The Carmarthen Weekly Reporter

Carmarthenshire County Council i lections. CLERICAL ATTACK "ENDS IN A FIASCO. The good people who have been working themselves up into a frantic state of excite- ment with the view of getting rid of the "Radical majority" on the County Council have been doomed to 'bitter disappointment. Against many of the well known Radical leaders they could 'not even find an opponent. Mr John Lloyd was returned unopposed for AbergwLli, and it was found impossible to get anybody to oppose .Mr John Johns in Llangunnock. Of course, the promoters of the recent aigitatioii can shake their heads sagely and IteHus that (they could have done terrible things tin these districts i,f they had only tried. The vitriolic manner in which these two nicmbot-s have been assailed how- ever shows that those who lived in the dis- tricts and who knew the strength of their present representatives thought discretion the better pant of valour. All the virulence of the attack was reserved for Mr H. Jones-Davies, of Glyneiddan, who was opposed in the Llaaiiarthney division. The scurrility of the methods employed nnght. have been obscured in the flash of viotory; but the contemptuous way in which his constituents ignored these and re- turned him by a substantial majority leaves his assaillants in the very unfortunate posi- tion of having cone their very worst—and of having only succeeded in proving their utter impotence. All the war whoops and the brandishing of scalping knaves on the part of the Clerical braves has now turned out to have been mere stage play. The Liberals and the Nonconformists of the division realised the issue at stake. It was a common practice of the Boers in the late war to employ sharpshooters to pick off the officers in the hope that by so doing they would ireduce the British Army to a rabble. -Mr Jones-Davies's pledge hammer blows at Church is m and Toiyism have exas- perated its loaders beyond all endurance; and the lhe of tlu iir whole park of artillery was concentrated on Llanairthney, EO as to drive him out of the County Council. The jealousy 'between the agricultural and in- dustrial classes was worked for all it was worth; the clergy 'made themselves con- spicuous in working for his opponent, and the landed interest was, with one exception, tlurown against him. The jifbes and the snoers of his minor assailants were worthy of Yankee electioneering. However, all s weU that ends well. Mr Davies has the .s;iti,sf ac- tion of knowing that lie can hold his seat against the organised forces of Churehisni, Landlordism, and La bonr:sm-.a peculiar combination! The two former were utterly Indifferent to all considerations except to get Ü Jones Davies out, and they failed! v ft* Mr W. Maboai Davies was defcaited by a narrow majority by Mr Mervyn Peel. He is a decided loss to the County Council. Con- sidering the popularity and the immense local influence of Mr Peel, it speaks well for "iMabon" that the majority wasorot bigger. The fight was a hot one; and Mr D. E. Stephens came all the way from Carmarthen to support Mr Peel. The successful candi- date is a scholar of no mean attainments, and has shown himself so far more conscious of the duties of the landed aristocracy than of their privileges. 