Pioneer

I IHHIttE Mm t EMPIRE PALACE, Medhyr I Managing Director—Mr. William Firth. Licensee—Mr. Will Smithson. | 5 General Manager-Mr. Val Stevens. 16 30 TWICE NIGHTLY.   I "•OU MONDAY, DECEMBER 8th, for a!xMttrhK. <?N?V I — — I Miss L. BATEMAN & LONDON COMPANY TAINTED GOODS: I BY CLIFFORD REAN. I I A bold and fearless exposure of the great Social Evil and the Hidden Plague. 1 Ivmr FOR ADULTS ONLY | Tainted Goods' apart from its dramatic interest and comic interludes is a guiding I finger post on Life's highway, and full of interest from start to Bnish."—(Vide Press). I m ■ ■ ■ — — —■— 17-45 Next Week—Once Nightly—The Famous 7-45 I I MPTweeC;;he 8MPA;: I r' It It I .1 I' § j Merthyr Electric Theatre j IMert!meI!rDm!eatre I I MONDAY, TUESDAY & WEDNESDAY- I The Fox Film Company present the Super Production- I THEDA BARA in | J THE SHE DEVIL F j I THEDA BARA as the Spanish Maid, LALETTE, of the black eyes and happy h?aft. As Iii handsome as a tigress and as reckless a s that animal on the scent of blood. 11 ITIH MINH. Episode 4. Deoument 9.. ? The Serial which t?-ms with excitement, yet tempered with humour, i THURSDAY, FRIDAY A SATURDAY- 2 X THE CREAT FOX PHOTOPLAY- I THE LOVE AUCTION I ? Featuring VIRGINIA PEARSON. I ? "I won't believe it! Your eyes cannot lie to me, and you have told me a thousand mme& 2 I you love me." This is the foundation of this great drama. e OIRCU8 KING. Episode 18. The Last and Greatest of this Serial. I THECREATEaTSERtALOPTHEACE— |j I Francis Ford in "The Silent, Mystery." I An Epic of Mystery and Adve?tupe. Episode 1—This Programme. I I Prices of Admission 6d., 9d., 1/9 'idiDg Tax. 1. It It It It II .1 ■ ? n r\>r« Are unrivalled for all Irregui&ntiee, etc., the" B LA N C A speedily afford relief and never fail to aeviste '?  '? — — ? "? all Buffenng. They supersede Pennyroyal, Pill Pr IIIIbIIbSYS t mmmmmam Cochia, Bitter, Apple, &c. Blanchard's are the best of all Pills for Women. Sold la boxes, 111, by BOOTS' Branches and all Chemists, or post free, same price, from. LESLIE MARTIN, Ltd., Oho mists, 34 Dalston Lane, London. Samples and valuable booklet sent free, ld. stamp. I.L.P. MERTHYR TYDFIL I.L.P. WINTER COURSES OF LECTURES ON INDUSTRIAL AND ECONOMIC HISTORY. Lecturer Mr. A. P. YATES. The Classes are .held every Sunday Evening at 7.30 p.m. in Bentley's Hall. HOPE FOR THE DEAF I FOR Deafness, Head Noises, Catarrh and All Ear Troubles" Mackay's AuraJine" is unquestionably superior to all Imitations. Safe, speedy. Permanently effective an worst oases. (Est. 1890). Of all Chemists at 3/- Bottle, or from THE MACKAY LABORATORIES, 106 LIVERPOOL RD., ISLINGTON, LONDON. GAUTION.-Avold Useless Imitations. MERTHYR i.L.P. 'Two Gnat DEMONSTRATIONS i AT SHILOH HALL, CHURCH STREET. ON FRIDAY, DEC. 12th, at 7. p.m.— II HANDS OFF IRELAND." Speakers: MR. NEIL MoLEAN, M.P., and MR. DAN DRISCOLL. j Chairman—Mr. JAMES WINSTONE. ON SUNDAY, DEC. 14th, at 2.45 p.m.— MAKE PEACE WITH SOVIET RUSSIA." Speakers LIEUT.-COL. MALONE, M.P., and MR. NOAH ABLETT. Admission toboth Meetings by Sliver Colleotlon. iV HELP THOSE WHO HELP YOUR PAPER I Household Fuel & Lighting Order 1919 COUNTY BOROUCH OF MERTHYR TYDFIL. APPLICATIONS are invited for the post of Junior Shorthand-Typist in the office of the Local Fuel Overseer. Salary 30/- per week. Employment (subject to satisfactory service) will be for duration of control of distribution of coal for household and domestic purposes. Applications in applicants' own handwriting, aooompanied by copies of two recent tcs3- =rn ?lould reach the undersigned on or be- fore Tuesday next, the 9th inst. Dated this 3rd day of December, 1919. MARTIN EVANS, Local Fuel Overseer. Town Hall, Merthyr Tydfil, HOPE CHAPEL, MERTHYR. I SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7th, 1919. PREACHER: Rev. J. Morgan Jones, M.A.

