Rhondda Leader Maesteg Garw and Ogmore Telegraph

r 0 f Why Send Away or Buy Elsewhere? f JK———When you can get such Sweeping Bargains of f ? *j. KINBTLEY, %niaflllr | f TheoweEStXhedBd Watchmakeir, Jeweller and Optician, t w 32, Dunraven Street, TONYPANDY. Established 1874. A Ladies' and Gents' Silver Watches, from 10 B 0 uT Ladies' and Gents' Gold Watches, from £1 5s. Od. < Our Special Silver English Lever Watch 42 2s. Od. 1 .aS&sl CLOCKS of evety Description, from 2 The Best House for Wedding, Engagement and Keeper Rings. IfL-rot^r lla Largest Selection in the District. 0 Gold and Silver Jewellery in Great Variety at Wonderfully 9 { Low Prices V i ELECTROPLATE AND JEWELLEBY-A Large and Useful Selection most w Suitable for Presents, at Sweeping- Reductions. > W SPECTACLES AND OPTICAL GOODS, a Grand Stock. > ¥ Our Fancy Goods Department well stocked with a very large selection of suitable and useful A Presents, and invite your inspections. Prices the ven Lowest. "i Sold Here The Ingersoll Lever Watch, 5 The American Ansonia Lever 4The Fearless ff Workman's Lever 26 4711 0 CSrEO COUZENS & SONS, '— DESIGNS AND ESTIMATES CUnD FITTERS Nat. Tel. Telegrams: FREE. onvir-rl I 1 cnpj 461. "Interceptor." IW Modern Shop Fronts, Airtight Enclosures, Incised Facias, etc., etc. Brassard other Fittings to suit all Trades. City Road Works, CARDIFF. IT WILL REPAY YOU TO COIVfE TO PONTYPRIDD FOR YOUR NEW TEETH TO fMr. M. SONS BURY 93 Taff Street, PONTYPRIDD, THE ACTUAL MAKER AND FITTER OF New Teeth on the American Principle Which is the Best for Mastication and Appearance. Also at 96, St. Mary Street. Cardiff. ,c' 4242 A Warning to the Public. ESTABLISHED 1845 [EE SURE YOU GET Thompson's BURDOCK PILLS AND REFUSE ALL SUBSTITUTES. MP* One of the oldest and best of Medicines, having been more than 60 years before the Public or purifying the foulest blood, and removing every disease of the Stomach, Liver and Kidneys. Cures Scurvy and Scrofula, Sores, Eruptions of the Skin, and all diseases arising from an impure state of the Blood. Gouty and Rheumatic per sons ill find the greatest relief by their use. Sold by all Chemists at Is. 1 jd and 28 9d, or by Post direct from the Burdock Pill Manufactory, 27, St. Helen's Rd., Swansea For 15 or 34 Stamps. Thompson's Electric Life Drops for the cure of Nervous Debility. The Electric Life Drops act so quickly on a weak and shattered constitution that health is speedily restored. In Bottles at 58 6d, 118. and 22s, in cases of AS See the Name o the Sole Proprietors-M. A. THOMPSON & SON on Label. Griffiths and Thomas SHOP FITTERS For FRONTS, ENCLOSURES, CASES and SIGNS Estimates Free Nat. Telephone, 01247. Tunnel, Queen Street, CARDIFF (Opposite St. John's Schools). 4357 Jg years of terrible agony relieved by one ■ application, and cured with two boxes of EPLL- WEL, P y This is the remarkable story of Mrs. C. Lewis, 43, Gilfach Road Tonyrefail. "Nov. 25, 1908. It gives me the greatest pleasure to testify to the curative properties of E'll-Wel. For fully 4 years I suffered terribly with Eczema and great swellings in my feet. I could not wear stockings of any kind, but had to wrap linen around my feet, which I had to change three and four times a day, owing to discharges. I tried many ointments without success. I therefore gave E'll-Wel a trial, and am pleased to say that I had relief with the first application, and two boxes effected a complete cure, that being eight months ago. There Is now no sign of it recurring again. Yours gratefully, E'll-Wel will cure your skin trouble whatever it may be-Boils, Burns, Pimples, Piles, Ringworm, sores, Itch, Chilblains, etc. When applied to a bad place, its healing virtues go straight to the cause of the trouble, thereby effecting a complete cure quickly. 8old in Boxes Is. 1d. each-post free from our Agents- A. D, LLEWELLYN, Chemist, Tonyrefail; JOHN HERAPATH, P.O., Tonyrefail: and THOMAS & EVANS, Universal Provider. 4568 f. tI -I' ¡I\ Come with us I t will lead you to Great Stock of WALLPAPERS, 1 be Clearod. Tremendous Pteductions. F. J. THRASHER, Painter, Paperhanger and J J. House Decorator. 89, Tylacelyn-rd., PENYGRAIG (Corner Shop). U tNtMn Agent for Hall's Washable Distemper. Va.rnish. VMnishStMn, Colour, Brushes, and all Decorators' Requisites. Estimates Free. EMIGRATION AGENCY, Messrs. W. THOMAS & SONS at the TOWN HALL CHAMBERS PONTYPRIDD, are AGENTS FOR ALL THE PRINCIPAL STEAM SHIP LINES to America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Lowest Fares Apply personally or by letter.

