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-=-=: Political Notes By F. W. Jowett. I SHARP PRACTICE. i It will be remembered that when the railway- jficn struck work rather than accept the de- finitive offer of the railway syndicate,—which, If it had been accepted, have effected a ^■rious reduction of wage's in the near future- the Government issued a stabememt leading the Public to believe that the railwaymen had struck to enforce clem amis which would -i nc.roiaise t,he f'.ost of running the railways the- amount of £ l4,()0Q,000 a year. The .statement was obvious- ly untrue. It was against a, threatened reduc- ??n that the men struck. Beyond an adjust- ment betwe?K the wages paid for ?imHar work by different companies and at different phwe;. the men had a?ked for no addition to their pre- wages. The figure of £ 14,OIK),000 appears have been obtained by estimating the saving :the railway companies expected to mak e on their Present wages bill under the terms of their "de- finitive" offer, and adding to the sum of this Expected saving the comparatively small cost of adjusting the present inequalities. The figure of tl-t,OW),O(X) was, thereforo, a bogey figure Intendt"d to influence public opinion against the Itlen. To a limited extent it accomplished the Purpose for which it was intended. It will be •membered that the Government a"t() endea- voiued to prejudice the men's case 'by alleging that the men were making this demand for -14,000,000 at the instigation cf anarchists who \rt' promoting a Direct Action strike Against the State. 14ONEY MARKET STRIKE. I Whilst the railway men's strike wapin pro- gress, atid the Government was sending its poi- son gas through the press, another strike wa,9 being conducted, of which the public wj^s not even informed. There was a strike in the money piarket. The financiers wanted a higher rate of intent on Treasury bills, and through their brokers m the tnoney market the-v took direct Action to secure it. The plan had been carefully Prepared beforehand, and it Mas correctly timed to gain the object in view. The financiers had Seen that the Government were in ui-gent nee l of large !sums of money to pay off Kxcheqlver Jionds that were coming .due for pavmewt, and also to pay interest -on large c:>a». & are Only two methods by which a capitalist govern- ment can meet a situation of this kind. One is borrowing from its bankers, which inflates the ^'Ur-'iicy (for the bankers do not lend anything pPal! v, they only manufacture credit, which in- mates the currency). The financiers knew very Well that the Government could 'not aldopt this *netlu.d (;11 this occasion, because bankers' cre- dits jire being manufaetmred to the utmost pos- sible extent to meet normal expenditure. The other method, which, in the circumstances, the Government was bound to adont, was to issue Treasn rv Bills redeemable at the end of three six months tu tide over the difficulty for the fame being. SUCCESSFUL DIRECT ACTION. I It is admitted that the financiers had large Amount* of money awaiting investment when the Government w as in the extremity above de- scribed. jHiere was mot the slightest- reason, therefore, providing there had been a free mar- ket, to expect anything else than that the Trea- sury Bills would be readily taken »p at the rate of interest at which existing Treasury Bills have been taken lip. The financiers, however, with- held their money quite as effectively ias the rail- way men were at that time withholding their la- bour. It was a lightening strike. No notice whatever was given of tlw intentions of the strikers. It was completely successful. The Government gave in without a murmur. A 20 per cent, advance was offered, ami the itione), was immediately forthcoming. Six months' bills therefore, on which the Government had pre- viously paid interest at the rate of 4 per cent, per annum, are now being issued at 5 per cent., and as the Treasury Bills already issued fall due they will have to be renewed at the higher rate. The latest returns show that the Treasury BiJil" even then outstanding. amounted to tkjl.OOn.noll. One per cent. on this amount will give the financiers over C8,o00,000 a year as one result of their .successful strike. THE LIVERIED PRESS. I Railwaymen were falsely accscd of demand- fact, they were resisting a reduction. Tlw Govern- ment dencunce(ithe Railwaymen in press ad- vertisements tor daring to protect their present