The Aberdare Leader

Mountain Ash Bill in Parliament. The Mountain Ash Urban District Council Bill was again taken up in Coni- mittee of the House of Commons on -Lhursday. The important feature of the forenoon proceedings was the appli- cation made by Mr. Rhys Williams, on behalf of Lord Aberdare, with regard to ylause 32 which had been already passed J11 Committee, the amendments previous- ly agreed upon between the landowners and the promoters being disallowed in ^ommittee.—Mr. Rhys Williams alluded to the mountainous character of the fountain Ash district, rendering it prac- tically impossible for the owners or occu- piers of surrounding property to fence channel, or embank their lands in such a manner as would adequately pre- vent the soil from falling upon the adja- CE:>nt streets in such quantities as might cfcoke up the sewers or affect the houses. T^-°l- Morgan Morgan, agent for Lord Aberdare, gave evidence upon the points at issue, and stated that Clause 32, as it at present stood, made a most unreason- able claim upon the landlords.—Mr Rhys *»illiams asked that Clause 32 should be eia out. They were prepared to sub- *or ^ie Rhondda clause dealing f such emergencies. They would pre- er this clause even to the altered clause originally agreed upon between the land- j°rds and the promoters.—The Commit- tee decided to accept the altered clause, which provided that the owners or occu- piers of lands should construct such ^orka as would prevent, as far as reason- ably practicable, the soil and debris from railing awav.—A number of clauses were odealt with during the subsequent pro- 011e ^Ie clauses adopted being should not be lawful in any street siyeive fStrict to use any article exclu- vei+iL5„or the purpose of displaying ad- consp.i+lae5ts without first obtaining the in,, toti, ^he Council. A clause relat- es disnn eree1tion, firemen's cottages the CmvT -w being the opinion of grante l?1^ee that powers should not be ar^ sfj 111 suc^ a caee si^ce no preb'min- such f ?jS "la<l been taken towards erecting1 t],f stages.—The Committee announced aami ] would be reported, as amended, to the House.

Letters to the Editor. MOUNTAIN ASH NONCONFORMISTS NEUTRAL! Hr?ea £ Sir,Once again the ministers of ountain Ash have declared on the side of reaction, and falsified all their pro- testations of sympathy with the cause of Temperance, and an'equitable solution of the education question. An appeal was sent to them to support the Nonconform- iist and Temperance candidate, and they decided with touching foresight "to re- gain neutral." Neutral to the Temper- ance question—these loud-voiced acclaim- of the Licensing Bill! Neutral on the nfS^'011 Question, after the resolutions 5 tfeir conference! Neutral on the iiglits of Nonconformity, these followers of orave men who won our rights in Prison and at the stake! What a dis- grace to Nonconformity! How the world ™ust laugh in its sleeve at their antics. it a reality or a farce? Thank God ior brave leaders out in the world. When «is professed ministers fail in their duty ue has always his servants ready outside. Nonconformists of Mountain Ash, in the ^ortneonung- election, look not to your ini iiisters for guidance—they will be hid- ing behind you. Stand yourselves for ■Nonconformity, for principles, and for religious equality. Stand for Temper- ance and for right. And if they will not lead you, let them, spe that you, at any rate, have the courage of your convictions and will not be false to them.—I am, ours indignantly, NONCONFORMIST.

DUFFRYN WARD ELECTION.—SOME FACTS FOR THE ELECTORS. Sir,—In view of the fact that Mr. G. A. Evans is one of the candidates for the D.D.C., it is well that the public should be reminded of his action at the Local W\ernnient Board Inquiry on the Hous- es Question held at Mountain Ash near- ty two years ago. At that Inqury Mr. Avalls stated that he had a large num- e1' of houses under his supervision vacant, the rent of which would be 22s. ,er month. That statement was a mis 'presentation of the facts, as it was Proved by myself and others at the time. went to Mr. Evans' offices and asked for W r 88 ^s" I)er month, and was told v his chief clerk that there were no un- °upied ones, and that I had better call ^ain in a fortnight. I wrote to the local Qiies8> and challenged Mr. Evans with i^ers to prove the statement that there nunareds oi empty nouses in Moun- RjnUl Ash," and, of course, he remained s/i eiyt, knowing that he had made such a Te riiig mis-statement of the facts. Cor- ^Pondence appeared in the local press that Proved that he was wrong, and at JL°thers beside myself wanted houses Gf, Per month. I wrote the Local e, r T- I I overnment Board, and received replies fin n:,y statement was taken note of. A inquiry revealed the fact that uere was but one empty house in Moun- frIn Ash. In face of these facts I ask i e electors, are you going to place ypur weal government in the hands of one KII .ili action at that Inquiry, owed that he was seeking his own ends, oviously, when houses are scarce, rents „ r,e kigh, an<\ ,as. Mr. Evans is a. house i's" t° b]s. interest to obtain a seat In the Mountain Ash Council. Every •+ vote that is cast for Mr. Evans is one more to perpetuate the system of house monopoly. So I ask the workers to think well and vote for the Labour Candidate, and thus uphold the principles of truth and justice.—Yours truly, A. J. THATCHER. 24, Windsor-road, Griffithstown, Mon. T AT THE MOUNT