'Mr Delme Davies-Evans was also success- ful m, winning a seat formerly held by a Liberal—but not from the sitting member. It is to be remembered, however, that Mr Davies-Evans emphatically repudiated Tony- ism, land claimed to be an Independent Liberalism. When a Liberal and Noncon- formist leader like Mr H. Jones Thomas, of PNwhos-a supporter of the Lloyd George Policy-saw his way to work for Mr Davies- Evans, it is little wonder that many of the rank and file of the paity were influenced by his example. t Mr Morse, a well known Liberal and Non- conformist lost Laughamo by a majority of two. In. spite of the talk of the "Rate- payers" and "No Politics," the Tories always vote for a Tory candidate on strict party lines in opposition to a large ratepayor when they have a chance ;n a Church strong- hold like Laugharne. The talk of "inde- pendence" is all very well for Nonconformist cenitres. Oh, the cant of it! Mr S. -H. Anthony, a Liberal of a pro- nounced type, has. ousted Mr A. Stephens, in Kidwelly. The fight turned on local issues. Dr Thomas ousted Mr Scourfield in Whit- lamd. This again was a purely local struggle. Dr Thomas presided during the Lloyd George agita/tion at a meeting at Capel -Ian, St. Clears, at which it was resolved to ask the County Council to adopt the N at:«mal Policy This is hardly a Tory victory then, .except Dr Thomas has changed his mind dining the last foiir or five years. *1.;<. Sik Tames Hiils-J oh lies defeated Mi T. Jones in Caio. Line the cases of Mr lee and MT Davies-Evans, this is an instance of the influence of the local landed interest when aroused. Siir James Hills-Johues and Lady Hills-Johnes have legitimately enough gained high esteem hy their acts in reard to vatrious local enterprises—the agricul- j tural show, the village library, and various other things of the kind—and Sir James had the support of several influential gentlemen in the district. When there is no acute political question- on which the electorate has to decide-as in 1904—perspnal con- siderations, of course,^Jhave full play. The moral of the election is that Toryism has a chance when it is represented by a strong local squire candidate. ° Mr T. H. Jones polled an equal number of votes with Mr Barrett in the Llanfihangel- ar-arth division; auid Mr Bairrett retannec his seat by the casting vote of the returning officer. Such a result, of course, is a defeat for the assailant. When a party which makes the .attack with such violence cannot gain a majority of olne it has palpably failed. iI** In Cai-marthen BM-ough the contests were very tame. That between Mr Parke Jones and the Rev A. F. Mills was hardly worthy the name of a fight such was the Jspaiitj between them. The Carmarthen public have at len gth seen a .single combat between Mi J ■ Lewis "and Mr P. R. Lewis, and the f owner was the victor. Carmarthen Borough returns three Liber- als out of four. Well done! There was one spoiled vote in Llanfihangel ar-arth. The voter had marked it on the back at the top, probably being illite-rate, and desirous to vote for the candidate whose name first appeared on the paper. At the meeting of the new County Council on Saturday, there is a good deal of import- ant "business to be done. The Rmdica1 majo- rity is so big that it is not worth while now scrutinising toG' closely the politics o doubtful member. There are eight alder- men to be elected in place of the f,ollow-ilig:- Sir John Williams, The Plas, Llanstephan. Mr John Beavan, Dolfeinog, Llansadwrn. Mr Joseph Joseph, PlasdeHw, Llangennech. Mr Joseph Maybery, Ponanount, Llanelly. Sir LeWIS Morris, Penbryn, Carmarthen. Mr Daniel Stephens, Arlais, Kidwelly. Mr H. J- Thomas, Penrhos-uohaf, Golden lycerfs. UamWy. .¡. .