The Rhondda Leader

Editorial Notes. We live in strenuous times. Progres- sives of all speeds must close their ranks. Wales was conquered because of dissensions amongst her sons; indeed, every good movement is victimised more or less by internal divisions, more or less instigated by personal considerations. The Liberal Government has all along boldly attacked the fortresses of privilege and monopoly. This Session of Parliament is very heavily weighted by controversial reforms. In the Education, Land Reform, Licensing, and the Eight Hours Bills, such a frontal attack is made as to need the greatest measure of unity among those in Parlia- ment who honestly desire a better state of social, religious and humanitarian con- ditions. The Licensing Bill is going to be a great trial of strength between the right of the people to control the Trade and the personal interest of the Trade itself. Many tuiiigs are said of the fate of the poor widow who has investments in the Trade. She is going to be ruined. We hope not, and if she is, it will not be Mr. Asquith's Bill so much as the tremendous inflated capitalisation of brewery shares. We have now the benefit of examining the contro- versial literature of both sides of this question. The brewers started the cam- paign at Burton—the Mecca, of brewery capital. The Vicar and some Noncon- formist ministers were on the platform of the great public meeting held there. T-ü Vicar's speech was a curiosity in clerical oratory. Was it fair? he asked, that Dives in his Club might play for the highest stakes, while poor, despised Lazarus was moved off just as he got com- fortable? Such a criticism is not honest. We are, however, glad that the Bishops and the Clergy, as a whole, are not quite so impressed with the iniquity of moving off Lazarus just when he is getting com- fortable. We are glad that our pulpits are not going to be silent. Mr. Jowett, of Birmingham, has given the moral issues of this great struggle. His text, The God of this world hath blinded their eyes," was appropriate. He could not allow his pulpit to be dumb on this great social problem, as the moral results of the Drink Trade must be blunted. There are very estimable and noble men who have great interests in the Drink Trade, we readily admit; but we cannot dismiss, however, the fact that the Trade, in its effects, is a serious menace to the country. The sober people are the permanent strength of a country's defence and power. The drink- ing habits of the people, as Mr. Jowett said, has occasioned disturbance and misery, which, according to Mr. Gladstone, outweighed the accumulated calamities of war, pestilence and famine. Indeed, we cannot do better than give some of Mr. Jowett's remarks. They go right to the bottom of the question. The drinking habits of the people were fed and nourished by a ubiquitous trade. This trade had become so pervasive, and so gigantic, that, as Lord Rosebery had said, it would throttle the commonwealth.' The moral side has to, be asserted. The activity of the Trade orgariisations to-day is exactly what was experienced when other social and humanitarian campaigns were con- ducted in the past, and which aimed at the health and welfare of the people, The,

CARYL"S SPECTACLES Relieve Tired Eyes. W. P. Caryl, F.S. M.C. The Qualified Sight-Testing Specialist, 16, High Street, Arcade, CARDIFF. And 15, UNION S RREET, SWANSEA.