standard—advertisements printed at the public expense—tlie railwaymen themselves paying, as well as the rest of us. The pre-vs was mobilised against the railwaymen. Editors were instructed what to write in their pa per* Mr. Lloyd George's false charges against the railwaymen were put on the screen at the picture houses throughout the length anil breadth of the laind. at his special request. But no word, even of mild protest, has lie uttered against the small groups of ifnanciers who, taking advantage of a favourable opportunity, have obtained 20 per cent, advance on the rate of interest on their money. He doe, not even think the occurrence worth mentioning to the public, who will be called upon to pay the £ 8.500,000 a year in (oon- sequence 'of the strike :of money-lenders. After this there can be no excuse for anyone who is in doubt as to whose man is Mr. Lloyd George. MY LORD TOM NODDY—ENCI NEMAN. I it is only for the purposes ot war of one sort ami another that the Government ever nets as if it might be aware of certain simple principles which ought to be app-lihliu order to make the best uses of the resources of the nation and the services of the people. Confronted as it was during the recent strike with the stoppage of the railways, ther Government look .some pains to organise other means of transport that had previously been neglected. For months before the strike occurred large .stocks of gonxls of all kinds were lving at different pons- and little or nothing was done to organise methods of transport to take them to the places where they were urgently required. During the strike, however, steps were taken to utilise all avail- able motor traction for public service. Motoring for pleasure was ordered to cease. Necessary things were g iven preference for carriage over unnecessary things. The rich were appealed to to take a share in the world's work. The occa- sion for the appeal being a few of the Upper Classes—some of whom were titled persons-r(-- sponded. The Press hacked up the Government in the matter. As one newspaper said, There must be an end of waste—of joy-iiding, jazz dancing, over-feeding, cafe-lounging, and any sort of waste of food or material." KEEP IT UP! I But why should attention to those simple truths cease with the end of the striker There is only one way out of the present difficult situation into which the country has been plunged by the wai, and that is by devoting the resources of the nation to the national service. Food, houses, clothes, furniture, and all other necessary things should be produced to the ex- elusion of all things not immediately iieoessary. There is no Labour to spare for the production of unnecessary firings ait present, and the em- ployment of labour on them should be not only discouraged but prohibited. Then' is labour enough to feed, house and clothe the whole of the people, if it were directed to that purpose. During the* war, when millions of ".orkerr; were fighting, and millions more were .employed sole- ly in manufacturing and transporting munitions of war there was loss hunger and starvation in the land than there would have been rif there had been no war. At present, although inillionii of workors are available for useful work who for years have been engaged in war work, the nation cannot get its most necessary work done because the long purse determines what things shall be produced. Hence, useful things are scarce and dear, whilst there is no limit to the provision of expensive articles of luxury. It is a, significant fact, for example, that practically the only build- ing operations in progress to-day are concerned with the erection of garages, large houses, hotels and pleasure houses ami that, there is non enormous, increase in the number of persons who are acquiring or already possess motors for their pri vate pl eas it r e. THE ONLY WAY. I This misdirection of the energies of the people, which is the inevitable result of •entrusting the industry and commerce of the nation to the pro- fiteer, must be brought to an end if the people are to he housed and clothed and fed in the future. The olti., haphazard custom of relying on production for profit will n-ot slrvo after an interval of five years of war and destruction. The Socialist method of production for use is the only one that will bring order out of the present chaos, establish industry on a firm foun- dation. and ensure to the worker the results of his labour.

