Pioneer

',A few Rernark for Mr. Blatchford. I [BY F. W. JOWETT, M.P.] I I have been reading Press Cuttings relating to te I.L.P. Conference held at Leeds. They are "distinctly interesting. Evidently the I.L.P. Con- ference could not safely be ignored by the "War ,at any Price press gang this year. It was dif- ferent last year. It seems that my own address from the chair has specially engaged attention. I need hardly say that I take this as a compli- ment which I hope is according to the magnitude of my ofBenoe in the estimation of our opponents. Very few of the Press comments on the opin- ions I expressed at the Conference are, really, applied to the points I emphasised on that occa- sion. For the most part, indeed, the critics seem to have had one object only in view and that was to direct the attention of their readers from- -and not to-the points I dealt with. In pursuit of this object the crities have spiced their com- ment with a very large assortment of uncompli- mentary adjectives, and made assertions, un- supported by evidence, in terms that would only have been justified if their assertions had been "acknowledged and uncontrovertible facts. In the line of criticism first referred to, Mr. Robert Blatchford has excelled his own record, -as well as all his present competitors. ^$ I Mr. Blatchford is an old friend of mine. This I' saj- with great respect because he wrote: Merrie England and for many years devoted his remarkable gift of clear exposition to the cause of Socialism and to the work of exposing the evil conditions enforced by Capitalism on the common people. But although he has written two books and any number of articles to prove that individual men and women are not respon- sible for their own actions and that, therefore, system,, of punishment are futile and useless as applied to individuals, he does not apply this principle to the people of a nation. This, to me, has always seemed a strange and inexplicable in- consistency in Mr. Blatchford, for surely, if an individual is not, as he has so often argued, re- sponsible for his own individual action, it is dif- ficult to see how millions of people can conceiva- bly be held responsible for things done in their flame. r- T- However, my present purpose is not to ques- tion whether Mr. Blatchford has recently aban- doned his own gospel of determinism-preachedi 'by him with so much fervour and eloquence not very long ago-but to deal with his criticism of "my opinions as expressed at the Leeds Confer- ence. In doing so I have no intention of follow- ing his example in the matter of making free use of adjectives. It would, of course, be easy for me to accuse Mr. Blatchford of glaring contradictions and leave it at that, as he has! "done with me; merely observing casually, as he does, that it would do no good to prove them. But I will not do that. Mr. Blatchford says there was no secret about the Anglo-Russo-Entente. Yet in another part; ■of his article he blames the British Government! -for not telling the nation frankly that they must, prepare for war. (" Defence," Mr. Blatchford 'Calls it, but war is implied.) By this, of course, Mr. Blatchford must mean that the nation ought! to have been warned for war on the continent of Europe. I agree that, having regard to the ob- i. lIgatIons incurred by the British Government on! account of the Angle-Russo-French Entente, the nation ought to have been prepared for war on the continent, and it was precisely because the said obligations were secret, and because the Government dare not risk the disapproval of the (people by making them public, that preparations were not made. At least this is the only ex- planation I can offer for the stupendous folly of i the British Government in not asking the nation to provide for the risk that the Government knew they had incurred. Any number of people who saw no reason be- forehand for preparing for war on the Continent of Europe (where armies would move in millions if they moved at all) would have altered their views about preparedness if the obligations of the Anglo-Russo-French entente had been made known to them. Personally, I would have denounced the en- tente obligations if I had known of them, but, I in doing so, I should have been careful to ex- plain that if opposition to the entente obligations1 did not succeed preparations of war on a vastayi 'different scale than the Government then pro- vided would be absolutely imperative.. But not only is it inconsistent to say, as Mr. Blatchford does, that the nation ought to have been told frankly/that it was necessary to pre- pare for war, and in the same article, to declare that there was no secret about the entente which obliged the Government r to advise war i when the time came for the obligations of the j entente to be honoured, but it is also not true to say there was no secret about the Anglo- Russo-French entente. Over and over again in Parliament it was de- Mied that the obligation to go to war along with Russia and France (which Mr. Blatchford tacit- ly admits was an alliance for war on the Conti- nent of Europe) existed. To name one instance only, there was the denial of the then Prime Minister, Mr. Askwith, on Marcli 13th, 1915. I was present and hgard it. Lord Hugh Cecil had said in the course of a speech he was making at the time—I will quote hiS exact words — There is a very general belief that this coun- try is under an obligation, not a treaty obliga- %loia, but an obligation arising out of an assur- ance given by the Ministry in the course of dip- lomatic negotiations, to send a very large army ?ut of this country to operate in Europe. That ? a very general belief." Mr. Asquith: "I ought to say that it is not tTue. After an assurance so definite, unaccompanied bY any further explanation, how can it be said I j £ at there was no secret about the Anglo-Russo- r'D", h entente, which, in fact, did constitute, ? now known, an obligation that invelved ?og a large army to operate in Europe.  