District Council Election. Councillor Thos. Thomas' Candidature. A public meeting of ratepayers resident in Ward 4 was held at the Duffryn Chapel Vestry on Friday evening last to support the candidature of Councillor Thomas Thomas, the retiring Councillor for the Ward. Mr. Thomas seeks re-election, and if the meeting on Friday evening affords any augury, his success is almost assured. There were about 300 people present, and the utmost enthusiasm prevailed. The chair was occupied by Mr. William Royall, who dwelt upon the good services rendered by the candidate during his past terms of office, and exhorted all present to leave no stone unturned to secure his triumphant return in the coming election. The candidate addressed the meeting at some length, and dealt with the work of the Council in detail. He also showed how he had endeavoured to serve to the best of his ability the general interests of his constituents, and pledged himself to con- tinue his efforts in their behalf if elected. On the motion of the Rev. P. Gelly, seconded by the Rev. D. G. Evans, a vote of thanks for his past services, and a pledge of the meeting's support in the present contest, was enthusiastically carried. Addresses were also delivered by Coun- cillor W. D. Wight and Mr. Moses Rees. A committee meeting was afterwards held, at which there was a very large atten- dance. Ward 3. Labour Candidate's Address. An enthusiastic meeting was held at the Cory Hall, Pentre, on Saturday evening last, to further the candidature of Mr. T. C. Morris. Mr. Albert Evans, Pentre, presided, and the speakers included the candidate, Mr. W. Phippen (Labour can- didate for No. 4 Ward), and Mr. D. Watts Morgan (miners' agent). Mr. T. C. Morris, in addressing the meeting, said that he would like to ex- plain his position as the. Labour candidate at the forthcoming election. As they were aware, a Trades and Labour Council had been formed within the immediate dis- trict of Nos. 3 and 4 Wards, representing organised labour and trades, for the pur- pose of representation upon local govern- ing bodies, and to protect the interests of Labour when necessity arose. Personally, he was not responsible for his own candi- dature, but was the selected nominee of the Council referred to to carry the banner of Labour in the coming contest. Looking back upon the 'majority of previous con- tests since the 1894 Act creating the Urban District Council, the speaker said they would find that the selection of candidates had been made by a small section; and appeared before the electorate claiming democratic vote. They were now marking a new era in this district in this respect. and democracy claimed the right to have a say in this matter, and, if necessary, to have one of their own choice to run the field. They heard much that they were opposing Thomas Davies. He (the speaker) wished to point out that Mr. Davies' term of office expired on April 15th; therefore, it became necessary to send nominations for the vacancy. Hence they were only exercising a legitimate right as to who should be their representative for the coming three years, One of the greatest honours that Par- liament had conferred upon democracy was the Act of 1897,, by which local govern- ment or devolution was granted in the shape of Parish, District and County Councils. Had they honoured it? If one was to gauge by past experience-by the apathy and indifference shown-one felt compelled to say No. The Rhondda, from a Parliamentary point of view, was essen- tially democratic but from a local govern- ment standpoint, lamentably Conservative. There were 818 Urban Councils in Eng- land and Wales, and this proved the ex- tent this measure of reform became the reflex of public opinion. The importance of these bodies lay in their administrative capacity. The bane of modern and past legislation, in so far as it related to local authorities, had been the optional or per- missive nature of the Acts passed on to them, instead of being made obligatory, thus giving; play to the reactionary ten- dencies of local and county bodies to stay their hand at the adoption of Acts which could by resolution of the Council be put into force. By virtue of the Education Act, 1902, the control of elementary education was passed over to districts of over 20,000' in- habitants. Great difficulties lay in the path of the worker's child to secure a good education. The upper classes feared any advance in the enlightenment of democracy, because they would exercise the duties of citizenship upon the prin- ciple of righteousness, as opposed to the wrongs under which they had and still were suffering. What was desired was that a, good eivici education that would enable each child toi take upon itself the duties of citizenship. In concluding, he emphasised that this contest was going to' be the most severe test of the strength of the moral forces in the district that had taken place for a long period. Rumour had been current that he had withdrawn, but he would assure his opponents that there was no withdrawing:, but a fight to the bitter end. Although the honour ha.d fallen upon him to be the standard- bearer, the honour would be no less theirs if he won. Several questions were asked, and the candidate was thanked for his courtesy in answering. A vote of confidence was massed, with a further pledge to return hhe Labour candidate at the top of the '~>oll. Ho. 7 Ward. A very enthusiastic meeting was held on Tuesday evening to further the candi- dature of Mr. David Rowlands, the retiring member. Mr. John Thomas, Williams- town, occupied the chair in a