Tchitcherin's Appeal. I WORKERS MAY SAVE RUSSIA I BY BRINGING PRESSURE TO BEAR ON I GOVERNMENTS. The Soviet Government victoriously repulsed the White Guard and troops of other govern- ments, whom the Entente had ranged against Petrograd; it now tusk s the Finnish and Lettish Governments o enter into pourparlers to J'e- establish friendly relations. The Government of Russian workers and peasants has always recog- nised the right of all countries to independence. It does not attempt to impose its sovereignty on anyone a,ml condemns all policies of conquest. The Russian Soviet Government wishes to ex- amine carefully all treaties which would satisfy the parties now at war with it. It feels certain that an understanding is possible, and expresses the hope that the Entente will not put obstacles in its way. The Russian counter-revolution has forced the Polish Government to participate in the counter-revolutionary crusade and to sup- port the interests of the imperialistic Powers of the Entente. A WORD TO YOU. I Workers of Great Britain and 1< ranee, we appeal to you to prevent an intervention which would (hinder the conclusion of peace in the Baltic countries. Your Governments have found it necessary to recall some of their troops from the Nol-tli and South of Ru&sia. Yon possess a weapon powerful enough to put an end to the imperialistic policy of your governors in connec- tion with the Baltic countries. Demand with an authoritative voice that your Governments cease to oppose the conclusion of peace. Success will depend on the degree of pressure you bring to bear. The Russian Soviet Government is ready at any moment to enter into negotiations with the Governments of the Kntente. By your in- tervention help the Russian masses, who also want to live in peace, as well as the Baltic vic- tims of your imperialistic Governments." (Russian Wireless, September 29th). STILL READY. 'i he Agency 1'Information received the fol- lowing telegram from Copenhagen ou October 8rd :— In the course of an interview Tehitcherin said: 'As far as peace is concerned my inten- tians are the same as at the time of the Bnllir I mission, We ;(i-(? to inilie peace at any moment, provided that there is an immediate i cessation of military operations on the territory which constituted the former Russian Empire, and that the Allied blockade is raised. These | general principles have remained unchanged. We itave xot itnposett. nor do we wish to impose. Communism on anyone. The blockade has done us great harm.'

Our City Fathers To Be. I MR. LEWIS JONES AND COUNCILLOR I JOHN WILLIAMS. Penydarren has always shone well in Council discussions because of the aotivity of that little live-wi re of Labour administration—Councillor Llewellyn Francis. Penydarren ion the future xy-ill add to its lustre, ii- one of the most ener- getic of our Labour constituencies, by adding consistency to its former good sense and re- turning Mr. Lewis Jones as the ward colleague of the ba-rber. In some respects the combina- tion will be an oxodlent one for the whole tinie —for Penydarren cannot monopolise the excel- lent services of two such representatives to it- self. Their at-rivuigs on behalf of their consti- tuents, automatic-ally compels a fight for tlie better management of the whole tOWJI and dis- trict. And that is exactly as it should be for neither Mr. Jones nor Councillor Francis would, I am certain, conseiit to selfishly serve a paro- chial interest while the whole cried aloud for treatment. But though to both the whole is greater than the part, I know that they have that littlo sense of necessary pride that makes our own district the sweetest and best in the world. Penydarren may not be the centre of the universe geographically, £ ut home is the centre of tlie greater world of personal relation- ships, and ardent frieuds-aniisinee Penydarren is home to both of them, and $ince.again both are fired with a greater conception of home and its meaning to the world m--li-en it. is turned into a real home than can ever enlighten the mind of a mere money grubber, w-hose soul is in the keep- ing of his banker, it follows that those to whom Penydaireu is also home can best entrust their destinies to those who in themselves embody that splendid inspiration. Principally, I can think of Mr. Lewis as a homely man. A quiet, god-fearing man—ter- rible as all such men cannot help being in his hatred of reaction, corruption, hypocrisy and in hum inness, the ugly family of the hideous demon of selfishness. Selfishness Jima al-ivays hitherto reigned in the high places of earth. Self-seeking and jobbery have been the dominant principles of the representatives of the people. It is against these that Mr. Lewis Jones will 1. t j* I' ? a strive dad in that annom' of righteousness that he has found in the gospel as preached in Horeb—of w hich he is a deacon—and that he has found enunciated in a programme of practical politics in the programme of the Labour Party. Always the beacon-light of reason has been his guide, He is a Christian not because it is con- ventional to be one, but because for him the ethics of his religion express