t It ? I very well for Mr. Blatchford to say that a ek is the best means of defence, but is  ?ot a plea which will serve either party, as it has been made to do by Germany in this case? I moreover, it is overlooked by Mr. Blatchford I ha?? "defence, not defianœ" policy would have V PP this country out of the Morrocco busi- Hess played a most important part in omaptlng the conditions which led to this war. ■Rla+^v>fa bandit's analogy, which Mr.  makes use of, is not a correct one in IS ?-The fact is that all the Great Powers thiu pQt, e'j-F or wanted to be (so far as exploit- ino- nlri 3 jS feeble and weak nations were con- c-ned), ?-? qi,,r,lld over their right to ?fry out this or that expedition unmolested. on??T??? concerned in this quarrel <?y barely averted an outbreak in 1911 when! Mr. Lloyd George rattled the sword at the Man- sion House with the object of protecting French filibustering operations in Morocco against a German claim to share in the spoil. Therefore, I repeat, what I said at Leeds, viz., that if the British Government had followed the policy, which President Wilson has declared to abe the American policy, of entering into no se- cret international compacts, and had concerned itself-so far as it thought of war at all (whilst, meanwhile, working always for disarmament by agreement and the abolition of war) with de- fence, this nation would not have been led into war. The same is true of France and of the other large powers, and-although I say this not in excuse or extenuation of Germany, far from it-automatically, Belgium would have been spared the fate that has so tragically fallen upon her through no fault of her own. :|: As for Mr. Blatchford's allegation that we should have been left in danger of invasion if the Government had not entered into the Con- tinental arrangements which led us into the war, this is the fear that is always feeing put into the minds of the people by those who ought to know how baseless and ridiculous it is. For answer let me quote from a very illuminating article on the subject which appeared in one of the Hulton papers for which Mr. Blatchford wrote the article now under consideration. The writer, after pointing out that an in- vading force could not possibly, if it meant busi- ness, consist of less than 250,000 men, describes the operation as follows, viz. "The journey (i.e., of the invading fleet) would take weeks rather than days from the fir^t transport setting out to the last discharg- ing its freight of men, big and small guns, bag- gage, and food. The pace of a convoy, as Colonel Foster has shown, is not even that of its slowest ship, and all would have to lumber slowly along in order that*the stragglers could come up. The result would be a dense queue of shipping stretching across the sea. A finer game of skittles would hardly be likely to come the way of our submarines, de- stroyers, and fast cruisers, myriads of which would have time and to spare to come up tQ, join in the fun. But then would come the job of disembarka- tion-itself a matter of days in the best circum- stances, but now undertaken in the face of the murderous fire from shore which would converge on the boats, while our mosquito craft were busy bowling over the transports." As for the Colonies which Mr. Blatchford sug- gests Germany might have been invaded the adventure would be even more hopeless for GeT- many has not the coaling stations required for an overseas expedition. One other point, and it shall be the last on this occasion. No mention is made by Mr. Blatchford of what I regard as the most impor- tant fact facing this nation and its Allies to-day. I refer to the declaration of President Wilson in his speech, viz., that America renounced all in- tention, in entering the war, of con- quest and of claiming indemnities. As I said at Leeds, if the Allies would make a. similar declaration the slaughter need not go on. This week Russia has followed with a similar declaration. What has Mr. Blatchford to say regarding this fact? The late Russian Government with whom the British Government allied itself sought conquest. The people of Russia, now they can speak, do not. The Russian people will defend their country but they will not make war for annexations or to impose their will on the people's of other countries. Are we, the British people, less mind- ful of the growing load of misery which this war entails and of our responsibility if we continue it, than the people of Russia? This is now the question that should be answered before all others. [The above article has been unavoidably held up during the past fortnight.—Ed.]