Permanent Food Control. j I CONSUMERS' COUNCIL AND THE I PREMIER. I The Consumers' Council, at a meeting on Wednesday which lasted several hours, passed the following resolution:- The Council, noting tha.t no reply has been received from the Prime Mimster to the depu- tation from the Labour, trade union, and co- operative movements of Great Britain, which waited upon him on August 14, and urged that the Ministry of Food should be constituted as a permanent State Department, and noting that under the Emergency Laws Continuance Bill is proposed to continue the powers of the Food Controller only until August 31, 1920, calls upon his Majesty's Government to state forthwith what are its intentions on the question of the permanent continuance of food control, which is a matter of sudh great importance to all con- sumers. The Council also passed resolutions supporting the recommendation of the Central Comniittee for a reduction in milk prices, and expressing the opinion that the effect of the contemplated de-control in the case of meat would at this juncture be accompanied by ,the gravest dan- gers" to consumers with regard to price, sup- ply, and quality.

PERMANENT ENLARGEMENT Commencing with our NEXT ISSUE T HF, i PIONIF4ER9 will revert to its PRE-WAR ålIE of EIGHT PAGES MORE NEWS! MORE ARTICLES! ——— NEW FEATURES! A MUCH LARGER CIRCULATION is confidently looked for, and is, indeed, demanded if the heavily increased costs of production that the enlargement en- tail are to be Justified. The Management appeals confidently to the thousands who have stood by it as a four-page paper to take a share in INCREASING THE CIRCULATION and so enlarging Its effective work for Democracy, whilst minimising the loss that the production of the larger sheet will otherwise mean. Branches can further their Propaganda by forwarding Notes and News of the Movement for insertion, and placing it on sale in their rooms and at their meetings. IT IS YOUR PAPER. BOOST IT ALONCIII EICHT TDIONEER, TvEC. "I Q EICHT PACES JL JL? 10 PACES Merthyr Tydfil- Education Committee. WANTED a Woman Caretaker and Cleaner for the Pentrebach Mixed School. Par- ticulars as to duties and wages may be obtained from Mr. R. R. Davies at the School. Applica- tions, on a form to be obtained at this Office, to reach me on or before the 13th December. RHYS ELIAS,. Director of Education. Town Hall, Merthyr Tydfil, 4th December, 1919.