The Doming Elections. Some Lazy Thoughts. [BY TIRED Last week, I was only able to deal with the contested Wards in our district this week I propose to indulge in a, few reflec- tions on the men who have been allowed a walk-over in the five uncontested Wards. Before proceeding further, I wish to enter a protest against the manner in which your printer sought to enrich my limited vocabulary. I contess thnt my knowledge of the King's En0n i is by no means as extensive as it mi0 it be, but my failing was never hrought home to me with such force as when I attempted to extract my meaning out of the distorted words in my last week's effort. What on earth is meant by "gassomeriant" I have been unable to discover. I have searched all the dictionaries at niv command, but each preserves a Sphinx-like silence on this mysterious compound. Gassomeriant for" gossamerical" sounds a trifle funny, but, in the fitness of things, it might bear some relation to the notorious. Auditor's Report, and might constitute an un- witting commentary on the heavy gas wastage that document has disclosed. Again, pansity for 11 paucity is an- other variation which, is as much Greek to me as the characters on a Chinese wizard's parasol. I trust the gentleman who sets up these lines will have a little more regard for the original copy," and leave any revised versions to the lexicographers of the day. Having thus attempted to explain some of the mysterious passages in my last week's article, I proceed with my task. In these matters, it is generally wise to follow the course of the river, and thus I find myself dealing with the unopposed member in Ward 3—Councillor Edward Jones. If my memory serves me right, Mr. Jones has served the constituency as a. member for a period of nine years, and on three occasions he has been returned unopposed. This, in itself, bespeaks the quality of his representation. Though a man of few words—he is seldom heard in the Council Chamber—he, nevertheless, puts in a lot of hard, honest work. This year has been the crowning, year of his representation, for he has succeeded to the chair—a post which he has filled with distinction and credit. In Ward 4. where Dr. Thomas holds supreme sway, it is almost an accepted fact that to supplant him would be like trying to shift a mountain from its base. The thing is impossible. He is so much a part and parcel of the Council, that to try to conceive the Rhondda Parliament minus his presence is like trying to think of daylight without the sun. Whence cornea his popularity? There are two kinds of popularity. There is the popu- larity of the man who has no enemies, the man who links his arm in yours, and brings you into line with his own way of looking at things in spite of yourself. This is the popularity of Mr. Wm. Jones, M.P., and members of all parties in the House of Commons know the potentialities of that arm-grasp. There is also the other kind of popularity-the fascination which a fighter exercises over his followers. They admire his every move, applaud his every thrust, and grow tumultuous over his victories. This is the popularity of Mr. Lloyd George, and herein lies the popu- larity.of the medico-councillor for Ward 4. No sweet-minded man is he when roused to battle; he lulls you not with Eleasant words when he dons his armour; e seeks not your smiles when he is about t,) strike. He is a fighter of battles. Most pleasant of men when the world is on his side, he plants his feet firmly when his sword is crossed, and strikes with an energy that baffles his adversary. He delights in battle, he breathes its very spirit, the clash of arms is music to his ears. Those of us who have seen his prowess displayed cannot but admire his many qualities, and it is these which account for his popularity. Small wonder then that he was given a wide berth on this, as on pa«t occasions! Long before the day of nominations arrived there were rumours giving round the district that his position was going to be challenged. Reso- lutions were passed and notices of motion were tabled declaring war upon the citadel, but when the fateful day arrived, there were none to dispute his supremacy. It is well that this should be so. There is not a man in the Rhondda Council who devotes more time to public work than does he. As a medical man. his wide knowledge of the principles of sanitation and hygiene have always been at the dis- posal of that bodii., whilst his value as an educationist is known far beyond the confines of his adopted heath. He has been the Chairman of the Education Committee since the Council took over the schools under the Education Act of 1902, and present indications point to a still longer tenure of that onerous posi- tion. What the future may bring in its train we do not know, but a Rhondda :0 Education Committee without Dr. Thomas at its head—well, he will very possibly have qualified for his Old Age Pension by then. Last week, I touched upon Councillor R. S. Griffiths' unopposed return for Ward 5. I do not propose to go over the same ground again but merely to remark that the sentiments I then expressed have found a hearty lodgment in the hearts of many of his constituents. I know Mr. Griffiths quite well, and have had, per- haps, far more opportunities to judge of his capabilities than most people, and I say that I do not wish to withdraw or modify any expression that I used last week. He is a man