The Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard

Labour Demonstration at Aberystwyth. NORTH CARDIGANSHIRE MINERS. On Saturday afternoon a labour demonstra- tion under the auspices of North Cardigan- shire Branch of the National Amalgamated Labourers Union was held at St. Michael's Parish Hall and was largely attended by men engaged in the lead mines of the northern part of the county and others. Mr. Robert Williams, general secretary of the National Transporters Federation, was unable to at- tend in consequence of the recent railway trouble; and the Rev. T. E. Nicholas, Llan- gybi, was substituted by the Rev. Mr Wo.&ers, Newcastle Emlyn. Mr Tom Morgan, Yspytty Ystwyth, pre- sided and said-We are pleased to see so large a gathering of the working class to-day. The number, no doubt, would have been larger but for the favourable weather which has kept the labourer at the harvest. We are all glad that such is the case and hope that all the corn will soon be secured. If the harvest failed it is the workman who would first suffer. When the date of the meeting was fixed it was thought that the harvest would have been over. It was not intended that the demon- stration should clash with any vital work. (Hear, hear.) Perhaps a word is here needed to explain the object of this Union as there are mistaken ideas abroad, as there always is about new movements, and this is a new thing in rural Cardiganshire. The chief object of the movement is to defend the rights and interests of the workman. (Hear hear.) It is a defensive and not an offensive movement. Of course, if rightful things are withheld then the force and power of the Union will be used to enforce them. Workmen in these parts are now beginning to realise that it is hopeless for the individual to alone fight the battle. The past and present show this clearly. A work- man who durst stand alone for his rights is a marked man, and excuses will soon be found for showing him the road. It is only necessary to look at the past to see how much the people of certain parts of Cardiganshire have lost because they were not united and alive to their own interests. Consider th</ huge wealth which has been dug out of Cardigan- shire hills and hov little of that -vealth has gone into the pockets of these who produced it. Think how the workman has suffered in producing this wealth for the benefit nf a few people. We do not disregard the rights of capitalists in getting a good dividend, but it is unreasonable that such large sums should go into the pockets of a few and so little into the pockets of the producers. This wealth has been mainly dug out of land owned by the public. Now Trade Unionism means that these things shall no longer be allowed to go unchallenged, but that the wealth of the country shall be for the public good. (Cheers.) Society is being reconstructed these days. There will be more equality in the future than in the past and the workman will not be looked upon as a machine to produce wealth for a certain class. In the new society we shall realise more clearly the brotherhood of man. No country can be called a civilised country which allows a man to be put on the same level as the animal which is kept by its owner for producing wealth for him. In these days democracy is alive to its rights and to its power too. A new world is being ushered in through sacrifice and suffering that cannot be measured. In order to make the world a fit place for the mass of the people the workman must have a share Jn the making of its laws. They must be made to meet new con- ditions and that task must not be left to one class as in the past, a class that had no sym- pathy with democracy -nd its ideals. Those men have impressed their image on the laws of the country. They have been the legisla- tors of the past and have turned the water to their own mills. It is unfair that so large a number of men m different spheres of life should be at the mercy and whim of one indi- vidual. We want to do away with emperors and tyrants in Europe; but it behoves us not to let tyranny flourish at our own doors. (Cheers) The working class must unite to secure that butter future. President Wilson has aid he believes a country is not, gr at, bccruse she has great men in her now. A country is great in proportion as she can make sure of having great men in the next generation, "he is rich in her unborn children if these unborn child- ren see the sun in a day of opportunity and free to exe:cise their energies as they will. If they open their eyes in a 'and where here is no special privil/ge then we shall come into a new era of greatness and liberty." Let us re- member those in the past who under great difficulties worked and sacrificed for us:- Mae yng Nghymru fyrdd o feddau sydd yn ftvrdd Ar hyd pa rai y rhodia rhyddid byth. Remember also those who fell into early graves because of the hard conditions of their daily toil and unhealthy work. Attention