The North Wales Weekly News

Political Feeling at Penmaenmawr. EXCITING SCENES AT CONSERVATIVE MEETING. SERIES OF REGRETTABLE INCIDENTS. Saturday afternoon last will ever be remem- bered by politicians in Penmaenmawr. A meet- in was held in the Oxford Hall in support of the candidature of Mr. Arthur E. Hughes, the Conservative opponent of Mr. William Jones in the Arfon division of Carnarvonshire. Mr. Henry Kneeshaw, J.P., D.L., presided, and he was supported on the platform by the candi- date, Mr. David Rhys, the Conservative candi- date for East Denbighshire), Mr. ALbert Hughes, a Welsh Tariff Reform speaker, Mr. E. E. Bone (the election agent), and two or three local C on s-ermtive s. From the commencement it was seen that there would be a lively meeting, for the hall was filled with quarrymen. The audience was distinctly Liberal, there being but a few Con- servatives present. THE CHAIRMAN'S APPEAL. The Chairman at the outset said that the last time he was on a Conservative platform that hall was full, and the audience, many of whom differed in opinion, listened very attentively, and for that reason he considered it a very suc- cessful meeting, because it was invidious for speakers to address audiences who held the same views as themselves. Therefore he hoped and fully anticipated that all present would give them as before a fair hearing. The speaker went on to read Lord Rosebery's summary of the present crisis, and he could do no better than commend to them the words of one of the most conscientious statesmen of our times. He would now call upon Mr. Arthur Hughes, the ICandJidate for that division. Mr. Arthur Hughes, on rising, was received with hoots and cat-calls, and could not proceed for a minute or two. When quietness reigned he apologised for not addressing a meeting in Penmaenmawr last summer, but if they remem- bered, on the day that the meeting was to be held the late Canon Jones passed away. The great questions which had risen in the country were in connection with the Budget and the present Government. (Loud applause and cheers.) The questions—. (A voice: "Are all right.") One was the effect. of the new taxes the government were trying to put on land, and the other was Tariff Reform. (A voice: The House of Lords you mean.") To com- mence with, the Budget differ-eintiates-(" It lifts up the workman and puts down, the duke," and applause.) It was the greatest Budget that was ever brought up in Great Britain before. (Hear, hear.) He wanted to say something about how it would affect— (Chorus of voices You can't.") If it came into law it would be certain to affect Penmaenmawr. (" No, no," and groans and hisses and shouts of Down with him," and three cheers for Lloyd George.) The speaker appealed for fair play. ANOTHER APPEAL. The Rev. J. Rowlands, Nonconformist minis- ter, who was sitting in the body of the hall, mounted a chair, and, facing the audience, ap- pealed for fair pLay for the speaker. One or two of the audience had shouted Down with biim." That was not the way in Wales. Lloyd George—(loud cheers)—had sent a telegram to rg 11 the Carnarvon boroughs asking for fair play for the other side. Let them have fair play that day, and perhaps the speaker would give them an opportunity of asking questions at the end of his speech. The Chairman I have to thank the gentle- man for attempting to keep order. Mr. Hughes also thanked the rev. gentleman. In the 1906 election he was perfectly certain he never said a word against his opponents, and nobody could charge him with being unfair and ungentlemanly, and he could only appeal to them. as Welshmen, for fair play. The speaker went on to deal with the Budget, but it was practically impossible to hear him owing to the din at the back of the hall. When he was reading a quotation from a book of John Stuart Mill with reference to the land, the hecklers shouted What about the land the lords are stealing?" Proceeding, Mr. Hughes said that what they called the mineral rights duty would affect every quarry in the country. (" Let's have common sense," shouted a heck- ler.) This was a duty of is. in the £ on the rateable value. Some said it was a tax on royalties, but it was nothing of the kind. (Great disorder.) The effect of that OUt the wages of the quarryman would be the same as if the poor rate went up is. in the (" Rats.") He appealed to everyone present who earned wages in the setts and slate quarries. MR. LLOYD GEORGE. At this point there were loud cheers for Lloyd George and cries of Wihat about the old age pensions? Mr. Hughes, pointing to a young man in the body of the hall: 'i ThereIs a gentleman here to-day who. was attacking me at Penrhynside I t xight." (Voices: "Very good of him.") lhe young man, Who rose on his feet, was greeted with loud cheering and cries of Up with him." He shouted You have accused me of being at Penrhynside. I was not near there." MT. Hughes said that if they were going to Put a tax on the profit in the quarry, it would in the end reduce wages. (" Rats and great disorder.") Professor Arnold, Bangor—(lo-ud cheers),—had been talking rather loudly in Car- narvonshire, and he said that more slates were exported from Portmadoc in one year than were 1Inported into this country during the same Period. What were the figures? (A voice: Talk about the setts.") The figures up to r908- (A voice "Where are the 1909 figures?") They are not to hand. (A voice Yes