very able manner. A letter was read from Mr. W. T. Jones, D.C., Treorchy, expressing: his deep 'regret for his inability to be preset at the meeting to express his keen appre- ciation of Mr. Rowlands' untiring efforts at all times to further the interests of No. 7 Ward and the whole district in general, and Mr. Rowlands' attendances at Council meetings and on the various Committees had been such that he deserved the whole- hearted support of the constituency. Mr. Rowlands, the candidate, was accorded a hearty applause on being called to address the meeting. The speaker firstly dealt with the erroneous reports which are being circulated that he held Conser- vative views, and that, in joining the Penygraig Liberal and Labour Association, and contesting. the election under its auspices, he was sailing under false colours, ana that he was an eleventh hour convert to Liberal principles. Then he went on to prove that nothing could be further from the truth. They would all agree with him that one's actions were the best and truest indications of one's principles. He said that during the nine years he had been their representative, he had always voted and acted in perfect accord with the prin- ciples of a Liberal. When questions deal- ing with party politics cropped up, he had faithfully and consistently voted Liberal, an- on all other matters he had acted the same. He had voted for petitioning the Government concerning, the Taxation of Land Values and Ground Rents, and throughout the Education Revolt he had acted as treasurer of the local fund. He hoped that those facts would dispel all the erroneous ideas any voter held concerning his political views. He thought the first thing essential in making a successful representative was faithfulness in atten- dance, and. although his colleagues had been fairly faithful, he wished to submit to the meeting the following figures: Out of a possible 360 attendances, Mr. L. P. Griffiths had lost 111. Out of 309, Mr. Tom Evans had lost 82; and out of a possible 359, he (the speaker) had only lost 66. Thus, so far as attendance was concerned, he had served them faithfully. He had also attended to all the grievances of his own Ward. There was not a single ratepayer who had brought any grievance to his notice that he had not done his best to remove the same, though he was not always successful. He had been an overseer for fourteen years. The Peny- graig, recreation park had been acquired, which would ornament the Ward when completed, and a good part of it was to be reserved as an open space for the chil- dren to play in. He always maintained that the schools were adequately staffed. Though a strenuous opponent to extrava- gance, he didn't believe in Saving the rates at the expense, of not. giving the children good and sound education. He had given all complaints regarding the staffing of schools his most earnest atten- tion, and he would do so again if re- elected. He had been selected on the Burial, Finance, School Staffing, overseer, Gas and Water Finance. The money spent on road improvements in his Ward compared very favourably with the money spent in the others. If re-elected, ho would always be ready to' consider any improvements, and all grievances would receive his attention. He thanked them for allowing him to be their representa- tive for the last nine years, and hoped to receive their confidence for another term. Numerous questions were given to the candidate, and all were satisfactorily answered. A vote of confidence in Mr. Rowlands was moved by Mr. Robert Abraham, and Mr. Joseph Davies seconded. This was also supported by the Rev. D. J. Evans and Mr. H. W. Hughes, B.A. When put to the meeting, it was carried without single dissentient.

mineowners received the Ashley's Bill with bitter opposition; the same with the ship- owners' reception of Plimsoll's Bill; and Liverpool the crusade for the emancipation of the slaves. We have been driven to a whirlpool agitation. Money is lavishly spent. The old, old st-or-, of interests ruined, country ruined, and everything set back, never to be recovered. Perhaps it is true, but we have heard this so many a time and oft that we are getting hardened. Whatever may be the results of the Bill, we are not without confidence that the good of the greatest number is meant by it. We know, and it cannot be disguised, that there is caused by an un- controlled drink traffic widespread woe in the land, unending tears, and thousands of broken-up homes. If legislation can mitigate this national disgrace of drunken- ness and its unerring consequent poverty and degradation, we shall welcome the effort. Sir T. P. Whittaker, M.P., an expert on this, question, writes in the Daily News that everyone knows that when the brewery company mania was raging, licensed premises were bought at preposterous prices in the most reckless manner, and companies were enormously over-capitalised. Many of them have most imprudently neglected to write down inflated and extremely precarious values. On the other hand, the sales in public- houses have steadily fallen off, and conse- quently the profits from them and the market value of them have greatly diminished. The result is that scores of millions of brewery capital has gone- gone as the result of wild speculation and most imprudent finance. By far the greater part of the enormous loss occurred before the late Government left office, and consequently before the present Govern- ment or Parliament existed. That loss cannot be recovered. It is the wreckage of the collapse of the greatest financial bubble of modern times.