Dear Sir,—I should like a word in your paper with respect to the brushing up of our "Territorials." I noticed in your last issue that at a meeting held in the Mountain Ash Council Chamber to con- sider what steps might be taken tc further this scheme, the Rev. E. V. Tid- man expressed his approbation of mili- tary service, and further thought a chapel quite a suitable place in which to gather armed men, who have sworn at the word of command to commit any murder they are told. Why was it not suggested at the same meeting that, as there seems some difficulty in scraping together the last few officers and men, the remaining vacancies be volunteered for from our warlike clerical friends? What is good for my brother ought to be good for me. There is one law of right and wrong alike for priest and people. It would not be amiss if we had a still further revised edition of the Bible to suit our warlike tendencies. Such commands as "Thou shalt not kill, "Love one another," "Put up thy sword, for they that take the sword shall perish by the sword," ought not to be tolerated by any self-re specting' Christian Territorial. Religion is all very well in theory, but if it be- gins to restrict our powers of killing each other we can't permit it at all. Besides, the message of the Cross will go singu- larly well with the clang of armed men. And what is the motive of these people, who are not placing before the fathers and mothers of these young and ignor- ant recruits the true position of this Territorial Army? Why do they not tell thm that in reply to a question asked in the House of Commons it was stated that in the event of any industrial struggle between employers and employed these boys can be compelled to defend the property of the employers and to fire upon the strikers and their own fathers and brothers might be among them. And this is called patriotism, and receives the blessing of a representative of the churches!—I am, sir, yours, etc., A FATHER.

COMMUNION AT MOUNTAIN ASH. 1 Dear Sir,—In. your last week's issue "Inquirer" denies the truthfulness of my statement and contradiction, that the rumour current in the town re expulsion had nothing to do with N oddfa C.M. Church; more than that, he now states clearly that in his letter of March 6th it was our church he had in mind. In that letter there are two implied charges (1) That his friend L. Daniel had been expelled. (2) That he had offered to place his reasons for his conduct before the deacons or the church. To both of these statements again I will say they are un- true. You say that you do not like tell- ing lies, and you ask me not to lead you into temptation. What! Are you going to prop up your charges with lies? liar be it from me to lead you into such a temptation. I believe, if I do understand myself aright, that I would rather suffer a wrong in silence than cause another person to commit a sin, through claiming my own right. May I ask Inquirer," Is there no difference between being ex- pelled out of a church and back-sliding away from it ? Of course there is. When a person joins the I.L.P. he subscribes to the tenets and regulations of the society; and when he ceases to believe in their programme he is naturally looked upon as a backslider., Are there anv reasons why a Christian church should not ex- pect the same from. its own members? You seem to doubt my knowledge of the position and the relation of to our church. Please clear your mind of all such cant. I do know the real position and its proper relation, and no one knows it better than I do. I have diagnosed it thoroughly; it is a spiritual disease which. I have painfully watched for many months. At the end of last year, when it became known to the church that L.D. had withdrawn his subscription to the tenets and regulations of our church, I made it my special office to see him per- sonally, and then asked him to meet the deacons. He did meet the deacons on Wednesday, January 8th, this year; but for reasons known to himself, and in part known to myself, he refused to dis- cuss his position in their presence. Per- haps he was right in doing so; all I know is that his position was an untenable one. More than that, rather than leave L.D. in loneliness to plough his own furrow, two members of the diaconate waited upon him on Saturday afternoon, Janu- civ ¡:¡,jT.a, to try and persuade him to come back to his usual place as a. church member, but so far it has been his choica to remain outside. I could say more, but I trust- this is enough. Now, In- quirer, I believe that you are an honour. able man. I have two things to ask of you: First, that you will acknowledge to being misled as to the facts of the case. and that you are sorry of having made false charges against our diaconate. In the second place, that you will publish under your proper name an apology through the columns of this paper to the deacons of our church for having griev- ously slandered them.A.waitii-,g this I remain, J. O. JENKINS, Pastor. Noddfa C.M. Church, Mountain Ash.