they are. Lloyd George has made them by now.") STILL FURTHER APPEALS. Mr. Hughes (appealingly) I am- sure if you knew the condition of my throat you would not make me shout so much. (Laughter.) I am talking now under pain, and there is a man there laughing. I think it is a. shame. (A voice But your breast appears to be quite free," and laughter and cheers.) Mr. Hughes: What Professor Arnold said is not true. Mr. W. J. Roberts, schoolmaster, rose in the body of the hall, and was attempting to get quietness, when the Chairman requested him to sit down. He ascended the platform,, and after a con- sultation with the Chairman and the candidate he went back to his place amid1 great cheering. M'L Roberts again got on a chair and ap- pealed for fair play for the speaker. He said I thought I had an invitation to go on the platform, but it was not the case. Give them fair play, boys, and you can have a. chance at the end." Mr. Hughes If you tell me honestly that you have come. here to stop me talking, I know what to do. (Shouts of William Jones is our man and three cheers for the Liberal mem- ber.) "WHO KILLED THE LORDS?" ,'fhf crowd then joined in singing "Who Hied the Lords? I, said Lloyd George," and it was some minutes before they quietened. it was some minutes before they quietened. An appeal was made by the Rev. E. C. Hart 10 try and quieten the crowd, but he said that rt Was m vain. Mr. Hughes (shouting at the top of his voice) You are aIfraid of hearing the truth. You are afraid. (Hoots and groans.) Mr. Hughes proceeded to deliver his address in English, and there were shouts of "Cymraeg," + v. Hugh,e1, retorted The Welsh don't want to hear me. II Proceeding in English, Mr. Hughes was read- ing some Board of Trade figures, when a voice rang out: "Is that the Daily Mail '? and Mr. Hughes replied: No; it is Mr. Winston Churchill's Board of Trade Gazette." (Loud ap- plause.) He was going on to give something of the condition of the building trade in France. (A voice We know about it as well as you," and another voice Why don't you talk about the sett-making trade? ") What was the cause of it? (" The House of Lords," and Land is too dear.") There were hundreds in this country who could get nothing to eat. (" Names, please.") In London there were hundreds. (" Yes, and thousands, too, my boy.") When the speaker was referring to unemploy- ment returns a veteran voter named Johnson Thomas, who was sitting in the fronlt seats shouted That's a lie," when the speaker said that there were 40 per 1,000 more out of employ- ment in this country than there were in 1905, when the Conservative Government left office. A CHARGE. Mr. Hughes (excitedly to Mr. Thomas) Do you say I stated a lie? Come here, if you are a man. The veteran walked to the platform, and after a consultation the speaker said: He says that my statement with regard to unemployment in this country is not correct. (" It is not.") You are a fair people. This is a personal matter. I will prove the statement to you from the Board of Trade returns." There was considerable disorder in the hall. GREAT UPROAR. Mr. Hughes (loudly) Here is a man who accuses me of saying something that is not true. I say he is a scoundrel. (Uproar.) You are a scoundrel. You are a scoundrel. (Great up- roar.) The Rev. J. Rowlands Did I understand you to call one of the most respectable men in Pen- miaenmawr a scoundrel? Did you call this man a scoundrel? Mr. Hughes He said I uttered a calculated lie. Mr. Rowlands, after a consultation with Mr. Thomas "All he meant was that your state- ment Mr. Hughes: I have never been accused of saying a lie, and I am not going to have it done to-day. Mr. Rowlands I venture to say The Chairman Sit down. DEMAND FOR WITHDRAWAL. Mr. Rowlands: I am not going to sit down. That gentleman (pointing to Mr. Hughes) will have to withdraw that word, or he will not be allowed1 to speak further. (Great cheering.) Mr. Hughes: I withdraw what I said only on one condition. (Shouts of No condition.") Mr. Rowlands No condition will justify you in calling him a scoundrel. If he has made a mistake he will make amends, but you will have to withdraw that word. DOWN WITH HIM." Mr. Hughes: He made the attack, and he must apologise first. (" No, no.") He said I uttered a calculated lie. (Shouts of Down with him.") I know what to do, if he knows the course to pursue. (Uproar.) Mr. Rowlands: I think we are at a deadlock. The old man is a Welshman, and he can't ex- press his statements as well in English. What he wished to state was that your statement with regard to unemployment as compared with other countries was incorrect, and I say again that to call a man a scoundrel-. Mr. Hughes Keep to the subject. Mr. Rowlands: It is the subject, and you will have to ajpologise to this man here. With- draw your words. NOT TO BE TERRORISED. Mr. Hughes I am not going to be terrorised by you or anybody else. I know what my duty as a gentleman is, but before my duty is to be performed he has a plain duty to perform, and I call upon him to do it. Mr. Johnson Thomas: What I said was that the statement he was making was untrue, not that he was telling a lie,, but that his statement was a lie. Mr. Rowlands In what way does that differ from Mr. Balfour's statement that Mr. Ure was guilty of a frigid and calculated lie? Mr. Hughes Mr. Kneeshaw, I understand from the gentleman now that he did not state that what I said was