Tonyrefail Notes.: Cilely Mass Meeting. Great satisfaction was felt in general at the decision of the general meeting of the Cilely workmen held last Sunday. Mr. Wm. John, agent, gave a report of the situation with re- gard to the notices. He gave a brief history of the negotiations that had taken place up to the present and indicated the courses of action which were open to the workmen. References were made to a previous report to the effect that there were considerable dis- sention and dissatisfaction about tendering no- tices. Mr. John took a very sane view of the situation and analyzed the various causes and effects that would probably take plaee under the prevailing circumstances. He, therefore, em- phasized the best and the most patriotic course to adopt, which was ultimately and unanimous- ly agreed to by the meeting, i.e., a resolution was passed to the effect that in view of the ab- normal and exceptional times that the cause of dispute be submitted to the Controller of Mines and the Industrial Commissioner for arbitration. Funeral of Private Austin. The late Pte. Gomer Austin was buried at the I New Cemetery last Saturday, April 28th. The funeral was a military one. rt was the first one of the kind, and about the largest funeral that has been witnessed at Tonyrefail. Coed Ely Workmen's Meeting. -1 A meeting of the Coed Ely workmen was held air the Cross Roads, Llantrisant, on Sunday at 2.30 p.m., Mr. Gomer Davies, presiding. He deplored the fact that the number present was so few considering the importance of the ques- tions before the workmen. Conference Agenda, with the exception. of two items, the meeting mandated their delegate, A. Jones. The future organisation of the lodge was dis- cussed. It seems that a large number of non- unionists are employed at this colliery, and, es- pecially boys. It was decided to form a sub- committee of seven to deal with the matter. A notice of motion was given for the next general meeting, "That this lodge arrange a series of meetings to be addressed by eminent trades unionist and Labour speakers for the purpose of education, etc."

Bargoed Notes. Pit Fatality, A sad fall of roof, resulting in the death of David Lewis (41), and serious injuries to John Hamer, Deri, and David Smith, Bargoed, oc- curred at the Groesfaen Colliery last Friday. Lewis leaves a widow and ten children, nine of and" whom are girls, the eldest only 15 years,. and" to them our deepest sympathy goes out. The funeral took place on Wednesday at the New Cemetery.

Mothers' Pensions." I WONDERFUL AMERICAN SCHEME OF I GRANTING 10/- PER ChlLD. ACTUALLY WORKS OUT CHEAPER THAN I OLD SYSTEM. Whether it was that Merthyr people desired to learn all there was to know about Judge Neil's Pensions for Mothers, or just the popu- larity of plucky Miss Sylvia Pankhurst with our people, it is impossible to say definitely, but in any case the Rink last Sunday held one of the biggest audiences ever drawn to a propa- ganda meeting in war-time. It is not an ex- aggerated estimate that puts tha number pre- sent at 2,500; and that on a silver collection is distinctly good. It is unfortunate that we were unable to hear Judge Neil expound his great re- form but he cannot be blamed for the mystery that surrounds his non-arrival in England, for where he set out for some time ago. As Harry Evans pointed out in his address from the chair nothing is known of Judge Neil except that he set out for England on a ship bound for Cadiz, and he has not yet arrived. It is quite possible that the boat has keen deflected from its course, or that she may be held up somewhere, anyhow we could hope for the best; and an opportunity of hearing the Judge in the very near future. Harry paid a fine tribute to the gifts and grit of Miss Sylvia Pankhurst, and the audience fully agreed. Miss Sylvia Pankhurst started by telling us that the Mothers' Pensions" which had been adopted by 20 odd of the 48 American States, should really be called the Babies' Pensions," because they were paid to mothers on behalf of children, and ceased when they reached work- ing age. Here she disagreed with the scheme holding that some pension ought to continue to the mother after this, since she might have given the best years of her life to rearing her children, and so have impaired her wage earn- ing powers. She had pointed this out to Judge Neil when she last met him In the "autumn, and he had replied that the scheme was still so new, having been introduced only in 1911, that very few of the families to which the pension was paid, had ceased to receive through all the chil- dren growing up. The genesis of the scheme is interesting. Plain Henry Neil-he was not a judge then—went'.with a friend, a judge of the Juvenile Court in Chicago, and sat on the bench. It was a law that if there was a family in which the children were not properly looked -after-whether from wilful neglect or simply from poverty—the State had the power to take the children away into a recognised charity institu- tion; paying 