Labour or Capital. THE fight between Capital and Labour for the vacant representation of Dowlais Ward on the Merthyr Town Council promises to present a stiffer task than any we experienced during the recent November contests for Corporation honours. The difficulty arises partly from the general apathy of the burgesses in by-election contests, but more especially does it grow out of a quasi-sentimental argument, that is abso- lutely without logical validity. It is said that the companies are entitled to representation in consideration of thetr position as large rate- payers in the borough. A worker making a statement like that feels as though he has marie a statesmanlike utterance, he throws his chest out and displays all the marks of self-conscious- ness of having displayed that breadth of out- look, and sane spirit of compromise that we are told is the mark of political sagacity and suc- cess. But what in the name of heaven is there in the thing after all ? Why should any large ratepayer be entitled to special representation- which, by the way, the companies as such have never asked for at the poll? No candidate has ever come before the eleetoratea.s. a representa- tive of capitalist interests. But since the argu- ment is curious it is well to examine it. Past experience seems to show that far from company interests anywhere requiring protection from the Corporations, t'he very reverse is the case. If a company objects to its assessments it has the re- medy in its own hands in appeal to the Courts; and experience of many such cases indicates the strong probability of a decision favourable to the financial interests that are objecting. And outside of the mere money interests of protec- tion against unfair assessment that is so ade- quately guarded against by statute and appeal, what especial interests making for the general welfare of the community as a social entity has an industrial company to serve in municipal ad- ministration. The general concern of such un- dertakings can best be assessed by considering their attitude towards the aspirations of their employees for a fuller and better life. Without any special reference to any special company, but treating the problem as a general one, when did such companies say to their organised workers: We recognise that prices have soared sky-high, and that, therefore, your old wage- scales have become woefully inadequate. Ad- mitting the cogency of your reasoning we freely oon?7(,- the demands you are making, because we realise that the social welfare can only be served by a contented working-class, constitu- ting the vast majority of the citizenship of the locality! When and where did the industrial company adopt that attitude? Not that alone, but where and when did the industrial company fail to avail itself of any opportunity to express its hatred of organisation and advancement amongst the workers ? An appeal to experience would have a steading influence on all who talk about the rights" and privileges'' of Capi- tal in the communal life. Capitalism, owns everything, including the workers, who, by their divorce from every possibility of life except by the sale of their power to work, are tied tight to a vicious machine that "regards the flesh and bone of its wealth makers exactly in the same light as it does any otiher oommodilty t'hat it buys in the market-as something to be bought at the cheapest price competition dic- tates, without reference to anything but the financial results to itself. We have seen the fruits of that damnable philosophy in the squalor, corruption, poverty, misery, disease and prostitution of our days, and because clear- sighted warm-hearted men saw and understood, the great Labour Movement, with its new stan- dards of life and social moraiitv, was born as a system directly opposed to Capitalism. Be- tween the two systems there is a conflict that nothing but the victory of Labour and the cessa- tion of private Capitalism as a isystem can end. It is not for the worker to defeat the workers' cause by illogical, sentimental quibbles. It is for him to realise that ever the fight is waging, and to bring the consciousness of his class posi- tion and solidarity into the battle whethetr it is waging at the bench, in the ward, or on the fuller political field. Everyone outside of his own organisations must be regarded as an enemy of Labour, and opposed irrespective of everything else. Just as that consciousness manifests itself, so will emancipation be won from the hell of the present, and progress made along the primrose path to the Social Commonwealth.

A Socialist Dolly's Dialogues (WITH APOLOCIES TO ANTHONY HOPE.) XI.—THE UNWISDOM OF ELDER SISTERS. BY KATHARINE BRUCE CLASIER. It was again "a breakfast in bed" day for Mrs. Lane, and Dolly after bringing up the tray had settled cosily down hede- her. Auntie, can you play the old John Peel gallop or Come Lasses and Lads ? The old country dances are ever so much jollier than theses new-fangled Trots and Jazzes. We are learning quite a number of old dances and songs combined, down at the Institute, and I do so want Cinderella to know at least, the Sir Roger ifgures before she comes to-night." Mrs. Lane's brows drew together as she care- fully peopled the apple which lay beside her bacon plate. "I can play the dances you ask for, DoHy; but I am not at all sure that it is right of me to play them for ycu if it is to encourage poor little Eliza Smith to begin going to dances. Her mistress is dreadfully upset about it and says in her experience is it the beginning of the end for any respectable servant girl." "Oh, Auntie"; cried Dolly, springing up from her seat on her Aunt's bedside, and be- ginning to pace the room. If you only knew the harm these cold-blooded respectable women do in the world! 