark on a mad gamble in Mesopotamia are the leading diplomats and statesmen of the country. Lord Hardinge, Viceroy of India,; Mr. Chamber- lain, Secretary of State for India, and Messrs. Asquith, Lloyd George, Balfour, Lansdowne, Gurzon, Henderson, Henderson, and the late Lord Kitchener who, along with Mr. Chamber- lain, constituted the War Committee in the first Coalition Government, are all blamed. How utterly incompetent the military man- darins who directed the wild adventure was, the Report shows. The transport arrangements were woefully inadequate. The Stores, including medical and surgical stores, were also woefully inadequate. In regard to the provision of win- ter clothing the Report states that "Apparently the Commander-in-Chief in India intended to leave the provision of winter clothing for the troops in 1914 to private charity." In December, 1915, and January, 1916, the ex- pedition had only one aeroplane. With regard to the sufferings of the wounded in consequence of the mismanagement of the military mandarins who directed the expedition Major Carter, who was in medical charge of the hospital ship at Basra waiting for the wounded from Ctesiphon, thus describes the arrival of one of the river convoys -— I was standing on the bridge when the Med- jidieh arrived. She had two steel barges, with- out any protection against the rain, as far as I remember. I saw that she was absolutely packed, and the barges, too, with men. The stench when she was close was quite definite. The patients were so huddled and crowded together in the ship that they could not perform the offices of nature clear of the edge of the ship. "A certain number of men. were standing and kneeling on the immediate perimeter of the ship. Then, we found a mass of men huddled up some- how—some with blankets and some without. They were lying in a pool of dysentry about thirty feet square. The man had a fractured thigh, and his thigh was perforated in five or six places. He had apparently been writhing about the deck of the ship. Many eases were almost as bad. There were a certain number of case,, of terribly bad bed sores. In my report I describe mercilessly to the Government of India how I found men with iimbs splinted with wood strips from £ Johnny Walker' whisky boxes, 'Bhossa,' wire, and that sort of thing." This same Major Carter for the crime of en- deavouring to bring to the notice of the authori- ties the facts as to the condition of the wounded was threatened with arrest for "his objection- able remarks." A Surgeon-General and a Dis- trict Adjutant and Quartermaster-General were ordered" by the Army Commander to deal with the troublesome Major, whereupon, it is stated, the D.A. and Q.M.G. accordingly dealt with and reported later how he had "dealt with him, I threatened to put him (mean- with him. I threatened to put him (mean- ing the troublesome Major who made objec- tionable remarks to his superiors about the sufferings of wounded men) under arrest, and I said I would get his hospital ship taken away from him with reference to his objectionable re- marks." Cowpeir ) But the D.A. and Q.M.G. (General Cowper), who, when ordered to deal with Major Carter for making "objectionable remarks" about the condition of wounded men, did as he was told, was himself "dealt with at a later stage be- cause he complained of an insufficient supply of shipping transport. The Commander-in-Chief at Simla to whom the complaint had been trans- mitted by Sir Percy Lake, the Commander of the relief force, replied to Sir Percy Lake as fol- lows — "Please warn General Cowper that if any- thing of this sort again occurs, or I receive any more querulous or petulant demands for shipping, I shall at once remove him from the force, and will refuse him any further employ- ment of any kind. The Mesopotamian and the Dardanelles Report and all the other available information relating to the mad and blind military adventures under- taken during this war ought to bring under pub- lic discussion a point of vital importance con- cerning conscription that has not hitherto been seriously considered. I will put the point I have in mind in the form of a question in manner fol- lowing, viz.: "Has the State any right to com- pel men to place their lives in the care of mili- tary mandarins, who may, In fact, be not only totally incompetent to plan a military campaign but who may. also be so stupid, and so callously cruel in their stupidity, that they become angry and vindictive if attention is called to the miseries they inflict on their fellow men who have been forced to serve under them? Another point of importance is suggested for consideration arising out of the Report on the Mesopotamia Expedition. This point, also, has a special bearing on the system of conscription. Many of the soldiers who took part in that dis- astrous adventure were Territorials who enlisted in the Territorial Army for Home Defence only. This was their contract and nothing more. Yet, for the purpose of this or other foreign adven- tures they were practically compelled to extend and enlarge their agreement. I am aware that a considerable amount of free vol un- teering took place, but there was also a great deal of pressure that not one in a hundred men could withstand. Therefore, although the men who gave way to this pressure had engaged only for Home Defence they were afterwards sent out, ostensibly to protect oilfields, but, really, it now appears, to take part in wild adventures against Bagdad planned by incompetent military man- darins and exposed to the horrors described in the Commissioner's report. And at home, also, the awful accumulation of woe and suffering due to militarism constantly increases. Take the case, for instance, of the Chilsdon Camp. The Under Secretary for War was asked the other day whether he could state the number of recruits under 18 who have died at the Camp mentioned. His reply wast0^ effect that during March, April. May andJuDe) thirty-four had died, of whom nine died o7 c?? bro-spinai fever, te. of pneumonia and bron of pneumonia, fourteen of measles, and o?? 0f heart disease. He had asked for an investigation to be na ig I should think so, indeed. & Lord Montague is not a pacifist. He is ?i as the sort of man who may be desc,ibe,d0 being pro-war. He is also one of the lea ?.cg authorities on air craft and on air-craft met&^ and operations. But here is the ? Times respondent's account of a, speech made by hl jn j the House of Lords yesterday (Tuesday). worth very careful consideration:— ?The Lords' debate was wound up with a }.e. iiiarl?a b lv frank p t-(-?e b from Lord IN-lotitaoti,  markably frank speech from Lord Montagu- ?aid things which, he conceded, might P?? "? be unpopular. He warned the House ?"it must look forward to air raids becoming frequent and serious, possibly this veai,,d most certainly next year. If the casualties r^ up to thousands, as they might easily, do, the Government would be compelled to take ?"? graver notice of them. He declared that its absolute humbug to talk of London being ^nha(j defended city. The Germans, he contended, a perfect right to raid London, which, defe,,ded by guns and aeroplanes, was the chief centre the production of munitions. i.e The right line for the Government to tíliii Lord Montagu continued, was to ask the ci it6 population in this war of nations to 'her casualties in the same way as the French ?? Belgian civil populations were bearing t.le\w He went further than any other speaker sisting that London could not be i),rotecte d attack at present, and advised the Gove.rT??? to tell tjie pple so Uankly. Every hour ? 0 war showed the necessity of greater energy T\fl the prosecution of the campaign bv air. E?. thing, he said in conclusion, must be su'? I. nated to the manufacture of aeroplanes. Comment on the following incident wh?. o" curred during the debate on depriving Co?sci? tious Objectors of their rights to the frano J would spoil it — Mr. H. Smith (U-Warrington) said bo would exclude from the franchise every scientimis objector who had, in faelt, not ta ç'q. up arms for his country in time of eii-iellaellcl0 Mr. P. Snowden, interrupting, asked he hon. member why lie was not serving. ¿is was of military age. Mr. H. Smith said that that was a lor his own conscience. (Loud ironical cheers"