10 dollars a month (10s. a week) and 15 dollars in some cases for their mainten- ance. The first case that came before them was that of a widow with five children. Her hus- band, a good worker, had been killed whilst fol- lowing his employment, and she had struggled on maintaining them by scrubbing marble lfoors for about a year, but then her health broke down, and poverty came. The landlord had threatened to turn her out for arrears of rent, and the authorities stepped in to take the chil- dren. Every child down to the baby was taken from the mother; and the magistrates told Neil that it would be a punishable offence to tell the mother where the children were sent. Why don't you pay this 50 dollars a month to the mother to look after the children, she will do it better than any institution?" asked Neil, only to be told that that was not the law. He was so impressed by this case and his investiga- tions that he went to the Legislature, and ob- taining permission, pleaded that the money should be paid to the parent or parents unless there was something' definite against them. After a little discussion the law was passed and came into operation in July, 1911. It was such a sensible arrangement and worked so well that it quickly passed from State to State. A Pen- sion is given where there is a widow, and where there is a father unable to earn enough to main- tain a family; and rt had been found cheaper to give the pensions than to maintain the old system, because the administrative expenses had proved to be so much less. In New York State and City Charity organisation work cost 76 per cent. in administration; whereas Mothers' Pen- sions only cost 5 per cent, for administration. Experience showed that it cost three times as much to keep them in charity institutions, as to let mothers have the care of them. Moreover, the children of poor people had frequently ap- peared before the Juvenile Courts for one kind or another of petty crime; but under the pen- sions scheme they had ceased to come. Be- sides, in institutions under the barrack system there wasjKmore or less of a military discipline; children were not taught to govern themselves, but You must not do it because you are told," with the result that in after life they did things which they otherwise would not have done. Then again it has been found that their health is very much better under the new scheme. In the year 1915 Mothers' Pensions were granted in New York and that year 10,000 little children were liberated from institutions and sent back to their mothers. Ten shillings per week per child was much more than we paid here even to our. soldiers' and sailors' dependents; and much more than many of the workers eould have for each mem- ber of his family, but the standard of living was a good deal higher amongst American workers than here, and the cost of living was about the same as it was here last autumn. Miss Pank- hurst showed up the deficiencies of our poor law system oy contrasting our practice with the new American scheme. Hoxton and Bethnal Green would not grant out-relief to a widow, she had to go to the workhouse, which was nothing more than a prison,, and there she was separated from her children, whilst the common practice was to compel a woman to go out to work, or take work home, and then give her a little more to make it up. It was a great struggle and grind with poverty all the time. In this Mothers' Pensions was much more lavish. Indeed, in America, it was found that in many cases the mother had more after the father died than be- fore, but the officials said Well, the private, employer might have half starved this man and his family, but now that we are responsible we can't do it." (Cheers.) There was another ex- cellent point about the scheme. When a pen- sion was granted a letter was written to the mother saying 11 This is not charity. You have a right to it." (Cheers.) Here the Royal Char- ter said that Pensions were not granted as a right. Moreover, here the Statutory Commit- tee on the advice of its local committees had the power to withdraw any pension to a sol- dier's wife or dependant without any public en- quiry. A large number of thousands had been so withdrawn, and a large portion of the Tate Gallery was occupied by a staff doing nothing but cancel pensions. In America no Mothers' Pension could be withdrawn unless it was brought up before the Court, and the woman had the right to speak for herself. When we considered the whole question and compared it with the Mothers' Pensions, and that of the il- legitimate child-some of the American States granted pensions here-we saw how important was the whole subject and what a tremendous step forward this American scheme was. It was time we did something for the children in this matter. (Cheers.) Dealing with the "petty fogging" proposals of electoral reform offered by our Government, Miss Pankhurst said that the call for universal suffrage was ringing throughout the whole of the belligerent countries, and she really thought that we were lagging a long way behind here. But the cry was rising and electoral reform would have to be tackled, therefore, she said to those who asked us to be content with the shameful 30 or 35 woman qualification, because if we did not get it we might get nothing, that they were mistaken, and that she would prefer to wait a few months and have a good measure, than have a bad one now. (Cheers.) We wanted what the Russians had, full adult suffrage. We would not quarrel whether it came at 20 or 21, but every adult man and every adult woman should have the franchise. (Cheers.) »