1 have always thought- the elder brother in the parable had a lot to do with the younger one going off into the far country; but the older sisters are ever so much worse. How did your people come to let you learn even to play da we music if they thought it was all wrong? "Oh, but they didn't!" cried Mrs. Lane. Why I was considered one of the lightest- footed dancers in Buxton before I married your Uncle. That pretty flowered muslin yotu saw in my bottom drawer, the other day, was the d re sis J was wearing when 1 met him. That is why I keep it She stopped, warned by the gathering colour in Dolly's face. thait she had somehow strayed upon dangerous ground. Dolly took a rapid turn or two in the room before-she spoke. John Rusk in said the masters of England wanted to keep their workers flat in the head so that they would be content to toil on for ever for a bare subsistence," she said bitterly. But the mistnesseses would seem to want thedr maids to be- flat-footed and flat-chested a.nd blind and deaf into the bargain. Why, in Heaven's naine, if it was right for you to go to dances and meet your lover there, is it to be wrong for Cinderella—Eliza—I mean, or any other poor little maid of at! work? Mrs. Lane put out her hand in almost piteous appeaJ. Don't be angry with me, Dolly. I know it must sound horrid and narrow to anyone so generous and kind and—and innocent as you are. But my dear, my parents were in a posi- tion to educate me—to safeguard me in all sorts of ways. They never, of course, allowed me to go to public dances—at least only to the very host, and then with a party of friends. It is all so different with these poor girls. They have not been educated, and there is no one to pro- tect tliem,-anki-and all sorts of thing-s can happen to them of which you can have no idea. I—I am certain it is kindest to keep them away from dancing 'altogether as things are." Dolly was standing at the end of the bed and her hands gripped the wooden corner posts till her fingers were white to the tips. As things are," she repeated slowly. 11 wonder, poor little Auntie, if you have the re- motest notion what those words cover, have covered, and will continue to cover East rund West if some of us don't make a, break once and for all. Now I do know something of.whait they mean. The worst vision I ever got of it down East was in a low public-house in Bristol once. I was trying to help organise some slaughterers thero--get them in a trade union. The poor fellows were abominably paid, for abominable hours of abominable work. And there was a dancing saloon next door. What lsaw and heard as I came to the top of the out-side stairway at the end of a long meeting—there wt-re two stairways side by side—just terrified me sick. But there was a. fine old trade union navvy with me and he put. ;his hand on my shoulder. I can hear his voice now. Done take it too much to heart, lass,' he said. Only never forget it If we w umna. help th' young folk grow above the belt they mun grow below it!' And, Auntie, isn't it true ? What does protect a girl as you call it,—or a boy either, for that matter? I am certain it is never walls aand fences,—certainly not prison walls. It is the waking up of the real self within them,—self-respect, people call it—and to dare to teach a girl that the cannot be trusted to learn to dano,-why, Auntie, it al- most seems 110 me the wickedest thing one woman could do to another! There w&s a blaze in Dolly's eyes whidh held Mrs. Lane's gaze. She made no attempt to answer her niece. Indeed, the pictures which Dolly's swift tspeecli had set before her imagina- tion were too strange and hard, for her timid sheep-like nature not to be at first appalled be- fore them. What were the young girls of to-day coming to? But Dolly had recovered herself in the silence. "Shall I tell you what we are trying to do down at our Socialist Institute instead ? she said gently. We believe that all the girls— and boys--of England or any other country, have an equal right to the chance to enjoy all the beauty of every kind which their race has harvested. Our Institute is really an artist's studio, and he lets us have the use of it in the evenings. With its polished floor, bare walls and flowing coloured hangings, and often fine pic- tures which he has borrowed for us,-—it gives our young folk as refined surroundings as any Duchess need ask for her daughters. Then we h-ave quite a fine stringed band, and a good piano. More than that, we sing our Socialist songs and light up our dreams of a, nt)bla, bet- ter wdrld with our Chinese lanterns. We be- lieve Ruskin was right when, he said that our music and dancing ought to be part of our wor- ship of God—of all that is Good and True and Beautiful and Loving—and not be given over as it is to-dav to the worst Devil of o Money- Making. We dance in and for the Cause at our Institute. And I tell you, Auntie, we have^had many a beautiful love story start there, but I have never heard of an ugly one yet." She stopped and the light in her bright blue eyes had become soft and warm. It was reflected in her Aunt's faded ones. Child, you are right! Help me to dress quickly, and I'll play for you land your Cinder- ella as many dances as I know. And—Dolly-- I never thought I could paort with it,—but if you thought rbhatt flowered muslin would fit her—" Dolly's hugging awns finished the sentenoe.

