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LLANDILO CHRONICLE.

LAUGHARNE ECHOES.

WELSH INTERMEDIATE EDUCATION.

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MEETING AT LLANDOVEBY.

MEETING AT LLANDILO.

REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN…

M A R K E T S.

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THE VACANCY IN EAST C AR M…

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THE VACANCY IN EAST C AR M A RTHENS HI R E. MEETING OF THE RADICAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. A meeting of the executive of the Liberal Asso- ciation of East Carmarthen met at the Memorial- hall, Llandilo, on Satsrday, about 40 delegates being present. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN. Mr Gwilym Evans, in his capacity as chiirinan of the association, opened the m.ting. As b(! was interested, be wculd ask thclJJ to appoint a chair- man lo take his phce. It was not Ins intention to take any part in the proceeding* except to answer such questions as were put 10 him. After con- siderable discussion during which several persons were proposed as chairmen, the ultimate choice fell upon Mr Maybery, Llanelly. n- The Chairman said his nrst duty was not a very pleasant one. Since the last meeting of the council Mr Pugh had passed away, and lie pro- posed a vote of condolence with the friends of the late member. Dr. Howell Rees seconded, and it was unani- mously carried. The Chairman took it that the only business for them to discharge was to make arrangements for the next meeting of the council. They were on the eve of an election, and it was their duty to make arrangements. 'I he rule relating to the choice of a candidate was that the choice of a candidate for the Parliamentary representation should rest with the council, which should be summoned to meet for that purpose at a place and on a. day fixed by the executive committee, seven days' notice. of every such meeting being given to every member ot the council; and that the decision of the majority of the members of the council be binding and final. He might mention that at Llanelly the delegates had held a meeting and recommended that dis- trict meetings be held as early as possible, in order that the electors might hear addresses from the candidates. He thought it very nuwise that the selection should be made on the spur of the moment without giving an opportunity of hearing the candidates before them. Mr W. Howell remarked that if they did not take care they would find themselves in the middle of a contest without a candidate. The time was short, and they should fix the day of the council meeting as early as possible. In the meantime the candidate- could be communicated with and asked whether they intended to stand, and also whether they intended to abide by the decision of the asso- ciation. He urged them not to fritter away valu- able time, but to select their candidate as early as possible. Mr O. J. Williams remarked that the next week might be utilised for district meetings, and thus allow the council to meet on the Monday or Wednesday following. Mr D. R. Edmunds—Is it intended that at these district meetings votes of confidence or non. confidence should be passed in the candidates ? MrO. J. Willii,ms-The district should certainly speak on the selection of a candidate. The Chairman agreed, although, of course, the final selection would rest with the council. At the same time, however, he thought they should first of all fix upon the day for the council meeting. Mr D. R. Edmunds pleaded that they should lose no time. The writ might be issued on Monday, and they should remember that the returning officer was a Conservative, and the law gave him power to fix upon an early day for the nominations and polling. If, therefore, they did not select a candidate as early as possible they might be landed in a difficulty. The Chairman did not believe they should throw on one side the question of district meetings, otherwise they would be charged with holding hole and corner meetings, and the association would be brought into bad repute. On a vote being taken, Tuesday week was adopted for the next meeting of the council. It was further decided that the meeting be held at Ammanford, and if the issuing of the writ necessitated an earlier day, the secretaries should have power to convene the meeting. Prolonged discussion again ensued on the question of holding the district meetings. Dr. Howell Rees felt quite sure that a great deal of dissatisfaction would be felt amongst the work- ing classes unless they had an opportunity of hear- ing the candid Ites. Hitherto they had heard the candidates after being chosen; now, however, they wanted to hear them first. He proposed, therefore, that the meetings should be held, and that the candidates be invited to address them. Mr Gwilym Evans—There is a meeting to-night at Llandilo; perhaps they would invite us to-night to give our views, as some of us are here. Mr 0. J. Williams—Is Mr Evans prepared to ad- dress the meeting ? Mr Gwilym Evans—Yes. The Rev W. Davies (Llaudilo) and Mr Gwynne Hughes (presideut of the Llandilo district) denied that a meeting was to be held that night. Pembrey not having been mentioned by Dr. Rees as a place to hold a meeting, the Rev John Rogers (Pembrey) urged them to hold one there. Mr W. Howell asked if they were going to coerce the constituency. The chairman of each branch would see that meetings would be held. He felt sure it would cause dissatisfaction, be- cause meetings would not be held in certain populous districts. The districts were not in a state of infancy-of perpetual pupilage. Mr Gwilym Evans asked if they could not arrange to secure a coach to enable the candidates to go round the county. He was quite prepared to do so. Mr J. Walter Jones said they must show the "Tories" that they were uot going to be beaten by them. They should arrange specified times to hold these meetings, and they should be unanimous about it. In the agricultural districts, if the weather was wet, they would have plenty of electors to attend if fine, they would not attend. Mr W. Gamiel, Llanelly, contended that every district was entitled to take the initiative in the choice of a candidate, then the election would be conducted on a sound basis; that was the mode of procedure in the borough election. Mr D. R. E lmuuds ultimately proposed, and it was unanimously carried, that the meetings should be held as follows:—Tuesday, at Llandovery, 7.30 o'clock; Wednesday, at