Pioneer

fr TRADE UNION i NOTES. I SEE PAGE 3

POLITICAL NOTES. By F. W. JOWETT. PAGE 2.

The War and Democracy A REPLY TO MR. HARTSHORN. I BY J. L. REES (Trebanos Lodge Miners' Federatioiv). I In last Saturday's issue of the "South Wales a% News" Mr. Vernon Hartshorn had an Rasing article on the "comb-out" question. course of that article he talks a lot about ^Plornaey. Judging by Mr. Hartshorn's atti- t tr> v _?e at the conference be is an expert in the "? <? diplomacy. There he was silent, and did ot give the delegates the opportunity of hear- h g and discussing his views. By Saturday he had become quite voluble and launched forth his ay artillery through the medium of the talist Press. If that is not courageous it ay be diplomatic. Tn .L 1- no J. 1 • ¡¡<L one course ot tne aracie a serious IUJS- ] .eent appears. I trust it is not delibere, ??M essential that the workmen in the coal- should truly understand the position. He ?s, "would the fathers and brothers of those (}ohohave already given their lives ?)r victory  to remain on strike in order that men  have come into the mines since 1914 and 'wh 0 were not bona-Me miners should be saved "?Q doing their bit? The new comb-out pro- ?sals apply to all single miners between the r§es of 18 and 41, and these bona-fide men will ■e. taken as soon as the members consent. It .? "?portant that we should Know where we ]<? and not cloud the issue by references to 14 shirkers and so forth. ?Mr. Hartshorn endeavours to prove that the erl1Ian ?j? is to demonstrate to the whole ??td the invincibility of the German military and that the Pan-Germ&ns do not even i1;e for the acquisition of territory. Surely ?' Hartshorn does not seriously wish to pro- ?o'llld that theory. In order that militarism "143, last it must have accomplishe d something J ?alue to those who support it either in the j^ape of extended territory or huge indemnities. t'i the Germans ?magnimously. evacuated all "? territory they have conquered I should very TW C;1 like to know how that would add to the ?l"%tig" of German militarism. In 1870 the 'D"Iman armies achieved tangible military suc- Ce ? a short campaign, and undoubtedly won a?. ?<?m amount of glorv and prestige. What jiT tli.o ) Iia,7e wot in if th?. ? ??? they have won in ilm OMnpaign if 'at i iou'sly,, evacuated conquered terri- i "??' three years of gl:-tmg, after the afte, ?'. "e of thousands of millions of pounds, afte. sl 9 ?6 flower of the nation's manhood, a.II ? German militarism would have to its ci-p??Tt ?? would be that it withstood the allied arirT es '0l three years. To German statesmen ani generals that might be some consolation, }>J\ to the German people it has indeed been a CJ. and bitter experience, and despite all the e&i Pty talk of another war, if we don't impose ??shing military victory upon the German ?tion ,-s not likely that they will feverishly relisIl I a similar experience again in a short k 'ri,d of time. As Mr. Hartshorn proceeds, he twines more bloodthirsty. Though the Ger- 1112"1-s ? willing or might be willing to clear out "5f tile occupied territory, that is not good 'i t^ey must be fought out inch by inch. It 011, we could attain a certain object with- 0,j, fitir er fighting, the fighting must proceed. T1}) must be continued for the sake of anting. Of course it does not matter about .e cost in money and lives—that's a mere in- ??ut. It is a wonder that our tactics as work- ra"Ii have not been based upon this peculiar ^t of view, inasmuch as Mr. Hartshorn wields influence amongst us. To be consistent he jL??? ld have advocated a strike on the Is. 6d. :(}r ?s, although the Government had conceded ? P?'tially concede our demand! The fight is ? ?ing/ boys, not what we are &ghting for.  Course all this must be continued for the ,sak-C' (If "Democracy. I venture to ask Mr. ?