-robaWy these will „ot all There are other Richmonds in MEMBERS OF THE NEW COUNCIL. C'RMART 'EN BOROUGH (B-ist. Ward. TJpner Divisw)— *Rov A. Fuller Mil's (R. and Bap.) 2t7 T. Parke Jones (R. and Con.) 7] Majority 175 CARMARTHEN BOROUGH (West. War I, Lower Division) *John Lewis (Rad. and Moth.)..•. •• 161 P. R. Lewis (C. and Ch.). 144 Majority 17 WHITLAND— Rowland L. Thomas (Ind. and Ch.) 226 *J. Seourfield (R. and Cong.) 167 Majority 59 KIDWELLY— I Sam. H. Anthony (Ind. and Non.) 283 Alfred Stephens (Ind. and Ch.) 263 Majority 20 I PEMBRlEY (South)— i George Eynon Bowon (Lnd.) 368 Richard T. Hammond (R.) 296 -Majority 70 LLANARTHNEY— *Henry Jonos Davies (R. and Non.) 331 Dd. Fanr Davids (Ind. (and Noai.) 261 Majority 70 LLANGADOCK— I Mervyn Lloyd Peel (C. and Ch.). 245 *Wmi. Malbon Davies (R. and Non.) 235 Majority 10 BETTWS— T. Morris (Lab. and Bap.) 349 *Wm. Thomas (R. and Bap.) 121 Majority 228 AMMANFORD— Col. Morris (R. and Oh.) 349 D. J. Jollies (R. and Cong.) 281 Majority 68 QU, ARTEII BACH— *W. J. Williams (R. and Con.) 389 Wan. Vaughan (R. and Con.) 277 -Majority 112 CAIO- Lieut.-Gen. Sir James Hills Jdhnes (Ind. and Ch.) 234 *Thomas Francis Jones (R.) 182 Majority 61 LLANEGWAD— D. Davies-Evans (Ind. and Ch.). 266 T. Lowis (R.) 224 Majority 42 LLANFIHANGEL-AR-ARTH— *T. Barrett (R. and Non.). 266 T. R Jones (C. and Ch.) 266 The returning officer gave his casting vote in favour of the sitting member, Mr Thomas Barrett, who was, therefore, declared elec- ted. There was one spoilt vote. LAUGHARNE— W. H. Dempsiter (C. and Ch.) 189 J. D. Mouse (R. and Non.) 187 Majority 2 LLANEDY— J. Llewellyn Thomas (R.) 340 « Griffith V. Davies (R.) 205 Majority 135 LIJANGtENDEIHNE- Rev R. H. Jones (R.) 237 Thomas Davies (Ind.). 175 Majority 62 LLANELLY URBAN— Division III., Ward I.— 11-W. David (L. and Non.). 260 Collwyn Morgan (Labour) [ 58 Majority 102 LLANELLLY RURAL.— Renwick Division.— *David Harity L. and Non.). 199 H. J. Hopkins (L. and Non.). 161 Majority 38 ] UNOPPOSED RETURNS. CARMARTHEN BOROUGH (East Ward, Upper Division)— *T. E. Briigstocke (Ch. and Con.). CARMARTHEN BOROUGH (West, Ward, Upper Diiviirion)- *Rev Professor Jones (Non. and Ind.). CENARTH- *Rev D. D. Walters (R. and Non.). LLANDILO URiBAN- *J. W. Gwynne Hughes (L.). LLANDILO RURAL— L. N. Powell (L. and Cong.). LLANGUNNOR- ".C. E. Morris (Ch. and L.). ST. CLEARS— *Jamcs Phillips (L. and Noil.). LLANSTEPH I XR N *j^hn Johns (L. and Non.). ABERGWILI— XT *John Lloyd, Penybank (L. and Non.). LLANFIHANGEL ABERBYTHICK. xEaii Cawdor (C.). MOTHVEY— *D. Davies (R. and Non.). FERRYSIDE (St. Ishmael's)- *J. Lloyd Thomas (L. and Non.). LL ANGENNEOH— *Thos. Thomas (L. and Non). lJiANNON— *A\illiam Greville (L. and Non.). LIJANBOIDY— *D. Evans (L. and Non). LLANDISSIIilO— 13. John (L. and Non.). LLANGELER- •Col. W P. LI. Lewes (C. and Ch.). PEMBRFJY (North Division)- *Ht,v J. H. Rees (L. and Non.). CONWIL- *Thomas Jones (Non. and L.). RHYDYCYMERAU- *Benj«'imin Evans (L. and Non.). LLANYBYTHER— David Willitaiii6 (Non.). LLANDEBlE- *David iDavies (Non. and L.). LLANELLY URBAN- Division I., Ward I.— *W. Griffiths (Oh. and Con.). Division II., Ward I.— John Simlett (Lab. and Non.). Division IV., Ward II.- *JO'hn Thomas (L. and Non.). Division V., Ward II.— *D. C. Parry (L. and Non.). Div-isioii VI., Ward rl1.- Joseph Roberts (Lab. and Non.). Division VII., Ward III.— *R. A. NeviUe (Ch. and L.). Division VIII., Ward llI.- Joseph Williams (L. and Non.). LLANELLY RURAL— Hengoed Division- W. Ben. Jones (L. and Non.). Westfa and Glyn.— "Rov B. Humphreys (L. and Non.).