a code of conduct that a-lone squares with the needs of man, he is an active trades unionist because lie has seen the same ethical principles that he professes on Sunday rendered impossible of practical realisa- tion so long as industry is based upon the rob- bery of those who work, by those who perform no useful function in society. He is a Labour Party candidate to-day because hesoos that the whole morality and conduct of society has warped and twisted upon its rotten foundations of sneak-thief cla-ss division. His life, Iilio his countenance, is frank and open. Christian because of his moral sense; Labour because Christianity to him means more thtlll a mere empty philosophy of a might be," his life is a. connected whole; the parts reacting sympathetically and in strict accord with his reason. To his mind a. thought of personal glory would be impossible. What he sees as a duty he can no more help engaging; in than a hungry fly could keep out.of a treacle pot. Not all the gold in the world nor all the tortures of a Chinese dungeon could keep him silent when the w ants he sees around hun 1 the misery he contacts w ith as a worker so insistently calls for expression. And yet he is not with all. this a man of' verbose rhetoric. What he has to say is said straight from the shoujtlpr, in homely English tersely expressed. His speeches are never boreing, and never too long—for he con- fines himself to what he has to ;say, and being possessed of that faculty of concentrating him- self on what lie is doing he is not led from the performance of his task by irruptionbe it a, plaudit or an angry interjection. [ can see him now sitting intently through a Council discussion, grimly listening until the moment comes to speak, and then rising and in a voice, the mildness of which does not detract, from its incisivenesis or render one altogether unconscious of the squared jaw of the fighter behind the mouth. What he will say will not be an obvious, matter-of-fact statement that lie has contributed, but if ulterior purposes were the purport of any side to th< debate, then the framers of those purposes will know that tliey are discovered and their case lost. He will ris in the Council Chambers as (he Iras risen in the Trades Council, not because of any flambuoyamt self-assertion, but rather because of its absence. Merit need not be noisy when, it is affiliated with sound common-sense, rigid adherence to a dearly conceived art of principles, and backed by a strong personality. Those qualities have made Mr. Jones viee-dhairman in the Trades Council and Labour Pårty, they give him stand- ing when he announces his decisions as an ad- judicator at the Eisteddfodau he loves so mud). they will lift. him some "day into a front rank position in our Municipality—and in that day Penydarren will be even prouder of its cham- pion -of this election than it even is now. JOHN WILLIAMS. Somehow I should feel -as though I had not completed my task this week if 1 did not men- tion in connection with Mr. Lewis, our candi- date for Cyfarthfa Ward, Couicillor John Wil- liams. In many w ays theix ,is a resemblance about the two that is startling. Both are tall, but the likeness is not one of physique alone. Both are alike quiet in their talk, slow to anger, t-lbeit- power of concentration and brief statement, hut it is not. there either that 1 should diagiu se the likeness—strong though it may he, I have seen them hpt'hat work on the Trades Council, I have watched the efficiency with which they have co-cpe-rated in the work of the Genei ul 'HospiftaJ, a nd 1 have marked these physical and psychologic similariti_ es times (Continued at foot of next column).

The Whitened Sepulchre. I BY MARK STARR. I Hypocrisy, where will it find a defender? Yet our present social system is soaked in it. What we are told by the teacher, the preacher, the pressman, and the chief politicians is in violent contrast with their own wtion and with those of the class they are willy-nilly forced to repre- sent. So glaring are these contradictions that their being unnoticed is a. tribute to the effec- tiveness of the mental domination exercised by the dominant class. But fortunately that domi- nation is being increasingly challenged and to many of us workers in every paper of the "kept" Press these hypocrisies are now very obvious. A short while ago, for example, the King, by a letter, Uirgoo us to work and save," and we thought of the decorative, useless ceremonies which are his" work and how working people might s,,tvo themselves providing hits fairly large income and give him a chance to live a more pleasant, simple life. Likewise, Parlia- ment heartily assentt6 to the need for a more assiduous attention to work," and immediatelv after takes a nine weeks' holiday. By their deeds we know them. Again, economy is being preached while a sum of tIO0 niilliors will be freely spent out in. Russia to wipe away tlie most dangerous object- lesson to the capitalists that the workers have ever had the chance of seeing. And even in the face of Ireland, India and Egypt, lip service is paid to "self-determination" of nations. Ireading