eminently qualified to fill his position—a fact which I have no doubt Clydach Vale electors' have appreciated long ago. Councillor L. P. Griffiths, in Ward 7, is another member who has a long record of useful public service at his back. Mr. Griffiths, perhaps, does not play the same important part in the deliberations of the Council as the two last members I have mentioned, but his work—oftentimes un- ostentatious and concealed from public gaze-bears., the stamp of conscien- tiousness and efficiency. I was more than pained on reading the report of the last Council meeting, when certain irrespon- sible persons sought to cast an aspersion upon his manner of voting, as I happen to know Mr. Griffiths to be one of the most conscientious men on the Council. He has always voted straight, without being subject to outside influence and wire- pullinø, and such aspersions can only be characterised a,s: despicable efforts to damage him in the eyes of the electorate. Fortunately for _Mr. Griffiths, his timely protest- allayed—if indeed there were any- suspicions, and the fact that he has been once more returned unopposed, after a record of public life covering fifteen years, is proof abundant that the confidence of the electors in his integrity remained practically unshaken. Councillor W. T. Davies has also been secured an unopposed return through the withdrawal of Mr. John Hughes (check- weigher). Mr. Davies has just com- delied his apprenticeship as a District Councillor—having: served the Ward for only three years. During these three years he has, no doubt, done useful work in a quiet way, and perhaps the nexit three years will see him loom larger in the public eye. Except for rare pccasions, when the interests of Forth were imme-

Sport of the Week. --+-- Football. YN-YSM, R ALBIONS 3gls., PORTH RESERVES 3. This game was played before a record crowd at Ynyshir. Porth opened and rushed down the field, and soon tested Reed, who cleared smartly. Splendid football was witnessed, each goal being visited in turn. From one of the attacks S. Davies, for the Albions, sent in a stinging shot, but Thomas, Porth's goal- keeper, saved. Portli afterwards broke away with a splendid round of passing, and a long shot was sent in, which Reed fumbled, and Evans had a. simple task in getting the ball into the empty goal- mouth. Porth, however, did not keep the lead long, for S. Davies, for the homesters, scored with a beautiful shot. Porth again rushed down the field, and in a, very short time Owen scored. Soon after the same player put in the third goal for Porth tihirlough a miisundersjtanding be- tween the Albions' backs and goalkeeper. After half-time, the Albions warmed to their work and kept Porth penned in their own half, but over-eagerness robbed them of several goals. Time was fast approaching, and the Albions were still two goals in arrears, when an unexpected sihot) completely beat Thomas. Porth afterwards tested Reed with a few shots, but he cleared smartly. Smith, receiving the ball near the half-way line, sent. in a brilliant shot from the touch line, which Thomas failed to stop. No further score was registered. NANTYMOEL 18pts., MR. REDSHAW'S XV. 0. On Saturday last, the Nantymoel Town Team and Mr. Redshaw's XV. played a match for the benefit of the Ogmore Vale Cricket Club. Mr. Redshaw had suc- ceeded in gathering together a, smart team and a keen contest was expected. In the absence of Mr. H. B. Winfield, Cardiff, who had promised to act as referee, Mr. T. J. Job. W.F.U., took charge of the whistle. It was evident from the opening exchanges that the Town forwards were too strong for the visitors, and so it proved to the end, the home pack controlling the game. In the first half, tries were scored by Cole and Jack Chilcott, the former converting one of the tries. In the second half, aided by the sloper the visiting team were seen to better advantage, but the home defence was too strong, ancl thus prevented them scoring- Further1 tries were scored for the home- sters in this half by Emmanuel and; Hodgson, Jack Chilcott converting both. For the homesters, the Brothers Chilcott were seen to great advantage, and BoobyeiV at half, made some brilliant openings for his quartet. Of Mr. Redshaw's XV.. Tom Evans, Trevor John, and Luther Treharna were the pick. CTLFYNYDD QUINS 3pts., PENTRB UNITED 0. The present leaders in the Rhondda- Valley League visited Pentre last Satur- day with a, fairly representative team. One or two of their heaviest forwards were missing, but the lighter reserves were probably of greater value, as the field was a little slippery. The home' team was at full strength. Mr. Josh. Williams, Pontypridd, acted as referee. There was little doubt of the visitors' superiority, except at half-back, where Scott and Evan-si were good. The only try of the match, scored in the first half, was effected by Trueman. The game resolved itself almost entirely into a con- test between the forwards, the number of passing bouts being very few indeed- Occasionally the game was too keen,, involving a battle in words on more than one occasion, and a few" knock-out" players were counted during the second half. The visitors deserved their victory,, and the score does not exaggerate thc-' difference between the teams. --+- Treherbert Athletics played Williams- town Ely Rovers on the Old Cricket Field on Saturday, a pointless draw being the result.