-horn whether he thinks that the blatant jinu S of the Northcliffe Press are out to fight f.or J T\ert>(X'racy. Did not the Times" wield a]] tt. ?auence on behalf of Korniloff, the agent of y 16 Counter-revolution in Russia ? Has not the ???0 newspaper practically stated in the re- °ent articles on the Ferment of Revolution t)laf it more important to defeat the oi-ga7.i- Ized  ? more important to defeat the organ- w^'king class than to crush German mili- tari. J?1 CJaraon, Curzon, Milnor out to make ? cf? for Democracy P If they are, they ^st ?a.ve been converted very rec. ei?tly? An ,J t   this talk of imposing Democracy is sheer t^nt and nonsense i the desire for Democracy ltt.a,nt Srow from within a nation, and in Ger- 4"I Y there is ever.v sign that it is growing ^DiHl To talk about the world passing '??a.U '? under the iron heel of the German jack- Wot ? meaningless .talk. The working-class ha.s r) '?"?'oyed a greater monster than German I a sn?? that is, Russian Czardom and when ola^nt number of the German working- ??1s"f? that militarism is incompatible with .Ats be?st it will have? to I,- o Tlia ten d enev t ???'est it will have to go. Tba tendency totyar S democratization of Germany can be greatl ing t}ia^Ss'sted by us in two ways. (1) By show- tory at+t?? are not out for expansion of terri- ? not tl GxPense of the Central Powers. That not ?' ?ase to-day. (2) By the withdrawal .()f tlltl jllf Paris Economic Conference Reso- luti0Qs y the resolutions passed at that con- :erence P?? into eSect the German work- ?-cla.s<: 6 Put into effect the German work- be practically deprived of ob- tainif),, a ??elihood. Does Mr. Hartshorn ex- (let t ?'?an working-class to show revolu- ??narv ?. ????cies under these conditions ? Do ?Y n??? the ?ame time provide the German I goes itll the finest possible argument for revjx,i Tv, drooping war spirit of the German °rkei-« P r™ M. Kettle, who o?rl- The late Professor T. M. Kettle, who war, has well summed up these -ParilS .'? ons'• Au' attempt is being made ta-an« f tt-aa; T? ?? what began as a war for honour 1JU° a +1 0r t y ad e. Again, ilit.0 4r Or t'ade." Again, The? new army ?stJ? ?? ?' need be, for the public law of ?ro?. was no mention of tariffs in the ??d n T? -? ?? n? mention of tariNs in the i nd. Tli 6« ^^Ption Justice is to be hauled °^n a n rl ??ets is to be hoisted in its T_ pursuance of that new object th? powerful innovators are ready to extend far be- yond their natural term the tor'ture and agony which are now the sole realities of Europe. They are willing for the accomplishment of it, to or- dain that the blood of better men shall drip in- definitely into the cistern of Gehenna. And since it is the gamblers and followers at home and not the silent trench-fellows of death at the front that exercise most influence on national policy it is to be feared that the former may pre- vail. Assuredly protest is a matter of obliga- tion. Those are the words of a gallant soldier now dead. I daresay Mr. Hartshorn will not protest, but I know a great number of Welsh miners who will. T<y applying these two prin- ciples the onus of continuing the war will be placed upon the German militarists and the German workers will realize that they will havo nothing to fight for amd the unnecessary pro- longation of the war will mean that the mili- tarist and capitalist clique of Germany will be swept aside by the organised working-class. One other principle must be applied to the national and racial problems of Europe by the peace con- ference. The right of each rate or opprecced nation to determine its, own destinies. That is the only solution for the racial problems of Europe especially so to the question of Alsace Lorraine. The time has now arrived when we must eliminate every harmful factor from our war aims; must substitute instead proposals that will ensure peace in the future. That can be done not by following the advice of the Jingoes of this or any other country but by doing our' best to resassemble the International prole- tariat and arrive at an understanding that will put an end to this orgy of slaughter.