CHURCH ENDOWMENTS. Dear Sir, — I quite agree with the ancient truism of "Mr. Wm. Godfrey, Organising, etc." ad infinitum, that a it is the usual refuge of those who are de- feated in argument to take to personal abuse"; but the application of the soft impeachment is another matter. Your rtaders will see that it cannot apply to me, for they know that I have not even pretended to argue yet; to have been de- feated, therefore, is out of the question, and consequently I can have no need for the a refuge" he refers to. It will be soon enough for this invincible logician to trumpet his victory and my defeat when the fight is over; to do so before it begins is a little premature, and reminds one of the Dauphin's boast to Harry of Monmouth. Judging, however, by the sequence of grammatical construction, your correspondent unwittingly, I pre., sume, turns his envenomed shaft against himself: for, in his succeeding statement, he says "I am accustomed to this," and "this" most naturally refers to the whole sentence. Perhaps it would be personal abuse to suggest that an error in grammar was made. Mr. Wm. Godfrey, the well-paid agent of the Church Defence League in South Wales, may have argued much, and have been often defeated, but he has neither argued with, nor defeated me yet. Further on, my would-be victor writes: There can be no excuse for the rev. gentleman not giving your readers these proofs now, because I am perfectly willing to allow that the church is an en- dowed church." This, sir, is mere quib- bling, and the writer knew that he was quibbling when he penned these words, as the next statement clearly shows, tlius-" The question between us is what is the origin of these endowments ?" I ad- here to the conditions laid down in my first letter, and as soon as Mr. William Godfrey, etc., establishes beyond question by undeniable facts that the Church of England in Wales is not State-aided, or State-endowed, I am prepared to argue with him onifthe points referred to in his letter, even at the terrible risk of being defeated by him. I never said that a Church endowments were intrinsically evil but I do say that a great deal of Church of England endowment is un- justly held by it. I answer my would-be victor's last question by stating that Non- conformist endowments are private en- dowments; but those of the Church of England are public, national, State-en- dowments, and I defy Wm. Godfrey, Esq., etc., etc., to prove otherwise.—I am, Abercynon. J. R. HUGHES.

TERRITORIAL MEETING AT MOUNTAIN ASH. Mr. Editor,—Allow me space to say a few words on the above subject, in its re- lation to the working class movement. The meeting was convened by Mr. Mor- gan at the request of the County Associ- ation. Was it the request of the above association to exclude the working class I from this meeting? Are the workers (as usual) to have no voice in the cause in which they are expected to enlist? I hope the workers in all trades will not swallow the insult quietly. This question of national defence is a public matter, and the public should have a voice in its organisation. Your correspondent states that a number of influential and repre- sentative tradesmen were present. May I ask who they represented ? You ap- pend a list of names of persons present who surely cannot by any stretch of the imagination be deemed to represent the democracy of Mountain Ash. Col. Mor- gan was voted to the chair (very properlv too) as he represented the, people. He ex- plained that he would like to hear their views as to the desirability of pressing the matter forward. Now, sir, if the scheme was a. democratic scheme, whaf need would there be of pressing the matter at all? He also stated that the present scheme was an improvement on tiie old Volunteer system, but forgot to snow how, hence this letter. The old Volunteer system, did not compel personH to take up arms in case of an industrial war in any place, neither was any per- son unaer martial law at any time with the exception of the days of inspection and of camp, but under this scheme the moment you enlist you are under martial law, and can be compelled to take up auy" a^ civil police armed with batons, and. it the necessity arises be compelled to use such weapons as the authorities may deem necessary or expedient to quell nets. Here then is the p6int for the workers consideration. Your patriotism 18 to be appealed to by your masters. I want to appeal to your reason. First you ■^16 asked to enlist to defend your country from invasion. Your country! This sounds very pretty, and looks well in print, but what are the facts? Five million people hold and control all the land and machinery and tools; 38 million own nothing but their labour force which cannot be used unless the owning classes wish to buy it, and as business people they will not buy it unless it is profitable to them. Take a lesson at home here at Mountain Ash. Lord Aberdare and Messrs. Nixon s Co. hold nearly all the land and machinery. We, the workers, are allowed to sell our labour force to them at the best price we can command by the means of our Federation, and as such are their economic slaves. Then are we to fight for something we do not possess? Are we to fight for the very per- sons who hold the key of the national store-house to the disadvantage of the workers in time of peace, and when the key is lost for a time and the starving workers revolt against the holders, we are to be compelled to shoot down our fellows, to bludgeon and bayonet our in- dustrial companions! The Territorial Force is for home defence, then why these regulations which give such power to the haves ? Again, what difference does it make to you as wage-slaves whether you are exploited by the German or the English or the Welsh financier or employer? You own no land, machinery, or tools; you are not allowed to work without the consent of the employer, who will not employ you unless you are profit- able. And this is the scheme you are asked to support, to bind round your limbs the shackles of serf-dom! Let them give the 38,000,000 have-nots a stake in the country they are asked to defend; let the key of the store-house be handed over to the people. Mr. Powell, M.E., states that it is with difficulty he can get an order obeyed, and military training would alter this. In other words, the workers would be more obedient and more servile. They would be better wealth- producers, that is, they would make better machines for the master class Then the parson and the Nonconformist joined in their praises of the scheme. Here we have the expounders of the principles of the Prince of Peace in favour of giving greater facilities to hired assassins to shoot down the workers if the necessity arise, which they have never refused to do. We miners cannot forget Featherstone, or Peterloo, or Belfast, or Manchester, where the streets. were strewn with dead and dying, and the channels ran red with the blood of our fellows. Nor will we forget 1898, when the soldiers were drafted into this dis- trict to keep law and order, presumably; but whose object was undoubtedly to in- timidate them or to incite them. Mr. G. A. Evans is a candidate for Duffryn Ward, and an officer of the Territorial Force. He must know its regulations, and should as a man seeking public office tell the people the truth about it or stay out of public life. My fellows should remember that theirs is" not to reason why, but theirs is to do or die. without question or reply, as refusal means court-martial and perhaps death. So I leave the case with you, comrades. Which is it to be, reason or patriotism?— Yours, etc., TRADE UNIONIST.