Llandilo, 7.30; Thursday, at Cwmamman, 7; Friday, at Pontardulais and Llangennech, 7.30; Saturday, at Llanelly 7.30; and Monday, at Pembrey, 7. THE QUESTION OF BINDING THE CANDIDATES. Mr Howell asked what steps they were going to take to force the candidates to accept the decision of the association. The Chairman believed that this question also should be left to the council. The R6V T. Evans asked who the candidates were. Mr Howell said the candidates were:—Messrs R. D. Burnie, Alfred Davies (Hampstead), Gwilym Evans, William Howell, J. Walter Jones, Major Jones, Thomas Powell (Llandilo), Abel Thomas, D. L.Thomas (Llandilo), O. J. Williams (Llanelly), Jeremiah Williams (Llanelly), W. J. Wilson (Llanelly), and Dr. Ilowell Ree". He believed Mr Powell had withdrawn, as also Mr Gwyene Hughes. Dr. Jones (Llanelly) said that when they last met it was the unanimous opinion that they should have nothing whatever to do with a candidate un- less he promised to abide by the decision of the association. He was of opinion that they should not hear the candidates until they had a promise to that effect. If they heard them at the district meetings, and if the candidates should then refuse to abide by the decision of the association, they (the association) would be frustrating their own eods by giving them their countenance to find them turn out traitors. The Chairman—It is for the council to make those arrangements when they meet. I don't think it is competent for this meeting to make any hard-and-fast rule. Dr. Jones—It will be too late then. Mr Howell was of the same opinion. Men bad trifled with associations, and it was for them to so arrange their affairs that it would be impossible for any of the candidates to set them at defiance. Mr Gwilym Evans, amid cries of Order," objected to the suggestion that the candidates should not be asked whether they would abide by the decision of the association until the meeting of the council. The Chairman considered it somewhat indeli- oate, as Mr Evans was a candidate, that he should have said what he had. Mr Evans pointed out that other candidates had spoken. The Rev W. Davtea thought it fair that the candidates should preserve silence. Mr Evans remarked that he would have said nothing if three or four other candidates bad not spoken. Mr W. Howell did r It see that what Mr Evans had said was in any w y indelica te. As business men, they should see bat the candidates were bound. Mr O. J. Williams ■ ose, but was met with the cry, You arc a candidate." Mr Williams replied that Mr Howell, who had just sat down, was also a candidate. He maintained that at the last, meet- ingoi the council they were out of order in nominating candidates, and in some cases discuss- ing tl.eir merits. In a ease like this, bethought, they might iusist on the candidates abiding by the decision of the council. For himself, if the com- mittee had the right to ask him. he could auswer to the satisfaction of every member. But he agreed with the chairman that it had better be left to the council meeting itself. Ho was distinctly of opinion that a great deal of what was done at the last meeting was out of order. Dr. Jones-I believe-- Mr Williams—Another candidate, Mr Howell-I-- Dr. Jones—I am on my feet. There was a strong feeling shown at the last meeting that we should have nothing to do with any candidate who would not abide by the decision of the association. If we do not ask tho secretaries to write to the candidates and got such a promise from them be- tore the meetings are addressed, we, though a committee, will be overriding the decision of the council. I propose that the secretaries write to the candidates and ask them if they are prepared to stan.t, and, if so, whether they will abide by the i decision of the association. If they answer these questions favourably we can then ask them to ad- dress the district meetings. If they don't answer these questions satisfactorily, I maintain that we have no right to ask them to address the electors. Mr Howell seconded the proposition of Dr. Jones, and at the same time objected to people saying he was a candidate. He bad not said so. The Rev T. Exans supported the resolution. The association might be thrown over; it had been done before. Mr D. R. Edmunds said that what he had beard led him to believe that there was an impression that people down below were for a certain candidate, and those up there for another. He was sorry to hear it. He hid been accused of having come from Cardiff to support a certain candidate. He repudiated the suggestion, and would keep himself free until Tuesday week. One of the Secretaries said that the candidates nominated at the last meeting had been com- municated with, and their replies were on the table. The Chairman here declined to put the question to the vote, believing it to be out of order. The Rev J. Rogers asked that the replies might be read. The Chairman also ruled that out of order. Dr. Jones maintained that the resolution of the council meant that they should having nothing to do with a candidate who would not abide by the decision of the association. This committee now proposed that they should hear people who had not bouud themselves. Mr Howell-The resolution of the council also said that the nominations should close on July 10. Now it was proposed to extend the time until the next council meeting. It was m>'re child's play, MrO. J. Williams—T he resolution of the council was out of order. Mr Wilkins—Did they exceed their duty ? Was it on the agenda ? Mr Williams said it was not. Mr Howell had written to the candidates in accordance with that resolution, however, and he was now functus officio. Mr Ho well We don't want any Roman law (laughter). Mr Gwilym Evans — English, please (renewed laughter). Mr O. J. Williams-The duties of the secre- taries have been concluded. They have written to the candidates, and they cannot write again. Mr W. Howell-Only those nominated at the last meeting have been communicated with. Mr Samuel 1 he council had no right to nomi- nate candidates simply to choose from nomina- tions received from the district. The Rev W. D.wics Why press this question any further ? Mr Howell—Owing to the minutes of the council meeting at which you verc present. The Rev W. Davies did not believe in the com- mittee dictating to the public; perfect liberty should be given. Mr Samuel (to the chairman)—I think you have given your ruling, sir ? b The Chairman Yes, I rule it out of order. The meeting then terminated.