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MR WILLI A M JONES, M.P.,…

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MR WILLI A M JONES, M.P., AT OSWESTRY. ADDRESS ON CURRENT POLITICS. Mr William Jones, Liberal M.P. for Carnar- Ton, addressed a largely attended meeting at Os- -west- y on Wednesday evening under the auspices of the West Shropshire Liberal Association. Councillor W. H. Piimmer, the ex-Mayor, pre- sided, and opened the meeting with a humorous epeeeh. Mr T. Ward Green, the chairman of the As- sociation, afterwards proposed a resolution con- gratulating Sir II. Campbell-Bannerman and the iGovernment on the work already accomplished, both legislative and administrative, and hailing ■with pleasure the pronouncement that the Gov- ernment contemplates dealing drastically with the House of Lords, and rejoicing that in the forthcoming session such important questions as education, temperance, old age pensions, taxa- tion of land values, and other great and neces- sary reforms are to receive the earnest consider- ation of Parliament. He went on to say that the turmoil, expense, and worry and the triumph and rejoicing of the general election two years ago had been amply justified if it had only the result of placing Mr Lloyd George at the Board of Trade (applause). But they had many other and abundant reasons for feeling grateful that the Liberals had succeeded to power. It was true they were sometimes taunted that during the last election they made too much of Chinese labour in South Africa, and that since their ac- cession to power they had done nothing to ameliorate the state of things there. But as a matter of fact there were 10,000 less Chinese in South Africa now than there were 12 months ago, and during the month of October £155,000 worth of gold was raised in the mines more than in 1906 (hear, hear). They were taunted some- times, too, that they were playing into the hands of the Socialists. Well, perhaps the bulk of that audience was not frightened of Socialism (hear, hear). He did not think for a moment, from the standpoint of property, that there was anything to be frightened at. If there were any who were frightened of Socialism, he would say loin and work arduously for the party of reform (hear, hear). If the apex of society was to be secure, the basis must be sound, and if they re- dressed the grievances of the working classes they would be taking the wind out of the sails of the extreme Socialists. In conclusion, Mr Green referred to the Small Holdings Act, and said that the best inspiration to those respons- ible for its working would be to see a good num- ber of applications for holdings (hear, hear). Miss Jebb, of Ellesmere, seconded the resolu- tion in a racy speech. She said her satisfaction with the work of the Government was complete. They had been accustomed for so many years to watch Ministers and Government exercising the "t goose step "—(laughter)—that it was a great re- lief at last after many years of waiting to see a "Government in power that was actually going on at: quick march and getting into double quick march (laughter and applause). It was indeed rather difficult to get rid of a superstitious fear that things were too good to last, and some few drops of acid were necessary to help keep the big Liberal majority. That acid was supplied in Shropshire, locally and cheaply, by the great firm of Bridgeman, Hunt, Kenyon-Slaney, and Co. (laughter). Going on to refer to the passing of. the Deceased Wife's Sister Bill, Miss Jebb said the Bill was first introduced into Parlia- ment in the year she was born, and it had been blocking the way ever since. But in the present year—a year of no small mercies—that everlast- ing blister was cured for ever (laughter and hear, hear). Speaking of the Small Holdings Act, she said the Bill was very carefully drafted, and the author must have had in his mind the wolves in sheep's clothing who were going about the coun. I try professing themselves very much in favour of the Bill (hear, hear). In conclusion, she said she firmly believed that they had no occasion now as during almost the whole of the last 20 years to be, as Bunyan put it, "spoiling their souls in despair" (applause). Mr William Jones had a very cordial recep- tion on rising to speak in support of the resolu- tion. In the deluge that flooded, he said, the ramparts of Toryism in Wales and roundabout somehow or other—no one could tell how or the reason why—Toryism kept its head above the waves in the Oswestry division, in spite of the splendid fight of Mr Allen Bright and his stal- warts. Some thought that Liberalism had be- come quiescent in the division that it had be- come almost dormant. It might be quiescent, but he saw signs that it was quickening (ap- plause). It was quickening to real life and real organic effort in the cause of progress (hear, bear). Proceeding, he eaid they had heard that "the Liberal party and Government had done the Liberal party and Government had done Wonderful things during the last two years. That Was quite true; but it was not because of the Liberal party as such, but because of the real Union of all the progressive forces in the House of Commons. At the end of the second session they never had a more united party for the cause of the people in the history of Parliament (applause). They knew very well that the !Ilemy were watching them as soon as they got in with their overwhelming majority; 0, they thought there would be sectional grievances, and bickerings, and petty quarrels. They were in despair to-day. In fact they were weeping bit- terly because the Government were so united, and because men of the I.L.P.