Avan Valley Notes. (By DrmoCRITUS). II The Women's Peace Movement at Pot-t Talbot had a decided fillip on Sunday last by the pres- ence of Mrs. Anderson Fenn. She spoke at Cwmavon on Sunday afternoon and at the New Dockers' Hall in the evening. Mrs. Alderman David Williams, Swansea, who is an old cam- paigner, ably presided at both meetings. Mrs. Fenn's evening meeting was a huge suc- cess, both in numbers and enthusiasm, and the young speaker displayed a mastery of her sub- ject very freditably for one of her years. ❖ The Oakwood miners are to be congratulated over their choice of a checkweigher. Mr. Tal Mainwaring, the successful candidate, has abil- ity, inflexibility, and reliability, and will un- doubtedly fulfil his duties to the satisfaction of the colliers if not the colliers' employer. Our economic class at Port Talbot, under the tutorship of Comrade Dick Bennetta, has- begun with very encouraging prospects. Bennetta has already shown himself to be a competent teacher with a thorough grasp of Marxian economics. Pupils, however, if any tangible results are to accrue from these classes, must have patience and perseverance. Zeal at the commencement is not sufficient. Steady plodding is better than evanescent enthusiasm; for knowledge that's worth having is worth striving for, and no matter flow clever and painstaking a teacher may be he cannot teach in a voluntary class un- less the scholars have the will to learn. Our old friend and erstwhile comrade, Bib- bings, honoured Bethany Square with his august presence last Saturday evening. He spoke under the auspices of the War Aims Committee. An immense crowd, absolutely filling up the square, stood to listen to his eloquence, and no police- man interfered with the speaker. Like other speakers who had preceded him Mr. Bibbings had little to say about war aims, but he had a lot to say about Hun atrocities. And how de- lightful once again to hear his pellucid sneers, his cock-a-doodle-doo braggadocio, and his his- trionic blarney. How reminiscent of the past his air of convincing sincerity, his bursts of righteous indignation, and his effervescing god- liness. Of that vast throng who stood there so speechless, so apathetic, so unresponsive under that impassioned oration, how many remembered the word Abercynon," how many remembered the speaker's exploits at Swansea, how many re- membered his weekly notes in 11 Llais LlaJir" and his eulogy of the I.L.P. So considerate always, he never stayed at a house in the local- ity without referring to his hospitality as a "'Home from Home." Ah! the I.L.P. was a good movement then, but now!

RHEUMATISM- KIDNEY TROUBLE. Rheumatism is due to uric acici crystals in the joints and muscles, the result of excessive uric acid in the system that the kidneys failed to remove as nature intended, and this acid is to a great extent the cause of backache, lum- bago, sciatica, gout, urinary trouble, stone, gravel and dropsy. The success of Estora Tablets for the treat- ment of rheumatism and other forms of kidney trouble is due to the fact that they restore the kidneys to healthy action, and thereby remove the cause of the trouble, and have cured num- berless cases after the failure of other remedies, which accounts for them superseding out-of-date medicines that are sold at a price beyond all but the wealthy. Women frequently suffer from ills, aches, and pains under the impression that they are victims of ailments common to their sex, but more often than not it is due to the kidneys, and in such cases Estora Tablets will set them right! The test is at least worth making, as woman's happi- ness and success in life depends on her health. Estora Tablets fully warrant their description —an honest remedy at an honest price, 1/3 per box of 40 tablets, or six for 6/9. All Chemists or, postage free, from Estora Co., 132, Charing Cross Road, London, W.C. Bargoed and Aberbargoed Agent-W. PAnaT ) Williams, M.P.S. •• • •• ••

Labour in South Africa I INTERNATIONAL PLATFORM AT MERTHYR I m RINK. MR. ANDREWS ON INDUSTRIAL SOCIALISM. _I The Rink meeting on Sunday afternoon had a refreshing International atmosphere. In ad- dition to Mr. Pet-hick Lawrence, as representing the British pacifist movement, we were able to stage Mr. W. A. Andrews, the delegate of the International Socialist League of South Africa to the Stockholm Conference, and who in tour- ing the country collecting evidence of the real state of proletariate sentiment, has paid a visit to Aberdare during the past week or so, where he is staying with Mr. Idwal Thomas; and also to enjoy the sentiments of our Dowlais-Spanish Comrade Pio Vivien, who attended, at the re- quest of the local I.L.P., to move a resolution of the Dowlais and Abercrave Spanish commun- ity protesting against the unscrupulous methods used by the Spanish authorities to smash the Labour unrest that has been produced by pro- fiteering methods of the Spanish Capitalists. Vivien opened by reminding us of the reality of working-class unity the world over; and tren-! chantly emphasiaad the truth of the solidarity of Capitalism the world over. In Spain, greedy Capitalism was seen at its greediest, and solid- est; and its rapacity