a lie, but that the state- ments which I read from the Board of Trade Gazette was a lie. Mr. Thomas You didn't read it at the time. You spoke it. A WITHDRAWAL. Mr. Hughes: As he has made clear his mind, I withdraw the word. This was received with loud cheering, and the crowd commenced singing Mary had a little lamb." The speaker sat down, and the Chairman called upon Mr. David Rhys, the candidate for East Denbighshire, who was received with hoots and groans. QUESTIONS. Mr. Rowlands asked that questions should be put to the candidate before Mr. Rhys addressed the meeting, and this course was agreed to. Mr. P. H. McCleinent: In what way will the increment duty affect the sett quarry? MI. Hughes in reply read a commentary on the Budget itself, and shouts went up asking whether it was Lloyd George's. Another question was how much the Tory Government spent on Norwegian granite. Mr. Hughes: It is a disgraceful shame that any Government spent a penny on Norwegian granite. Voices: That does not answer the question. Mr. Hughes No, I can't. I don't carry all the figures in my head. I can, tell you this, that the present Government gave in, one con- tract to, Norway £ 20,000 for granite to be used at Rosyth. The Chairman I have asked everybody on the platform, and they are unable to answer the question. (Laughter.) Heckler: Is it not a fact that both Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Balfour have repeatedly said that they are not going to tax raw material, and is not granite raw material? Mr. Hughes: Dressed granite is not raw material. The Chairman You must not argue the point. A NONCONFORMIST'S RECEPTION. Mr. David Rhys Was then about to address the meeting, when he received a hot reception. The Rev. J. Rowlands: I hope to get a straight answer from this speaker. The last time you were here you said that you did not receive a penny from anybody for going about to speak on Tariff Reform, &c. You are a Non. conformist and a Methodist. (Cries of "Shame.") Do you do that work out of love for Toryism and Tariff Reform? Is that the principle upon which you are fighting Mr. Hemmerde? Mr. Rhys.—You are asking a straight question which dbes not reflect great credit upon you to ask it. The question asked me is whether I re- ceive anything for fighting this election in East Denbighshire. I do not know of two persons in Wales who would ask such a question, and I did not expect a preacher of the gospel of any body to ask it. Mr. Rowlands.—Because you are a preacher and a Nonconformist, and a traitor to Noncon- formity. Mr. Rbvs.-He says that I am a traitor to NonconformIty. I have often preached the gospel of Christ in London for nothing and is the gospel that gentleman preaches better that he should be paid for it? Mr. Rowl-ands.-I am not a traitor. Mr. Rhys.-Let me answer. I am a member of a Welsh chapel in London. (" It is a shame ") The first preacher I heard was Edward Matt- hews, and he was a Tory, and in South Wales I heard Dr. Cyndtiylan Jones speak on a Con- servative platform. Two of the deacons of the chapel in London, where I am a member, are lories. I Mr. Johnson Thomas: Two blacks don't make a white. Mr. Rhys: Do you say I am not fit to be a member of the monthly meeting because— Mr. Rowlands: It is an eternal shame that you should fight against what your ancestors had shed blood for you. I Mr. Rhys The few words I have to say to you. This man of yours, and I expect many say the same, that for any man—'(Voices: What did they say in Denbighshire). f Mr. Rhys In Denbighshire, they wait to the end of the meeting. (" No, they don't. How was it at Rhos "). GO HOME. Mr. Rhys If you want to listen.-(No, no), you must be quiet. If not, what on earth are you doing here. Go home if you are not going to listen to me. Mr. Johnson Thomas: Look you here, my boy. Mr. Rhys: Look honestly as Radicals and Liberals to the last four years of this Govern- ment, and I am sure your will find that it has not been of any advantage to Wales as a coun- try, although it has been to two Welshmen per- sonally. (General uproar). With regard to the Old Age Pensions in North Wales, it is a fact whoever is responsible for it that there are several old people in North Wales who believe that the old age pensions depend upon their party being in power. It is only right for you -(Interruptions.) GENERAL UPROAR. Amid general uproar Mr. Rhys was heard to say that a time would come wihen more peace would be given in considering these matters, and he sat down abruptly amidst hooting and jeers. Mr. ALbert Flrughes, Llanrwst, who is a Welsh Tariff Reform speaker, was not called upon, and on the motion of Mr. Arthur Hughes, seconded by Mr. Rhys, a vote of thanks was accorded the Chairman for presiding. No resolution was put to the meeting, and the crowd gave three ringing cheers for Mr. Lloyd George and Mr. William Jones, before leaving the hall singing Farewell, my own true love." OUTSIDE THE HALL. Outside the Hall, the huge crowd congregated, and some Conservatives sporting their colours came in for a hostile demonstration. When the candidate and the speakers emerged from the Hall, they were given a very hot reception. The party were surrounded by police officers, who escorted them amidst tremendous excitement part of the way to the Grand Hotel. On the re- turn of the police, the crowd followed them, and outside the hotel there was another hostile demonstration.