—sane, level-head- ed men like Mr Shackleton and Mr Arthur Hen- derson—had said that there never had been a Government in the history of Parliaments that had done so much for the workers of this coun- try as the Government of Sir Henry Campbell- I&anrierman (applause). It was a Government that was made up of advanced thinkers, extrem- ists and moderates, and the only salvation for the cause of progress was that this band might be knit together in one stalwart phalanx (hear, tear). The time would come, sooner than they thought, when they would have to meet the enemy which was sowing mischief among them, And if they did not join hands, they might de- pend upon it that they would go back again into the wilderness of Toryism (hear, hear). He "Wtls not afraid of Socialism, or of any other ism fapplause). He had worked with men who were I the most ardent Socialists, and the moment they fame to the practical affairs of life they would find these men very sensible, very level-headed, and very sane. Young people must dream breams, and unless they could be dreamers there something radically wrong with the heart. They wanted to safeguard the public, and let &ny"dreamer know that dreams took a longtime to be visualised and materialised. No, he was afraid of Socialistic ideals (hear, hear). Let them join hands—advanced thinkers and moder- ate thinkers—all the forces of Liberalism in a and very sane. Young people must dream dreams, and unless they could be dreamers there Was something radically wrong with the heart. They wanted to safeguard the public, and let Rny dreamer know that dreams took a longtime to be visualised and materialised. No, he was afraid of Socialistic ideals (hear, hear). Let them join hands—advanced thinkers and moder- ate thinkers—all the forces of Liberalism in a I*our-square movement. What torf 10 Dung ''forward things that they could realise, and so fey steady progress lift men and women up (ap- plause). That was their cry. Whether thev Vfere classed as Socialists or Democrats, ad- vanced Liberals or moderate Liberals, they had got to join hands together in this matter-of-fact, ■sensible world, otherwise they would fall in bat- tle, and the forces of Torv re-action would win the day (hear, hear). But the Government had already done solid work. They had done what they promised to do at the last election. They had made stronger the ramparts and had castel- lated the citadel of Free Trade, and this country ^as more prosperous than ever in its history in r«gard to trade (applause). The exports in 1902, one of the pet vears of Mr Cnamboi'lam, Counted to £ 283,000,000; in 1B0G they were ^376,000,000. The exports per head of popula- tion for' the four chief countries during nine Months of the present year were—Germany (61 Millions population), £ 5 0s. 4d. France (39-J- ^illions), £ 5 2s. 2d.; U.S.A. (85 millions), £ 4 ^s- lOd. England (44 millions), £ 8 10s. 8d. (cheers). And that, he pointed out, did not in- clude shipping, and every student of economics atld political history knew that we were the greatest shipping people in the world, while American shipping had deteriorated into a eoast- ing trade because of tariffs (hear, hear). Add dipping to those figures, and the pressure was overwhelming (applause). No wonder Mr Bal- 1 Millions population), £ 5 0s. 4d. France (39-J- ^illions), £ 5 2s. 2d.; U.S.A. (85 millions), £ 4 ^s- lOd. England (44 millions), £ 8 10s. 8d. (cheers). And that, he pointed out, did not in- clude shipping, and every student of economics atld political history knew that we were the greatest shipping people in the world, while American shipping had deteriorated into a eoast- ing trade because of tariffs (hear, hear). Add dipping to those figures, and the pressure was overwhelming (applause). No wonder Mr Bal- I four was still paralysed by philosophical doubt (laughter). Of course he was a subtle thinker (renewed laughter). He knew perfectly well that the Tory party would never got into power again unless its disunited ranks were united, and he knew that they never could be united by Tariff Reform. Advanced thinkers had said that Free Trade had not solved all the ques- tions of poverty, housing, the incidence of rat- ing, old age pensions, and questions of that sort. Certainly not. No Liberal ever aaid that Free Trade was the sole salvation in the econ- omic problems of this world (hear, hear). Free Trade was only one aspect of Liberalism. Free land was the next, and the Government were touching the fringe of the question by freeing r, jl the land (hear, hear). After dealing in detail with the performances of the Government he went on to say that there were 63,000 acres of Crown lands in this country, and during the last few months Lord Carrington, by means of the Small Holdings Act, had been enabled to give away 3,500 ae-res for the creation of small holdings to people who had not an acre before (hear, hear). How many acres did the people of this country get for small holdings under the Tory Act of 1892) Only 850 acres (laughter). After a few words in Welsh, Mr Jones conclud- ed with a reference to Disestablishment. He said Welsh Churchmen and Welsh Nonconform- ists should join hands to save their race and nationality. Welsh nationalism meant mere than Liberalism, and there were plenty of cul- tured young clergymen and laymen who yearn- ed with a desire to co-operate with the Liberals and Nonconformists of Wales to raise and en- noble their country. And Disestablishment would be the measure of adjustment to free re- ligion from the maternal shackles of the State (hear, hear). There was one enemy in the way for England and Wales—the House of Lords (hear, hear). But they had an opportunity, by a resolution carried by nearly 300 majority, which, if winged with the power of the country and edged with the will of progress, by untied action would enable every measure of reform to be carried in the House of Commons and passed into law despite the will of the House of Lords (hear, hear). And he asked them for the sake of God and man to work for that progress and help the great cause of the people (cheers). The resolution was then put and declared carried. Afterwards a vote of thanks was cordially ac- corded Mr Jones for his address, on the motion of Mrs Fletcher, a delegate of the Free Trade Union, seconded by Mr Andrew Peate, and the meeting concluded with the singing of the Na- tional Anthem. ,_n'"

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