had been such that the workers or a neutral country, capaoie or sup- porting itself, were starving because of the pro- fiteering of its native capitalists. The products of Spain, he said, could be bought more cheaply in this country than they could be obtained in Spain. In an attempt to ameliorate their lot the Spanish proletariat had petitioned the Government; but their answer was through the police and the military; and Capitalism had challenged organised Labour to fight the issue. Labour took up the challenge, but through the unscrupulous use of the powers of the state-in- cluding artillery—Labour had been defeated- for this occasion. A thousand leaders—men and women, were cast into gaol and the Dowlais colony had just learned through France that four of their leaders had been sentenced to 30 years' penal servitude. (Shame.) It was to protest against this action and to demand the relea-se of the imprisoned that he asked for our support, and this was unanimously accorded to him. Mr. Andrews, who nad a fine reception, started off iJ:> correct a mistaken notion that he represented the South African Labour Party, of which he was one of the founders, and its President for some time, and we had occasion to be gratified to this mistake since it informed us of the state of Parties over in South Africa. The South African Labour Party, he said, was a pro-war Party, represented more or less in this country by Col. Oresswell. When the war broke out the South African Party—like all its peers the world over—had no definite policy to meet the situation. They were like us, and they shared our anxiety to preserve at all cost the solidarity of the Party. The matter was dis- cussed at great length, and it was decided that subject to its representatives adhering to the general principles of the Party they should be allowed a free hand to speak and act on the. war question according to the dictates of their own consciences. That was the Neutrality Resolu- tion," and it was hoped.. that it might tide the party over the war, but such, was not to be the case. Col. Cresswell had been to German South- West Africa, the war fever had spread, and the general elections were due. Col. Oresswell de- clared his conviction that the party ought to de- clare either for or against the war, and aided by office holders desirous of retaining position and I -y f i-Ltlin i ng posi ion ambitious individuals anxious for position, and the see-it-through resolution was passed. The minority, anti-war sections' pledges were scrapped, and they were turned out of the party which many- of them had been largely in- strumental in building up. He did not belong to the South African Labour Party, with its pledges to General Botha and General Smuts, those murderers of men on the streets of Johan- nesburg. (Cheers.) The small section forced out of the Labour Partrv gave themselves the name of the International Socialist League, and their policy briefly stated was that they were International Socialists, anti-militarists, and their objective was the industrial organisation of the working-class. At g-rea t sacrifice they had been able to carry on a weekfy paper and an active anti-militarist propaganda, despite fines and imprisonment, brutal assaults and so forth. In Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, as in other parts of South Africa, the movement had grown to considerable proportion, and was destined, he believed, to be the. true reflex of working-class organisation in South Africa. Dealing with anti-militarist schemes ne ae- clared that Leagues of Nations; anti-Secret Diplomacy movements and so forth, whilst ex- cellently intentioned and valid as criticism of the past, were Utopian as reforms, from which he did not expect the millenium. The causes of war were economic and there was only one power could stop all' wars, and that was the power of of the working-class organised class-consciously. There was only one reform which could do it, and that was revolution, and that meant that the means of production should be taken out of the hands of the exploiting class, and placed in the hands of the working-class to be run for the benefit of the whole' community. He >believed, as did his Party, that we must lay the axe to the root of the tree of Capitalism, and not con- tent ourselves with lopping off branches. Capi- talism was responsible for all these evils; the historic mission of Labour was to destroy Capi- talism, and in the unfolding of this destiny he and his party placed more reliance on the in- dustrial than on the political weapon—though both were necessary. Labour must go to Par- liament not with a long list of reforms, but to show up on every opportunity the evils under- lying the Capitalist system. The modern Capi- talist State was not worth preserving. He be- lieved it had got to go, but it would not go until we attacked it. The Capitalist State could not he reformed, it must be, destroyed. The indus- trial side of working-class organisation was the constructive side-it contained the emoryo chicken that would ultimately break the sliell of the Capitalistic egg. The p<?lmeal side was the destructive side. South Wales and Glasgow were in the