is now being paid to the question of protecting in- fant life, and we say nothing hut what is fav- ourable of that movement: but what is being done to prevent thif high mortality amongst the population in r ht rural parts of Cardigan- shire? People have b live in houses in which some people woul 1 not put their dogs or their horses or even their motor cars. (Hear, hear.) Families endeavour to subsist on earnings barely sufficient to maintain one person de- cently. Dewi Wynn o Eifion a. centurv ?go in his ode ''Elusengarwch," drew a portrait of the labourer cf his day and, alas, this portrait is to true of many to-day :— Yn "mvl barn ami y bu Drudaniaeth yn dirrlynu, Gwaethu cyflog y gweithiwr A rno bu curo bob cwr Mae y gwr yn yn gutaw A'i dylwyth yn wyth neu naw, Dan oer hin yn dwyn y rhaw-mewn trym- waith Bu ganwaith heb ginio. Anil mao yn teimlo min Yr awel ar ei ewin, A llwm vw ei gotwm gwel r)'irfin9r i'vv .ani vw'r oerre!. Noswvlio yn iselaidd A'i flnwps vit bre- braidd: Ba helvnt cae! ei blant cu, Oil ago? a llcwygu, Dwyn ei geiniog dan givynaw, Rhoi angen un rhwng nn.w. In some parts to-day people have to < ivide the wants of one amongst "ne. More would have to do so but for this Workmen's Union. We believe, however, that such conditions are not going to prevail long. Democracy has raised its voice against them and that voice will not -be stifled. As the Archdruid of Wales has said— Llais Dinv yw llais v werin, Llais enaid o.'r ddihun, Mae hawliau dyn o dan y don Fel ar ei brig yn un. We are meeting to-day near the ruins of a castle and in sight of a university. All know of the oppression of the castle. But thojigh that old oppression has vanished another exists to-day. A united people will get rid of it. Let us work together and persevere until our children will get free education from the ele- I mentary school to the university, so that poverty will no longer be a barrier to talented I children in getting the same chance as the children of the well-to-do. enabling them aspire to positions which are now mouopolised by a privileged few. Let us leave the I thraldom of the castle for the light of the unf- versity. A free and, enlightened people is the I best guarantee for the peace and pr'speiity of the world. (Applause.) Mr John Twomey, in his address, said that was the first demonstration under the alls- pietes of the Union; for North Cardiganshire. The recent railway dispute was one to be much deplored. It spragged the wheels of industry, stopped work at collieries and on munitions, and prevented the export of coal to- the allies of Great Britain. That was ) caused not by misunderstanding on the ail- ways but was due to some subtle and sinister influence which he hoped would be ferretted out by Mr J. H. Thomas and members of the N.U.R. Wealth had been rolling into the pockets of profiteers and he was afraid that. profiteers wanted the war to continue and that that was at the root. of the recent, railway trouble as well as the root of troubles in other industries. Mr Thomas was a straightforward man. He could not be bought so people were trying to break him. There was a great deal of underhanded work going on in order to continue the gain of the profiteers. (Hear, bear.) The North Cardiganshire branch of the Labourers Union dated back a few months only: but withm that short period some little had been done to improve the lives and con- ditions of the members. Before the formation of the branch the workmen of North Cardi- ganshire went about wita their heads down 8 and only raised them to take a glance at the squire or employer and salute him. Hence- forth he hoped they would be able to hold their heads up and walk about as free men and women. (Cheers.) The old spirit, he feared, was still abroad in certain quarters, because having arranged that demonstration the men gave notice to their employers that they were going to take a day off to attend the meet- ing and a manager had the audacity to nut up a notice saying that the company did not approve of a general holiday on Saturday. All absentees on that account would render them- selves liable to serious consequences and it behoved all workmen to be on their guard against reducing the output of minerals. In spite of that threat the men asserted their in- dependence and attended that meetino- The brow-beating of mine managers or any other managers of workmen had gone by the board and no threat would prevent them carrying out their intentions (Cheers.) It was only I short month the workmen of North Cardigan- shire decided to organise and during that short time they had worked wonders. But they had not gone ps far as they would have liked. LreJar frig^tfally low, but thev hwnfl 0r-lu before any independent tri- bunal with cases aris-ng out of the war and tha"0Hie:1r?nCe ti1G War and lle maintained district But tf Tke? W°nderS in the ft jBut though it might be sa'"d w«r* n € ,We11 COuld be said that they