Bostock and Wombwell's No. 1 Travelling Zoo. We would draw our readers' attention to the visit to Aberdare and Districts of this Royal Show. It is some three years now since their last visit. Since then tne c show has made very extensive additions of novelties and unique animals never before seen in a travelling menagerie. A visit to this famous show of a couple of hours and one learns more of the habits of the denizens of the forests of tropical countries than a year's book-learning. This mammoth show will be located at the places mentioned in our advertise- ment on the dates given. The numerous carriages will contain amongst other numerous specimens of forest and jungle habitues, the finest and largest lions in Europe to-day, tigers, leopards, bears, hyenas, wolves, jaguars, a waggon load of monkeys, beautiful aviaries of foreign birds, all the latest novelties in the ani- mal world, including a white kangaroo carrying young. Tasmanian devils, the smallest horse alive, wild boars from Windsor Great Park presented to Mr, E. H. Bostock by his Majesty the King as a mark of esteem. There are three famous world-renowned lion tamers with this mammoth collection, who give dar- ing performances at intervals with all classes of wild animals. There are herds of elephants, camels, and dromedaries for the children to ride on. There will be great local attractions at Mountain Ash and Aberdare—at the evening per- formances—when Mr George Groves, pro- prietor of the Navigation Hotel, Moun- tain Ash, and Mr. Geo. Minza, proprietor Vulcan Inn, Aberdare, will enter a Den of Lions on the Wednesday and Thurs- day evenings at the respective towns.

SKIN DISEASES. OVERCOME BY THE WONDERFUL BLOOD PURIFYING PROPERTIES OF DR. MORSE'S INDIAN ROOT PILLS. A person suffering from eruptions of the skin has much to endure. It is not merely the discomfiture and irritation and painful sensation, but life is made miserable by de- pression of spirits.1 The liver was tor- pid and the kidneys are partially inop- erative, and you feel languid and weak. The disease is in the blood and when the system is not cleansed through the usual channels Nature asserts herself and forces portions of the impurities through the skin in the form of Pimples, Boils, and Blotches. External remedies —powders, ointments and lotions only alleviate they do not get at i-lhe cause. Dr. Morse's Indian Root PiilR get at the cause by removing the disease from the blood. They cleanse the system by stimulating the Livet1 and strengthening the Kidneys, which filter the blood and throw off the impure matter through the regular channels. They are a positive and permanent cure for all complaints arising from impure blood, liver and kid- ney complaints. Sold by Chemists and Stores, price im per bottle: or The W, H. Comstock Co., Ltd., 21, Farnngdon Avenue, Lon- don, E.C.