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diately concerned, he has not taken an active part in the public sittings of the Council, and I think that the most daring thing he did was to threaten Dr. Thomas with a dose of dynamite. There were recriminations and promises of scenes at the time, but good sense prevailed, and mutual apologies restored harmony to the proceedings. Councillor D. Smith may not be inaptly termed the man of money in the Council. He it is, perhaps, more than any other who keeps a sharp look-out on the finances, and having served as Chairman of the Finance Committee, he is, no doubt, well qualified to act in this capacity. Mr. Smith is a very valued member. He does not pander much to publicity, and it is very seldom that he appeals to the gallery." He is, however, sharp as a needle when any matter of vital import- ance is concerned, and Ward 9 can rest assured that their interests will not be overlooked so long as the head of Alma House has a tongue that can speak for them. Councillor Tom George, Ferndale, is the last of the unopposed. Councillor George is a Labour representative who has the great gift of oommonsense. He has ability also, and a talent which is more natural than acquired. He sees a point at once, and he does not rest satisfied until every- thing has been made as clear as day to him. He it was who first grasped the absurdity of the Government Auditor's contention that occupiers who owned their own houses were not entitled to the one- third rebate, whereas if the same people exchanged their houses this abatement would fall to them as a matter of right. Yes, he is what the Yankee calls cute," and in that one short word you have summed up the man. Coming to the contested Wards, I may say that since writing my notes last week I have paid a visit to each of the three Wards, and I have no reason to withdraw or revise anything which I said in the course of those notes. Up to the time of writing, matters are proceeding in a hum- drum quiet sort of way in Ward 1. No meetings, as far as I am aware, have yet been held by either of the candidates, but much quiet spade-work in canvassing, &c., is going on. If the display of elec- tion literature is any criterion by which one may judge the feeling of any parti- cular district, I should say that Mr. R. M. Rees has many supporters in the lower portion of Treherbert. In one block alone I counted no less than thiry of his addresses. In the upper portion how- ever, and more particularly round Blaeny- cwm and Blaenrhondda way, the retiring candidate seems to be a distinct favourite. After all, I do not attach much import- ance to the display of election addresses, as in scores of houses I saw the addresses of both candidates put side by side in the windows. As I pointed out last week, there is no doubt that Mr. Rees is assured of warm support amongst certain sections of the electorate, but I rather think that the main body of the electors will prove faithful to the old love." The fight of the year is at Treorchy. Here, electioneering is going on in the good old fashion, bth candidates address- ing well-attended meetings night after night. The topic par excellence in this Ward is the disgraceful condition of the side streets at Treorchy, and the retiring candidate is severely taken to task by the supporters of Mr. Morgan for having (they say) not fulfilled his promises of three years ago with regard to these streets. Whatever weight may be attached to such promises, if made, it cannot be denied that Treorchy, in the matter of Private Street Improvements, is in a decidedly deplorable state. The condition of Herbert Street and River Row, in par- ticular, is a by-word, and no stone should be left unturned before putting them in a state of decency and safety. Not so very long ago—last winter, in fact—1 had occasion to call at a friend's house at the lower end of Herbert Street. Not certain of the exact side of the street in which he lived, I found, when I had nearly reached the end of the street, that I would have to cross to the other side. To do this was manifestly impossible, as the mud and water was knee-deep. Seeing what I then took to be a good road cross- ing the end of the street, I made for it, only to find myself in the river. There was no kind of wall to protect the unwary, and as the river was then in a state of flood after heavy rains, I considered myself lucky in escaping with my life. But even this little adventure of mine will not compare with an incident that took place there onlv a, few days ago. A man and woman were hawking certain articles in the street. The man was seated in a cart, and he was followed on foot by the woman. Presently the woman gave a shrill