I The Dowlais Vacancy. I SAM JENNINCS LABOUR CANDIDATE. A HUMOROUS PREAMBLE. Mr. Sam Jennings was unanimously selected as the standard-bearer of Labour in the forth- coming municipal by-election in the Dowlais Ward of the Merthyr County Borough, at the Ward meeting held for the purpose of selecting a representative last Saturday night. The other nominees, Mr. S. O. Davies, Mr. Ed. Roberts and Mr. D. Driscoll, withdrew from the contest, leaving the field clear to Mr. Jennings, to whom they all pledged their keenest support in the fig,iit. Xo harder worker for Socialism and Lalxmr is to be found in the Borough than Mr. Jennings, who as a hard-hitting, level-headed and eloquent pleader of the workers' cause, has gained dis- tinction throughout South Wales, particularly during the past few months. His election to the Corporation will mean a very material addition to the Labour group on the Council. A curious incident preambled the meeting last Saturday night. A group of men present dis- played a keen concern that the meeting should be held and got over. The curious point was that the spokesman of the group, whilst claim- ing to be Labour," admitted that he was a political objector in his union. The chairman pointed out tihat that being the case he had no part or lot in a Labour Party meeting, for the party was financed only from the political funds of the unions, to which, by admission, the speaker did not contribute, and refused to com- mence the meeting so long as he and his fellows continued present. There were thirteen such present apparently, for that was the number that streamed out when they found that the chairman meant what lie said. At the same meeting, Ex-Sgt. Sam Dawkings, who was nominated by the National Union of Ex-Servicemen. was endorsed as the Labour candidate for the vacancv on the Board of Guardians in the same Ward. Mr. Tudor Davies is the "opposition" in both vacancies. Town Council poHing takes place on December 11 th and the Guardians on December 17th.

Electric Theatre. From out of the several big film numbers that, will fill the screen at the Merthyr Electric Theatre next week stands The Silent Mystery" serial which starts its fifteen-episode run next Thursday. A worthy successor to the thrilling Polo circus picture-yarn, "The Silent Mystery." is a profoundly moving epic and opens up at the foot of those silent sphinxes of Egypt. There hidden in a niche in the heart of the sphinx is a sacred jewel, and the spiriting away of the precious stone by the extravagant wife of a wealthy American does not. long precede the dis- covery of the theft by the temple priests and the expression of their wrath is swiftly followed by the planning of a terrible retribution on the thief and her party. Upon this foundation is builded a tale that is packed iwith melodramatic thrills and weird situations, full of life a -n(I movement, tense in its grip on the emotions. Yet logical and convincing withal. As the hero- detective, Francis Ford, the hero of a score of continuous motion-plays, is his old whirlwind self, keeping his audiences in breathleSvs sus- ponse with his daring stunts. Mae Gaston is the beautiful heroine, and the stately Rosemary Theby is mysteriously fascinating as the Egyptian princess to whom the tasjc of recover- ing the stolen jewel has been entrusted. fn the same bill is also Virginia Pearson in "The Love Auction," a society drama put out by the William Fox Company. Reverting to the earlier end of the week one fiIJds on the top of the bill, The She-Devil," with Theda Bara in the lead—Lollette, a wilful Spanish beauty. The action of the story takes one from Spain to Paris and again back Sou tit, and with men fighting for her smiles there is a pace-setting theme for a. thrilling motion drama. With this will be shown a further instalment of Tih Minh," the serial that has already caught on with a critical clientele varied in tasrte. Shows these that enthusiastic picture-goers cannot miss without regret.