Claim against a Brewery. At Aberdare County Court on Thurs- day—before Judge Bryn Roberts—a case part heard on Tuesday was resumed. Plaintiff was Evan Bees, owner of the end house in Montague-terrace, for whom Mr. C. Kenshole appeared, and he sued the Rock Brewery Co. for damage to bis house by allowing water from a pond to percolate through the embankment into his house. The damages were placed at <= £ 20, and plaintiff also asked for an in- junction. Mr. D. Lleufer Thomas (in- structed by Mr. D. Richards, Aberdare) appeared for the defendants. Samuel vviuiams, surveyor; E. G. Henton, sur- veyor; and W. R. Williams, B.Sc., gave evidence for the plaintiff, and Evan Evans, manager of the Rock Brewery; D. Richards, solicitor, and T. Roderick, architect, for the defence. The Judge, who had inspected the spot during the adjournment, said he had come to the conclusion that the water to an appreci- able extent came from the pond, and he assessed the damages at iilo. and gave leave to appeal, with stay of execution, and he granted the injunction asked for as from March 31st.

Life is a game, and some of us have thrown away most of our pieces before wa realise the value of them. Then we are left to checkmate Fate with a king and a pawn.

.-J '(f(lJ:n r¡¡ ¡Wi /1 without wh'l*ch,no Dinner Tableis coinplete. Wales' Largest Furnishers. IL N =AdaL Bevan & Co., Ltd., PONTYPRIDD & CARDIFF. FURNITURE BARGAINS At the 59th Annual Sale prion to Stocktaking. Free Train Fares Delivery. X6 Allowed. Jin ^VERM^NTELS> a]1 Best British Plate usual price, 27/6 Sale Price. 19/11 fon ^0me'made Full-sized FEATHER BEDS (Splendid Ticks) „ 49/6 „ 32'6 320 Massive Full-sized Black and Brass BEDSTEADS 35/- 25/6 300 Full-sized Wire-woven MATTRESSES (Pitch Pine Frames). 15/9 9/11 175 Strong and Useful COTTAGE BEDROOM SUITES 5/5/0 3/13/6 227 LEATHER CLOTH SUITES (thoroughly reliable) „ 5/5/0 3/19/6 156 Plate Glass-back handsome SIDEBOARDS 5/12/6 3/17/6 58 Splendid CHIPPENDALE CABINETS 6/7/6 4/4/0 196 Saddlebag strong and useful SUITES "8/12/6,, 5/19/6 1750 VARIOUS HEARTHRUGS and 696 CARPET SQUARES, Greatly Reduced. Bevan & Company, Ltd., Pontypridd, Cardiff, &c. # ESTIMATES ON APPLfCATJON 11, I.for-d Street, 'j|j Taff Vale Coal Co., "'O^NTA.^ASH: j ROAD 9 mffB When moving send for estimate of cost to TAFF VALE COAL Co., Mountain Ash. EXPERIENCED PACKERS EMPLOYED. P.O. TEL. 20. Future stored at our Warehouses. Terms Strictly Moderate. I We have SPECIALLY CONSTRUCTED VANS of all sizes adapted for removing Furniture by Road or Rail. ■ Best House and Steam Coal supplied, also Firewood. THE ALL ipC STEEL BICYCLE i. That carries an ever* £ 'i lasting Guarantee. 1|| 100,003 Miles and Still Perfect. ||| MF- H. RYDER, who has ridden his Raleigh Cycle this long distance It&••• j is one of our satisfied customers. He-describes the Jj t Raleigh as a wonderful piece of machinery." May we send you "THE BOOK OF THE RALEIGH." fMW* describes the All Steel Cycle in detail. |pff\ PARKER BROS., Aberdare, yp|g§ & 6*7, Commercial St., Mountain Ash. I, in Aberdare School of Commerce, Civil Service, & Correspondence College, Principal s d. MARSHALL, F. INC., S.T., F.S.C., ete., Students rapidly prepared for Com- mercial and Civil Service appointments. Lucrative positions secured for all qualifying for Commercial appointments. Students are efficiently prepared for Pupil Teachers, Prelim. Certificate and Certificate Examinations. Success GUARANTEED to WORKERS in all branches. Full particulars re Terms, Entry Forms, etc., of any of the above on application to the Secretary. D. JAMES, M, Ynyebryd Street, Aberdare, is»s for many years been r*ry BneoemfBl « curing ING&OWING NAIXS CORN# Ritd BUNIONS. W^y Suff«r? Give him call, He also makes a porous plaster foi Lumbago and Bronchitis, etc." National Telephone 21.] JOHN MORGAN & SON (ABERDARE) LIMITED, Builders, Contractors and Undertakers Complete Funeral Furnishers and Funeral Directors. Estimates given for Bricked Graves and Vaults. ALL ORDERS PROMPTLY ATTENDED TO AND CARRIED OUT AT MOST REASONABLE PRICES. Orders taken at the Offices Penydarren Street arid 4 Stuart Street, Aberdare.