scream, and when her com- panion turned round, it was to find her .sinking in the mud. The amazing part of the story is thisand it is vouched. for by an eye-witness of the incident—that the man was obliged to take his horse and cart back to the snot where the woman had sunk, and it was only by holding on to the tail-end of the cart while the horse pulled that she was I rescued from her temporary mudbath. Dr. Tribe, it is stated, contends that the construction of the tramways delayed the putting of the Pnvate Street Improve- ments A,, t,ipto force, at. Treorchy, but his oi '"■onputs .maintain that, despite the con- s+ir ti°n ..of vthe-,tramways. whole streets mTe been nut in order at, Clydach Vale and Forth, and that these latter'improve- ments were either due to the vigilance and activity of the members representing those -laces, or that Dr. Tribe has been unfaithful to his promises. The question, as will be seen, is a very vital one at Treorchy, and Dr. Tribe's opponents are making the utmost capital out of it. I had the pleasure of listening to Mr. Morgan for the first time on Tuesday evening, and his address, asummarised report of which is given in another column, contains many points worth noting. He claims in the first place that Cwmpare is entitled to one representa- tive out of three, and that it is being overlooked in the matter of improve- ments because of its lack of representa- tion. It is, however, as an educationist that he makes the strongest appeal. He declares that, of all the committees attached to the District Council, none is more important than the Education Com- mittee, which controls over SO schools, 93 departments, about 30,000 scholars, and a teaching staff, caretakers and cleaners totalling 1,036. The Committee, at pre- sent, is guided entirely by its officers in the controlling and administration of these schools, and he maintains that if a practical man like himself, having a detailed knowledge of the working of a school, were elected, considerable economies could be effected. He is also in favour of doing away with the dual control in secondary education, and main- tains that the Pentre Higher Elementary School should be converted into an inter- mediate school, with a branch at Tre- orchy. He also d^lares for the retention of the Bible in the schools, in contra- distinction to his opponent, Avho main- tains that the only real solution of the education problem is secular instruction. I must note one fact before I leave the Treorchy contest. Last week, I voiced the prophecy trat, if Welsh Nationalism and Nonconformity stood true, Mr. Morgan would be returned. I have since made a. disquieting discovery. I have found that, in Treorchy at any rate, these count for nothing. Prominent Noncon- formist ministers and deacons are cham- pioning a Churchman and an Englishman in preference to one of their own kith and kin. I am not one of those who cry on all available occasions, Wales for the Welsh," but I do maintain that when a Welshman of the highest character, with a long record of public service, a man of the very best qualifications for the posi- tion he is now seeking, one who is in full sympathy with Welsh national ideals seeks an honour at our hands, we should leave no stone unturned to secure his triumphant return. The watchword of Treorchy Free Churchmen should be, Unitv! Unity! and Unity! v I do not remember an election in Mid- Rhondda which has excited so little interest as the present contest between Mr. J. D. Williams and Mr. Wm. John. Both candidates, it is true, have issued their election addresses, and Mr. John has held one or two meetings, but up to the time of writing, Mr. Williams has not addressed a single public meeting. I do not know how this is to be explained, unless the retiring candidate does not take the fight seriously. Can it be that he underrates his opponent's chances, or is he reserving his energy for a final cannonade on the eve of the poll ? At any rate, such unwonted tranquility, when the polling day is only a matter of five days off, is rather a new experience for Rhondda people. When Mr. Williams was chal- lenged three years ago, we were given some excellent metings, and I must con- fess to a keen disappointment that we have not been similarly treated this year. What are the ultimate chances of the candidates My personal opinion, as I stated last week, is that there is only one man in it, and if the state of the poll on Monday night proves me wrong, I under- take not to put pen to paper again. Mr. John, of course, may poll heavier than what I anticipate, but if the votes in his favour exceed those given to Mr. Rees Jones three years ago, I shall do as did my famous namesake—I shall yawn, and go to sleep.