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-— ————————————————————— j The Disestablishment of the ¡ Church in Wales. COMMISSION*" SCOPE. DEBATE IN PARIAMENT. GOVERNMENT WARNED AGAINST DELAY. In the House of Commons on Tuesday, on the Civil Service estimates, Lord Balearres said he wished to ask a ques tion about the WTelsih Church Commission. There had, he said, been various statements in the Press to the effect that there was dis- agreement between the chairman of that Commission and certain of its members. The Secretary to the Local Government Board had told them thait his Department was not concerned with the conduct of the business of the Royal Commission. That, he imag- lined, was the ordinary Constitutional course take up. However, in the newspapers, appar ently with the authenticity of being officially communicated, it was said three or four days ago that there was a difference of opinion as to the interpretation of the reference to the Welsh Church Commission, and as to the conduct of business by the chairman of the Commission. It was said, however, that they were in such a state of difficulty that arbitrators had to be called in: and further it went on to say that the arbitrators nomina ted were the Lord Chancellor and the Presi dent of the Board of Trade. He did not wish to discriminate between two members of the Cabinet. One of these arbitrators was a distinguished person of judicial mind, but, j with all respect to the President of the Board of Trade, lie scarcely thought that on the question of the Established Church in Wales it could be alleged that he approached the subject from an impartial point of view. He should be very glad to hear that the statement that the Lord Chancellor was to be an arbitrator was correct, but that Mr Lloyd George had not been called upon to in terfe.re on a subject on which he was an avow ed partisan (opposition cheers). A VOICE FROM NORTH WALES. Mr J. D. Rees said that the provision for zCl,400 carried them up to the end of the cur rent financial year. He would like to know how long provision on this account was likely I to be required. Judging from the way in which tlie proceedings were so frequently in- terrupted to consider the terms of reference it would seem that further provision on ac- count of this Commission might appear even in another supplementary estiftnate. Could the secretary to the Treasury give them any intimation as to how long the Commission were likely to sit? He would also like to know whether the sums were paid in a lump sum to each member or how were they remun crated. He presumed that this reference to the arbitrator was a very unusual proceed- ing. So far as the people of Wales were concerned, they would view the appointment of the President of the Board of Trade as one of the arbitrators, not only with equanimity but with satisfaction There was a strong feeling in Wales that the terms of this refer enco should haive been more carefully draf- ted, and that it6 purview should have been long since explicitly ascertained. There was Considerable dlissaititsifactlon with the delay which had already taken place in dealing with this matter, and he should like the Sec- retary to the Treasury to answer his ques- tions. If he would do so the Welsh People would be extremely grateful. Sir F. Banbury thought the Government ought to offer some justification for the Welsh Church Commission which, according to at least two supporters of the Government, was eirther not being conducted on business lines or was not wanted at all. COMPOSITION CRITICISED, Mr Ellis Davies said Lord Balcarres had thought fit to question the attitude that was likely to be assumed towards the Commission by the President of the Board of Trade. He did not know whether the noble lord had studied the composition of the Commission but he (Mr Davies) thought that the Welsh nation had z -good right to complain of its compositlion, inasmuch as six of its ,nc inem bers were members of + l>. V'tlul ng- land. wMe eat majority o WjW t,iol1 he tooK was not so much tothe character of the Commission as tothe appointment al- together. i ( The Speaker .-aid that the point not, ( open to discussion on this vote, which as ] only for a supplementary sum and not tor tae j original cost of the Commission. ( Sir Davies), continuing, said the Welsh nation not having requested the appointment of the commission had a right to enter a caveat to any report that might be presen- ted. So far as he understood the inquiry was being made by the Commissioners for tho purpose of ascertaining certain facts and statistics because in the past there ha been a difficulty in obtaining statistics. The iimportaiit matter for the present was that the statistics placed before the Commission should be iiii such a form as to be not only accessible to the public,but also capable of being tested. In any event before the Com- repotted it was only fair to say that as they had never asked for it, they felt that neither were they in any way bound by its report.