Blaina Notes. Great Dav fcr I.L.P. « 1 was a field day for the 'I) jI1 i.aH ay was a field lay for. the. l.L.. tbØ Bama, two grand meetings being held. 1?,? afternoon Mr. John Scurr addressed a cro?'d? but an appreciative audience in the Gvni?? Hall. Comrade J. Powell, one of the old pio?-y of the movement in this district, made a ? genial chairman, supported by Councillor -Vl ton and Comrade J. Wager. (j In the evening the Empire Theatre was PaCji\v to hear Miss Sylvia, Rank hurst and Miss ya.. vt ter. Mr. G. Barker, the popular miners' presided. He led off in fine style praising, firm stand made by the Independent Lit, the Party. Miss Pallister reviewed the case oftllo conscientious objector and made a fine appeai support im-their dependents. ? Miss Pankhurst followed the captured ence immediately and held them spellbound beginning to the end. She dealt with "1? .for'a. People's Party," and denounced ?i??s tical system of this country mercilessly, It "73' indeed the best day the I.L.P. has had in J3la g, for a long time. We understand some of V0 churches are shocked at the LL.P. holding ?? ings on Sundays, and well they might. Scurr and Miss Pankhurst made a great?' pression upon the Peüple than the churdw:.J c9 ever do. nit' On Monday a meeting was held in the Gy?'} sium Hall under the auspices of the Nat?, War Savings Association, the meeting was. 3 dressed by Miss H. Fraser. one of the oi-sani? ot the AssocmtIOn. A few I.L.Peers att?'. and found themselves in a strange env?'on?? The speaker was asked if she approved of 00 scnption of wealth as a means of carrying Oll the war, as the Government had done > human life. She frankly admitted she did 11 know what was meant by the conscriptM? ?g wealth, but the refined audience displayed 1 ignorance by laughing and giggling at the !?., tion of conscripting wealth. I Stop Trucks. All the pits in this district were idle Tuesdg owing, it is stated, to stop trucks. This occurred frequently of late.

The Theatre Royal. I The performance of "The Ticket of L? Man at the Royal this week has proved ? '? light to myself for two reasons, first, becaus? Of the intrinsic interest of the drama and its V formance, and, second, because of ti, ,e tions of the drama of the day which gave to Tom Taylor's masterpiece—a day when dl",llip had more virulence, grip and action than?'? acterises our present dramatic productions. T?.? is a full-bloodedness about such works as tbi5 that appeals to me; an intensity that mak? regret that the halls have forced the l?g .? mate houses to copy the mo d e of two ho^6^ mate houses to copy the mode of two ho??.? ) night. The work is well handled, come to expect from the Watson Mill Cor&?,? Hawkshaw, the famous detective-hero ? it piece is done better than I have even ee,iiit done before, by Mr. Bernard Mervyn, ]go, bert Brierley is very well done by Arthur don, as, in fact, are all the characters b,.Y 010 favourite actors. Miss Gertrude Gla,.Iijnol, May Edwards gives an interpretatioN ?.. tt would do Tom Taylor good if he could see is just as he mean it to be done. b Next week we' are to have another of tbe6o virulent old plays that drew crowded house6^^ so long a,go—? Shadows of a Great City/ ?j? greatest of New York dramas. This pl?Y. i? its remarkable situations, its tense drairiati terludes; and wonderful scenic effects, is, ?'' p??? thing, a finer example of the best that  school gave us than "The Tick? of Te-,iva '4f The impression it produced at the time ?^$.0$ popular runs can be guaged from the ?'"? tb? during the intervening twelve or thirteen ? ?.? that impression has lived, and it is fro#1 there, membrance of its thrilling appeal that the letteo requesting its revival have come, for h? ?}ia? week's play it is at the request of patron ^$6 Shadows of a Great City is revived. -?. PLA

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