on the heels of the find,ings of a Commission pointing out the possible dangers of Trusts came the turning down of the tame Sankey report and the adoption of these very things with unlimited profits in the running of the coal industry. They iuiist think us very short memoried. This hypocrisy in recent events is paralleled again and again in the more permanent features of the system. Our aaasters preach thrift to the workers, but practise showy luxury themselves. Men who have never been in a coal mine, though perhaps Hving on profits made there, bewail the absenteeism of the colliery worker. (Even if these people were once to enter a coalmine or workshop they would take a photographer with them so that such a unique sight should" be pre- served.) They talk of increased production, but inwardly mean increased profits. They be- wail the sad industrial future of "our" country but wlittt is really worrying them is the futuve of "their" dividends. In tames of industrial peace they ignore and under-value the service of the workers; but when the latter -are forced to prove they are really in earnest by standing outside the work- shop and the mine in protest. against low wages or bad conditions, then their scorn is equalled by their hate. So important now are these for- merly despised ones that their inaction is im- perilling 'society itself. The capitalists, through their representatifr-eis, pretend to admire the finer virtues, yet when a huge body of men dis- play a wonderful loyaltv to each other, in spite of in, avaliiiiebe of abuse and denunciation directed against them, this solidarity is repre- sented not a's a virtue but as a heinous crime. Class morality is theirs. Through the ■schools the master class teaches .the value of industry, and at the same time the criterion of a man's .success in society is that he is able to live without working. Its chivalry does not prevent it from exploiting the weak of either sex; and it forgets its professions about racial genius a-nd the white man's culture when cheap labour-power is available. To the capitalists direct action by the workers is an enormity notwithstanding that they use every influence they themselves possess to bring direct action upon .the mind of the workers from the cradle to the grave in order to perpetuate their own dictatorship. They are now the defenders of democracy," while they contradictorily rule by a small junta of supermen dancing to the tune of Big Business. Such is .their zeal for demo- cracy that they are attempting to throttle all attempts to give men and women direct control over the working conditions of their lives. A system of grouping men and women on Wliere- do-vou-work instead of on Where-do-you-lave lines is anathema because it means their total loss of power. For all good haters of shams and hypocrisy there is now only one thing to do. Come ye, out .from among them. Fling yourself enthusiasti- cally into the work of agitating, educating and organising with the sole purpose of removing this living lie.

A Socialist Dolly s Dialogues (WITH APOLOGIES TO ANTHONY HOPE.) By KATHARINE BRUCE CLASIER. IV.-ON MARY ANN UNIFORM AND BLACKLEG ANGELS. With the glow of the Virginia creeper leaves still in her cheeks Dolly canic down the long stairway leading to the kitchen. Xurse Jerikirus was on heir knees there, indus- triously polishing a stupidly patterned oilcloth considerably the worse for wear. Thief! exclaimed Dolly. You know that is my work. How often am I to tell vou that you are the skilled worker in this establishment? There's a, chicken to stuff and peas to slieli and a junket to make, all before dinner-time. Get off your knees this minute!—But—Nursie," the playful reproach in her voice deepening to real earnest,—" What are you doing in that hideous cap and apron. Why aren't you wearing your overall. The Educraft people sent our two new ones last night. Unbleached calico and the fetehing-est purple yokes and belts and pockets worked with all sorts of cunning purple, blue and green stitches, I am dying to 'see how the colour suits your de#T grey haw. The purple frill of the cap against my yellow mop is just it! But, Nursie, something's the matter. Come and sit in this chair and tell me all about it." Mrs. Jenkins, however, with a. distressed shiike of-lier head continued her polishing. Its no use, Miss Dolly dear," slij said slowly. I know you meant it for kindness. There's nothing else in you. There never was. But it really Isn't kind. Only last night, Mrs. Lane showed me as clear as could be, that it was doing you a wrofug for me to be wearing the same things as you. Why—it might make the neighbours think as me and you were rela- tions! D—nation!" Afiss Dolly! "Well! you didn't expect me to begin and intone the Lord's Prayer, did you? I have known for a long time that Mrs. Lane, poor wretch, had enough class poison in her to run a regiment of W.A.A.C.s. But I never dreamed she could turn a dear angel woman like you into a blit.