van of a similar movement in this coun- try, and in the industrial centres there were thousands of men and women who thought with us, and would fight with us when organised. (Cheers.) Mr. Pethick Lawrence, paid a fine tribute to Hardie, after which he dealt m a delightful light yet searching vein with the humours of the Bolo imitation that is exercising the Lon- don press. As treasurer of the Union of Demo- cratic Control he assured us that he bad had no money from German sources, and further that they as a body had told the Government that it could send any responsible person it liked to see what money they got and where they got it from. There were a good many organisations in high places that could not say as much. (Cheers.) Amongst the many silly charges made against Pacifist bodies he paused to examine the contention that we were the upholders of Ger- many and the detractors of Great Britain, point- ing out that it was only we who had always unrelenttingly fought the idea of autocratic priveleged government by the few, with its con- sequent secrecy, and that because of our criti- cism of these things we were the only ones en- titled to say our say on them; for the other side proved the shallowness of their criticism by a wholesale adoption of the very principles qf Pr.ussianism that we hated and condemned; and which they professed to abhor. As for begag de- tractors of our own country, that was best answered by considering what- our opponents had done for our country. We saw the very flower of our manhood being destroyed. The casualties for September were 110,000, of whom 15,000 were killed, which meant that in any village where there was A, population of 1,000 v l U a, there was a casualty every week and a. death every few weeks, as a result of the war. Then England's maritime supremacy would almost cer- tainly pass into the hands of the United States; whilst on the economic and financial side we were rushing to lvr^ V The section of the rich class that before the war had owned the greater part of the country; after the war would not only own the greater part of the country, but would also have a lien on the whole of the wealth of the 'future through their holding of War Loan Stock, the interest on which would consume more than had previously to be bud- getted for the national upkeep. The Times told us that we were on the verge of revolution. Personally, he did not believe it; if we were whose fault WAS ? It was the fault of. those who had so W. ay irfisgcHrefiHed: us for year y. The Government by their policy were letting down the prestige, the honour and the greatness of the nation. (Cheers.) Before the opening of the meeting Mr. John Adkins from the chair, made reference to the great loss that we had sustained by the death of Mr. John Williams, and a vote of condolence with the. relatives was passed, all standing.

Prussianism & "The Dreadnought." AUTHORITIES' HIGH-HANDED ACTION. •fc ak On the morning of October 4tli, when the Workers' Dreadnought was being printed at the Blackfriai-s Press, Inspector McLean and other members of the Police force called with a warrant in which Sir Francis Lloyd's name ap- peared, and which was signed by Otway, of the City of London Police. The exact wording of the warrant we cannot give as the warrant was not left with the manager of the Blacktriars Press (Mr. Moss). Inspector McLean ordered, that the type should be melted down and that everything connected with the paper should be destroyed. Mr. Moss was told that he must either' sign an undertaking not to print any further issues of the Workers' Dreadnought or the machinery of the Blackfriars Press would be dismantled there and then, without giving him an opportunity to consult his directors. He therefore signed the undertaking, but asked whether Inspector McLean had approached the proprietors of the paper. Inspector McLean le- plit-l that, he had not, and Mr. Moss then said he would telephone to the editor. Inspector McLean replied I shouldn't do that," but Mr. Moss insisted. Miss Sylvia > Pankhurst, the editor of the Dreadnought, went down to the Blackfriars Press on learning the news and met the police there. She said to Inspector McLean, Ought vou not.to have approached me:3 He replied, "No, Madam," and since then the authorities have not communicated either with the Editor, or with the Workers' Suffrage Feder- ation, of which the Dreadnought is the official organ. „ i • 1- The Workers' Dreadnought. is now UtHUg printed by Mr. J. E. Francis, of the Athenasum Press, who notified Scotland Yard that he in- tended to print the paper, as he considered that the suppression of newspapers in advance is zn interference, with the rights of the printing; trade. Mr. Francis is to be highly congratu- lated on his public spirited action. The Dreadnought" is now on sale tllrongh t he usual channels, and if any difficulty is ex- oerienced in obtaining it, application should be made to the publishers at 400, Old Ford-road, Bow, E-3.  The Action of the police has put both the readers and proprietors of the paper to much in- convenience and has caused a loss to the pro- prietors ofjE3-5, to defray which subscriptions are appealed for.