were hving in luxury? The non-producer and Se fdVeearafhJT wrth the idea that because a man was <?ettincr cr ?urrS,\rVbtV°rkif cl"s »« "iSfg ta luxury and that if each one of them had not a motor-car it was his own fault. It was said « £ »hVT'.wgS r/o'S Z7 "fed to put it into w.r to'ds at Z" ystwyth during tank week in the town had hPfl.rimf°+iTar ?ds e<Juiva'Ient to £ 75 per ever t w!, Wf0"" Unfortunately, h £ v- whYe'h J? a who drew the interest which the taxpayer had to pay. A little inci- ?nnthePWhted jjP T^mey, recently occurred S'if i7 men in the employ of the timber department of the Board of Trade had, h^11, ur&lng the divisional officer to concede a decent rate of pay and ?njy,eq"'valent to what other employers fell- n^h.b^r W6n>,payian?- The divisional officer, probably wrongly advised and badly advised, considered that the men were paid what was fact' thlt^th JUSt' In view of the fact that other employers were paying more the men were unable to accept his interpre- tation of fair, reasonable, and just and were pressing the matter on him without going' to the extreme and adopting the only course open to workers of withholding their labour. When proposals were made to the men and refused because they were not made through the Union, an attempt was made to force them into submission by a lockout and the employ- ment of blacklegs. Just fancy that being done by a Government department. The Union was not having that; and, having a labour party or a semblance of a labour party in the House of Commons they asked the President tL fW f ofi,Tra^,e and that appeared io be the first time the Chief Controller knew of the complaint of the men and at an interview ol ^pfressed.f.urPfise. that the matter had gone so far without his knowledge. The Union artiW thIc^Pfnratifnn°r the men and after m«.nT.IP+• Controller agreed to pay the men half-time lor the fifteen days they were aHy in thl' 'T' -Men in the localit?> especi- ally in the lead mines, were seethino- wjtl, discontent and unrest bordering on a minia- hadeheVOlUtlr- For a long time the Um n had been endeavouring to negociate with mine owners. Finally the Ministry of Munitions came on the ocene and on the 29th August cam- to temporary terms with, the mine Swners which were approved by them. Strange to relate though a month had since passed. L S E6orTn?rS had not yet put the agreement tn th f ??: Pe,rhaPs it was rather galling com? to t^ o1 they were compelled to come to terms. Some of them had put the settlement into operation only partially It biters th7, Want6d take two three ««?n tu1Bwallowmg the settlement but swa low it they must, for unless there was a settlement in the next week or so the men hi nS°. the extl"emo though they might press °~Germans and tSSf Of if6fi !r- (Cbeers-) One of the settlement not, put into operation was payment at shorter periods than once a month. After dealing with the progress of St ronr str,i^ie f°r the ght to combine, Mr. Twomey said before tho The1" S-h C°U?t;T r°tten-ripe i„ wealth. poverty of °th Were enorm°us and the poverty of the poor was great. No nation J h7 on Poverty. But wealth was ro use unless it was distributed The income ^r •*♦■*<» twais u ^'at sum 313 millions were taken by the IandJords; 190 millions by stock nd Jia! eholders and investors; 515 millions in pro- 910tV18nf n thC producers' who were lout y-10tiih of the community sot 450 mil- lions only among them. The balance went to from Hip landlords and others, v,ho took toll working cl^scs. (Hear, hear.) Re- n.^ Profitcers as men who showed tVir patriotism by taking the last shilJin?, Mr. Twornev stated that a company was formed in England with £ 4,000 canital in 6:1. shpres and was given a monopoly though there were other th^work Thnfi T1 m .Fran°e who couId do the work. The first year's operations he said ended in a clear profit of 14s. 10s. for everv sixpenny share. Those were the kind of people who wanted the war to continue. He IaS ?vr0 H11 the People where their 'money was drifting to and where their country wm drifting to. Reverting tn Nnrt.v> affairs, he added that he hoped and trusts" to be able to bring about peace by negociat ou. If they could not get that way then they must have war to the knife. (Cheers.) The Rev. D. D. Walters, who spoke in Welsh and with a hwyl, said there were people in this country who wanted them to believe that mankind was divided into two classes There were many present who believed it was use- less to ask men to combine. There would be no peace in the worldf until there were equality, justice, and the brotherhood of man. (Hear, hear.) Some people did not care for the word equality, but equality was what he preached on Sunday. He wanted more equality in society. He had been told that what was wanted was a levelling up, and not a levelling down; but how could they exalt the vallays without making th?. hills and mountains low? At present he saw great injustice in the