(-klegl Miss Dolly! Yes—a blackleg! And I hope you realise what that means to me. I have done and I'll do a lot for the old dears—but I won't work with a blackleg. So--off with that ahominal cap and apron and oti witi, yotrr new overall—-this minute or the Lanes will be left lamenting without their lady-help." "011, Miss Dolly! please, not the new one. Here's the other one in this parcel. I took it home last night and the cap, and it washed beautiful dearie, just as you said it would,—and ,it slipped through the mangle as easy as a bol- ster case and hardly wanted a touch of the iron to look as good as new." Put it on and let me see," returned Dolly, relenting momentarily under Nurse Jenkins* adroit praise of her very latest top-hole dis- covery. "You are right. The blufc hasn't faded one least little bit, and that cunning bit of orange and red in the stitches looks brighter than ever. Why, Nursie, the whole kitchen looks different and your dear face under that blue frilil is like a glorified Michalmas daisy. How dare you go back on the poor millions of house drudges, just as we were beginning to let a hit of brightness into their dreary scullery prisons? Oh—wait a bit. f know how to turn the tables on you." Dolly ran to the kitchen window, which with even more than the usual measure of brutality which marks all Mary Ann architecture, looked out neither on the front nor the back garden, but on t,sicle entry of about two yards width- fronted with the grey side wall and precisely similar kitchen window of the semi-detached villa next door, and only reflected sunlight ever entered it. Flinging; the window wide at the bottom, Dolly climbed tip and jumped out over the nar- row window sill with a dexterity that spoke of practice. The next moment she was tapping with merry recklessness at the frosted window- pane opposite. Hush! the old cat'11 hear you." A frighten- ed-looking untidy maid of all-work peeped out through three stout iron bars which were added to her w indow 's attractions. I'll come round to your backdoor if you'll have it open so as I can slip right in a'fore she sees me." ft Five minutes later Nurse Jenkins wa,s looking on at an impromptu ti-ansformatioit scene which had more of the heart of beauty in it than any ever staged at Drury Lane. Eliza Smith had been, as Dolly phrased it, brought down in an orphanage, till drudge was written in every line of her face and body. But in the purple and white Educraft overall and its I dainty dust-cap. big 'sister garments to those which have worked similar miracles for the slum children of tlie Rachel McMillan Baby Camp in Deptford—with her sandy-brown hair brushed neatly back, in a wave off her temples and coiled on the top of her head, she looked, even to her own tired grey eyes in the kitchen looking-glass, and as Nurse Jenkins delightedly hailed her "as pretty as a picture." Oh, but! she cried. The missus'll never let me wear them Won't she, though? cried Dolly. "'Ve'U see about that." And she did.

ARMY HUT AS CLASS ROOM. To meet overcrowding at the Merthyr inter- mediate school, the Merthyr Education Author- ity on Wednesday agreed to procure an Army hut to relieve the congestion at the school. It was stated that at present there were 370 pupils in the school, 120 above the number for whom there was proper accommodation, and that t'hare were 26 intending scholars, who, though they had passed the entrance examination, were denied admission because of lack of room. Tlie cost of the hut was estimated at £ -500, and it was said to be regarded merely as a. temporary extension for the school.

without number, hut underneath I have been conscious of an unity that goes deeper and will transcend either. It is a pity that the word "principles" has heenüorrupted by defusion over too widely separated Ishades of meaning, fo.r exactly what the old wives moant when tlhev finally put their seal on an individual by de- claring him a "man of principle" is what I sense as the attribute-tha t these two men lId .in common. In fhe unity of their whole lives, in their 'unflagging service to the behests of their own individual consciences is to he found the striking likenesses of the two. It is the subtle alldwmy of the abstract something we call personality. And yet there are contrasts no less remark- able. For instance, I cannot imagine Mr. Jones exasperating opponents as Mr. John Williams can exasperate them under the quiet satire that bites like an acid, and is as careful in the choice of a tender spot as an epieurian mos- quito. There is the same insistency, the same great powers of concentration, but in attack there would be the wide seperation that the ori- ginality of the two personalities means. John Williams is our youngest member, but by the vigour of his attack, the urbanity of his manner, the secure diplomacy that outplays the wily dip- lomat of the opposing benches, and by his na- tural aptitude for administrative work lie has established himself as one of Labour's na.tural loaders. Cyfarthfa Ward showed a sure appre- ciation of those abilities 'last year when they jjinvi- him tlve huge majority they did. To-day their faith has been more than justified, and I anticipate a still greater victory should any. Úp- nnmfint. have the couraire to oppose his-return. A.P.Y. I