MILK VENDORS' PRICES QUASHED. I Merthyr milk vendors in increasing their prices to 7d. per quart and 2d. the half-pint reckoned without the local Food Control Com- mittee. Prompt measures were taken by the committee by fixing the charges for the milk in the area at: 6d. per quart, 3d. per pint, and Hd. per half-pint. These prices will be in vocme until the end of November, and mean- while the milk vendoi-o will be invited to state their case. Ninety per cent, of the milk re- tailed in the town is produced in the neighbour- hood (it was stated) and can be bought whole- sale at Is. 5H- per gallon.

Starvation Wages." UNWANTED UNCERTIFICATED TEACHERS' PROTEST. MERTHYR AUTHORITY AND THE FISHER GRANTS. Increases in salaries amounting to £8,982 for 1917-18 to elementary school teachers, and £ 1,080 to those in secondary schools were made by the Merthyr Education Authority on Monday. De- tails of the advances are: Elementary, trained certificated teachers £ 20 per annum, with the adoption of a revised scale up to JE200 for men and £ 160 for women; non-collegiate assistants (women) C20, rising to a maximum of £ 140 trained domestic science teachers holding a triple diploma., L20 up to a maximum of £ 160; uncertificated teachers (men and women), an ad- vance to bring up their salaries to a flat-rate of L-65; supplementary teachers tIO per annum, making the maximum JE55, teachers not placed on the £5i5 maximum by this increase t-o be brought to that figure by annual increments of £i5; university graduates £ 5 extra per annum; head-teachers, £ 20. Secondary: An advance of L20 per annum. War bonuses paid from the respective dates of the increases are merged in salaries and no ad- vance is granted to married women teachers holding temporary appointments. A strong protest was lodged by a deputation from the National Union of Uncertificated Teachers against the treatment meted out their class, inasmuch as uncertificated teachers had to do the same work as certificated assistants. Mrs. Matthias, heading the deputation, pointed out that a number of them were already receiv- ing £60 and t.5 war bonus per annum, so that the new scale, merging as it did war bonus into wages, did not benefit them. According to this scale inexperienced beginners just leaving the secondary schools would be paid the same as teachers with experience up to 30 years and capable of taking classes of as many as 68. Many of up, have to think very; carefully before we can make ends meet upon 25s. a week," she added, and in reply to Mr. F. T. James stated that there were about fourteen such teachers with over 20 years' service. Mr. D. W. Jones wished a postponement of the matter r> v consideration might be givert 4: u Uw^JK-rs t-- whom a grave injustice was being done by the scale suggested. Mr. E. Morrell (chairman) was of the opinion that a decision should be come to at onoe^ suffi- cient having already been spent on the drafting of a scheme. The whole of the Fisher grants was being absorbed by the advance. The Authority did not want uncertificated teachers in their schools, and in normal times he would do his utmost to reduce them to as few as possible. They wanted the best educational attainments-in their teachers for the betterment of the school- children of the borough. Mr. John Davies pointed out these teachers were thus being penalised for lack of educational facilities in the past. Mr. F. T. James, agreeing with the necessity of eventually doing away with uncertificated teachers, seconded the adoption of the scale (moved by the chairman) but advocated that eases of teachers with long services should be considered on their merits. Mr. W. Jones declared that the Fishes- grants were not meant to be allocated according to qualifications but evenly to meet the increase in the cost of living. It was forgotten that a poor teacher without a. certificate has got a stomach. (Laughter.) He agreed that they should be done away with, but they should not be thrown out on the dunghill." Mr. D. W. Jones The real reason for making the advance at the present time- is the high cost of living which affects the uncertificated teachers very much more than the other teachers because they have been under starvation wages for many years. They do their work many of them equal to the certificated teachers. He thought the scale should be reconstructed and some increase should also be given married women teachers, re- garding whom lie said it might be years before their services could be dispensed with. Mr. H. M. Lloyd favoured a "comb-out" as quickly as matters permit of uncertificated teachers .but recognised the necessity of special treatment at some later date. after the adoption of the recommendations which he supported, for cases of long service. The recommendations were eventually adopted with a proviso that uncertificated teachers with more than ten years' experience under the authority should receive additional consideration. In respect of two non-graduate teachers at the Cyfarthfa Secondary Schools it was agreed that having regard to their length of service they should be regarded as graduates for the purposes of the scale.

MUNICIPAL PIGGERTES. Bradford Corporation have spent E3,000 in equipping a municipal poultry farm and pig- geriee.