^ Brace gai(1 jie inust associate him- self respectfully and regretfully with the pro test against the expenditure on the AN elsh Disestablishment Cammussion. He feilt that in doing so lie was expressing the feelings of the great mass of the AN elsh people. AN ales sent a solid body of members to the House, and if Geneal Elections counted for anything Wales had expressed an opinion in favour of Disestablishment, without any necessity for a Commission to inquire into the matter at all. He was not going to discuss the work of the Commission. He understood it would not be in order. His contention was that it ought never to have been appointed. The voice of the solid phalanx of Welsh members ought to have been accepted as the voice o Wales, and in entering this protest lit should like to say that whatever the Commission micirht do it was after all the AY elsh 11101110^ and tho voice of the A\elsli nation tlnougi them, that must be taken into account uj the House. As money was so much needed for various forms it was strange it should have been wasted on a Commission which ought never to have been appointed. In face of the fact that AY ales had made up its nmid on the subject, no matter what the report of the Commission was, AN elsh members would expect the Government to give them what they had been sent to ask-a Welsli Disestab lishment Bill. MABON'S CLEAR AVARNING. Air W. Abraham (Mabon) said the ques- tion had been more or less before the House for twenty years. He made liis first spe^-U on the subject. All the tacts and all the fig- ures that could be adduced had been befoie them over and over again. He, as a AN elsh Nonconformist considered that the present Commission was unnecessary. Ihe case h«u been anade out for Disestablishment as fuR> as ever it could be made out. He did not object to the Commission as a Commission, but that morning he had read in a daily paper that Royal Commissions were a more or less easy way of shelving the question. This was what caused ham now to address the House. Speaking on behalf of eveiy ANelsl member in that House, lie asked for an assu ance from the Government that the\ win 5 not substituting an inquiry tor the purs >f shelving this great and important ;ion to the Principality. If such was the government's intention then he warned them that as they met with obstruction Iromthe Irish benches they would not escape it from the AVelsh (dheers and rnionist laughtei). Thev believed their cause had been J^co nised as true and just throughout AN aks. For twenty year., at least tl.ey had <1= it (heaTv hear). Now they wanted a guaian tee from the Government nuch as had been given to the Nationalists. If there was one question more than any which .touched the hearts of Welshmen it was tins He called upon the Government therefore to ^y o.'t their promises with regard to the Discstab- lishment of the AVelsh Church (cheers). Sir Alfred Thomas said he sympathised with those lion, members who were exceeding I ly apprehensive that the Commission was anoointed in order to shelve the question o the AVelsh Church. He did not unaeisxanu that was the object at all. It had been saul that the Comimissi'on had been appointed to consider whether Disestablishment was to take place or not, but the AN elsh nation had settled that matter for themselves long ago. U tho last General Election every member for a AATelsh constituency pledged himself to o.0 in for AVelsh Disestablishment. He be- At the last General Election every member for a AATelsh constituency pledged himself to go in for AVelsh Disestablishment. He be- llived) as the Prime Minister had already

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Death of the Prophet" Dowie. CAREER OF A MONUMENTAL FRAUD. John Alexander Dowie, "the Prophet of Zion," and one of the most remarkable human franclscf modern times, died at Zion City. llhnois-the city lie founded only seven years ago—on Saturday morning. Dowie. who had proclaimed his own im- mortality to thousands of credu ous followed on maniv occasions, had been m failing healtii for some time and .was virtually deposed from his exalted position as leader of the Dowie sect over a year ago It is stated, however, that some 3*0 of Ins disciples re- mained faithful to him to the last. This n,,iml)er does not include his wife, lather, ami son, who refused to see ki,m before the end. but who will arrange for his funeral. His last words iwei-e, "I have fought the good fight." -o.