The Electric Theatre. I An entertainment caterer's worst enemy is summer weather in spring. An old-hand on the music halls once told me that a bill of big stars could not put it across the weather prophet when he was nastily, disposed towards the man- agement," and experience has pretty well borne him out. But there are exceptions, and the Electric management have proved a glorious one during the early three days of this week. They have put it across" the weather prophet. Nor can one be surprised at people electing to go to the Electric in preference to walking to Pont Sarn, or sleeping on the Park seats, after one has seen Billy Wells playing in "Kent, the Fighting Man." It was a wonderful picture, with a big breezy story; splendid settings, and some of the best fight scenes that. I have seen outsid e of the N.S.C., or inside for that matter. That in addition to an all star programme that included "Wings and Wheels," one of the new Triangles. Moreover, they will continue to "put it across the regulator of the climate if I am any judge right through the week, though he do his worst, for an equally fine, or finer film is topping this last half in "The End of the Trail," a tale of love, adventure and revenge told with all of a Fox masterpiece conviction; and featuring Billy Farnum in the best part that he has ever been caste in. Those who saw and liked Kent" will be even more entranced with The End of the Trail." Willie's Wob- bly Ways" is the Triangle comedy. It is the screamingly funny yarn of a cyclist who is "over full," a Ford that it thirsty, a meeting of the Order of Red Skins, revolving doors and Triangle bartenders. You may guess from the constituents the excellence of the finished pro- duct. Mary Page continues to be the entranc- ing picture that its opening promised, and there is an excellent basket of liu-ups. Next week we are to have the long looked for- ward to visit of the Fox Company 7-part version of "Romeo and Juliet," with Theda Bara play- ing Juliet. This is the most finished rendering of the great masterpiece ever done either on the legitimate or for the screen, and I am sure there will be big houses from Monday on. There is another of those fine Triangle beach comedies "The Surf Girl," a picture that makes you feet cool and good, as well as happy. From Thursday on there will roe an adaptation of Marie Corelli's famous story The Treasure of Heaven," done by the all-British Tiger pro- ducers; "The Waiters' Ball," a Triangle, rein- troducing Fatty Arbuckle, and a good instal- ment of "Mary Page." PLAYGOER.

Medical. 64- PAGE BOOK ABOUT HERBS AND U?b HOW TO USE THEM, Post Free. Send for One. TRIMNELL, THE HERBALIST, 144, RICHMOND ROAD, CABDIVV. Established 1879. Literary. UNITARIAN PAMPHLETS on The Bible," Heaven," and Hell," given post free.— llxss BARMBY, Mount Pleasant, Sidmouth. Miscellaneous. ASTROLOGY.—Life Events, Changes, For- Atunate Days, Business Success, Matrimony j Two Years' Future added.-Send Birth-date, l/ P.O., PROF. GOULD, The Nook," Heathfield Road, Cardiff. CARDIFF Central Labour College League  (under the auspices of the Cardiff Trades Council). Permanent Teacher appointed.— 8 Queen Street, Cardiff. Note time of starting, 1 2.30 p. m. let ANNUAL MAY FESTIVAL AT MERTHYR I OLYMPIA RINK, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 1917, ¡ X At SIX p.m. Great COMPETITIVE CONCERT I ALL OPEN SOLOS. Items. Prizes. Boy Soprano 10/6 and Medallion (Given by H. P. George, Esq.) Girl under 16 (Any Voice) 10/6 Soprano Solo One Guinea Contralto Solo One Guinea Tenor Solo. One Guinea Bass Solo One Gupnea Best Recitation One Guinea Challenge Solo (Any Voice) Open to all Con-iers Two Guineas and Challenge Chip (To be Won Three Times). (Given by John Lewis & Co., Motor Experts.) Adjudicators.—Music: Dr. D. C. Williams, Mer- thyr, and Tom Price, Esq., Merthyr. Elocution: Rev. J. M. Jones, M.A., Cam- bridge. Chairman and Conductor: E. Morrell, Esq., J.P. Accompanists: Prof. Richard Howells, Aber- dare, and David Williams, Esq., Merthyr. ADMISSION 1 Tax Extra at Door. Preliminary Competitions at 4 p.m. at Bentley's- Hall. I" All Entries to be in the possession of the Secre- tary by May 24th. This Festival is held under the Auspices of the Merthyr Trades Council, who hope in future to j hold same on Labour Day. For further information apply to the Secretary- j WM. HARRIS, 6 King Edward Villas, Merthyr. 1