world. He saw 'men working hard dav after day while other men ived in idleness on the fruits of their labour. An idle man was an unreasonable being in the kingdom of God. The speaker went on to condemn the mon- arcliial system, and said there wer-, no kings in nature. The only king in nature was a father and the only queen the mother. If people were only bold enough to foIl, w nature in its teachings they would do away with all idlers and parasites. A kind of ligr.ity had been placed on idleness in this country. but workingmen should remen.ber that they were he.mainstay of everything. They mist nor put more dignity and honour on work; and he asked them to combine in order to get bijT v ag-es, and if they got big wages they would e;irn the respect of the community. (C"<?err.) The biggest scamp in the bountry if he et-rned a good salary could always command respect. People worshipped the golden calf even in these days. (Hear, hear.) By getting a good salary they would change the popular idea and put shame on idleness. They should give the small salary to the idle man and the big salary to the man who worked hard. He wanted to see not only a great national union of labour, but a great international union as veil. Then when war was spoken of and they were asked to send their sons by the thou- sands to be killed the workingmen of the world would step in and down tools. (Hear. hear.) If the workingmen of the world downei tools then everything would be brought to n standstill, and such things as were happenitig to-day would not be possible. (Applaiise.) A vote of thanks to the speakers was passed on the proposition of Mr Edward Morgan and to the Chairman on the proposition of Mr. Twomey. Mr David John James. Ffair-rhos, a Mons hero, the holder of the D.C.M. and the Russian medal, occupied a seat on the plat- form.

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Unobscured Lights at Aberystwyth. PROCEEDINGS AGAINST HOTELS. At the Police Station on Friday, before Peter Jones and T J. Samuel, Esqrs., the adjourned charges of having allowed obscured lights visible from the sea against, W. H. Jervis, manager of the Queen's Hotel, and George Edwards, proprietor d'f the Belle Vue Hotel, were heard. Mr A. J. Hughes ap- peared for Mr. Edwards. The evidence in the case of the Queen's Hotel was taken on Wed- nesday. Mr. Jervis, referring to the state- ment then made by Mr John Watkins that the lights at the Queen's Hotel could be seen twenty mliles out at sea, said, on Admiralty authority, a light must be 300 feet above sea level to be seen that distance out at sea. Giving evidence in the case against. Mr Ed- wards, P.C. M R. Lloyd said at 8.15 un- j obscured light., were full on in the dining- room of the Belle Vue and a light in a bed- room on the second stotey. He went into the hotel and a maid sa d she would attend to it immediately. He then went to the end of the Parade and back and at 8.45 again I entered the hotel and drew the attention of the Manageress to the lights. She replied that it had been attended to after his first visit, but he asked her to come outside and showed her the light in the bedroom window still unobscured on which she expressed her regret and extinguished the light.-In cross- examination, witness admitted that it was not customary to have bedroom lights on at 8.45, but he could not say whether a visitor had put on the light or not. He did not. go in and say that the bedroom light was still on as he wanted to gLve them time and not be too hard on them. When he spoke to the maid he drew attention to the fights up- stairs and down. He did not know that Mr Edwards was away in< Birmingham.—Supt. Phillips having said the Belle Vue was always attentive to lights, Mr. Hughes asked that it should be regarded as a pure accident and the case dismissed. As to time people wero misled by the published times for obscuring lights m the Midlands which were extended by an hour. Section 11 of what was called "Dora' did no; s-ay "having control of th« srivants," but having control of the lights Ml Edwards was 3\P¥. It was i.t the heigat of the season and visitors- often put on bed- joom lights and .pave them on. Notices as to lights were placed in all bedrocms—Mr Peter Jones said in some cases lodgers as well as occupic s vote proceeded -,gainst.-The Chair. man (Mr Peter Jones) said the Iknch appre- ciated the difficulties of proprietors of large houses and that they took precautions. The Bench also appreciated the position of the I ( I'ce in the performance of th. j, duties. H was a pity the visitor who put on the light in the bedroom could not have been ascer- tained, as Itich,personr, should be proceeded against. In the cases before it the Bench did not wish to ecord a conviction but thought it reasonable to make an order for the pay- ment of costs and hoped that all precautions would be taken. "pI' or _flY'

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