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declared, that at the very earliest opportun- ity a measure was to be brought in on this question, whatever might be the findings of the Commission or whenever they might come to those findings. It would be a good deal better for lion members to allow the Commissioners to settle their business for themselves and to call in whom they liked. The Commissioners were able to manage their own affairs (hear, hear). For his own part, he should have liked that the terms of refer- ence had not been so wide. No doubt it was necessary to have a basis for making the re- port as to the temopralities of the Church and other matters. He trusted that the question, would coine up next year for a final discussion and settlement (hear, hear). MR. LLOYD GEORGE AND AX INSINUA TION. Mr AVilliam Moore (Armagh) suggested that members of the Government were en- deavouring to interfere with the Commission in the presentation of its report. Air Lloyd George said: The lion. member for Armagh has. made a serious charge against two members of the Government and against a Lord Justice of appeal. The hon. member said that two members of the Government attempted to interfere with the Royal Commission sitting in regard to the Welsh Church. His suggestion was that they were attempting to influence the mem- bers of the Commission in regard to the drawing up of their report. It was an offen sivereflecftion upon 'learned and distinguished men at the head of the Commission that he should be open to any interference of the kind. The best answer he could give to the charge was that there was not a shadow of foundation for it from beginning to end. If I had not got up immediately and repudiated Mich acharge not only on behalf of the Gov- ernment, but also on behalf of one of the most high-minded and distinguished judges in our courts, I should have felt I should not have been doing any duty. There has been no interference at all. The matter has been p rely one of procedure. If there was any attempt to interfere there was no man who would have repudiated it more strongly than Lord Justice Yaugban Williams. I cordially agree with what the hon. member for East Glamorgan (Sir Alfred Thomas) said. This is not a Commission to inquire into the ques- tion of Disestablishment. That is a matter that we regard as settled as far as the Welsh people are concerned. You cannot have a Commission appointed to inquire into a poli- tical controversy. The Chairman was inquir iing into certain facts bearing upon that con- troversy. In every great question that oaime to be settled in that House you can always refer to some official statis- tics, but in regard to this controversy you have not those figures. You have in regard in + *»J- j- —.»»- —-i. i j -j sides. One set of partisans would say that the Church represented one half of the popu- lation and others that they only represent one third or one fourth. You have therefore nothing to which you can refer. The Com- mission has been appointed to inquire into figures of that kind which can be proved on evidence of witnesses in cross-examination (hear, hear). PREMIER'S ASSUSANCE. Siir H. Campbell Bannerman said that the Welsh Church Commission was not appointed to inquire into the question of Welsh Dises- tablMiment. That was a questioai which he believed to be settled so far as the AAelsb people were concerned but it was purely a. Commission to inquire into certain facts which bore upon, that controversy.. PROBABLE FURTHER POSTPONEMENT OF SITTINGS. A London Correspondent wiresIn usual ly well-informed quarters the opinion is gain ing ground that there will be no meeting of the AVelsh Church Commission next week. It will be remembered that Lord Justice AVil- liams only "hoped" the sittings would be resumed on Tuesday next, that hope being based on the assumption that both Lords I Justies Buckley and Fanvell would be able to return to their duties in the Appeal Court. The former has. returned, but it is now said the latter cannot be back in the Court this side of the Easter holidays. Un- less. therefore, Sir Gorrell Barnes. President of the Probate and Admiralty and Divorce Divisions, can be spared for the Appeal Court next week, it is anticipated that Lord Jus- tice Yanghan AVilliams cannot possibly get away, in which case the meetings of the | Church Commission must be further post- poned. In the Eaalter Holidalys, how-ever, it is expected that good progress will be made with the work of the Commission EXPENSES OF THE INQUIRY. The Civil Service estimates just issued for the year 1907-8 oonta,illl the provision made for the expenses of the AVelsh Church Com- mission now sitting. It is as follows. z, Salaries ni onn Travelling expenses ••• Shorthand writing ••• £ 550 Incidental Expenses £ 40 Totiil £ 2,410 The large sum put down "under the second head is not, as might be supposed at first sifflit, to enable the Commission itself to travel, but will be used to defray the rani way fare* and general expenses of witnsses New AVelsh Department. QUESTION O F~ ACCO U NT A N TC Y. In the House of Commons on Tuesday Mr I Cavendish asked the President of the Board of Education if the new AVelsh Department woud be subject to the supervision of the Accountant-General of the Board or would it have its own Accountant-General. Air McKemva The expenditure of the AVelsh Depal-bment will continue to be accoun ted for by the Accountant-General of the j Board.