The Montgomeryshire Express and Radnor Times

Mr. Hugh Lewis. VARIED VIEWS ON SIR JOHN. It is like old times again," began the Chairman amid loud oheers, to have such a large number gathered together at such short notice- "Liberals always do that here, sir! shouted an enthusiastic politician in the audience. « It augurs well for the future," the Chairman continued. "It affords me, as President of the Montgomery Boroughs' Liberal Association, great pleasure to come here to-night with our new Liberal candidate (loud and prolonged cheers). This afternoon we had a meeting of the Liberal Association, and we accepted the resignation of our late member. Sir John Rees" (laughter, eerfl, and uproar). A Voice: Go back to India!" j "0 Mr George Jones, wool merchant (a Radical who sat in the front row of the audience) Send him home! (laughter). Mr Hugh Lewis: I hope we shall not say any- thing disrespectful— Mr George Jones: We shall! We shall. And Continue to say it (cries of Order! Order! "). Mr Hugh Lewis: He came here five years ago, and wrested the Boroughs from the Tories- Mr George Jones: A bad job Mr Hugh Lewis: And held it at the last election. I, personally, shall always feel grateful to him for that- Mr George Jones: Rot! Mr Hugh Lewis: I hope nothing disrespectful will be said; he has been a good member to us Mr George Jones: Middling, Betty! Very middling (loud laughter). Mr Hugh Lewis: And I hope, as Liberals, we !han not say anything disrespectful. Every man is at liberty to have his own opinion (hear, hear). „ Mr George Jones: He ought to have gone hve years ago, sir Continuing, the Chairman said they had selected a Welshman to represent them-a Mont- gomeryshire man bearing an honoured name (load cheers). They had a good candidate (A Voice: II We have !and they had a good cause—(cheers)—they had now come to grips with the hereditary foes of Liberalism, the House ,c4 Lords—(A Voice: Down with them! "),-IELO did not believe in the Lords' death-bed repent- ance- A Voice: On the brink of eternal woe. sir! (loud laughter and cheers). Mr. Humphreys-Owen. A STUART RENDEL REMINISCENCE. Mr Humphreys-Owen received a most tre- mendous ovation on rising to speak. The whole audience rose, waved hands and hats, and cheered the candidate with such whole-hearted vigour as to draw from an old campaigner that he had never seen anything like it at Newtown "since the days of Stuart Rendel." When he was allowed to make himself heard, Mr Humphreys- OWQU 8ftid Mr Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, I took the very small precaution just now of putting my Watch on the table because I am apt to be carried away by my own enthusiasm, and to forget the late hour of the evening and the short; time in flont of us to get a good, rousing victory in these Boroughs (hear, hear, and loud cheers). Our subject is an enormously important and a Very large one; but one must not be carried away by talking too long upon it. I must say I am stupefied at seeing such a splendid gathering here this evening at such a short notice (hear, hear). I don't know whether you got here by wireless telegraphy—(laughter) —or what invention of modern science Beems to have gathered such a splendid meeting here this evening But I feel that there is a certain amount of-shall I say—sympathy in this Qudience-(hear. hear),—and a certain amount of sympathy for the Liberal cause, which does the Liberals here good (hear, hear, and cheers). I only hope, as Mr Hugh Lewis has said, they are signs of a large majority (cheers). Some people have been talking about fighting on the old register. I should like to put the register a few years forward and get these hoys on the register—(laughter, and hoar, hea.r).-and, though I don't know whether it is safe to say so, I should like to see the hands of the clock put a bit forward, and see the women enfranchised (laughter and loud cheers). You will all come in very useful when we want a Liberal majority (laughter and hear, hear). THE COLONEL'S "TERRITORY" INVADED But let us come to the immediate subject of the evening. I have ventured to come out as a Candidate—(loud and prolonged cheor8),4though I know that one must win and another must lose (laughter).-I intend to take jolly good care that, whoever loses, it will not be our side (laughter and loud cheers). I don't know whether there is any opposition to this campaign officially —(smiles),—I haven't heard a thing, but I thought it would be a safe plan, and, perhaps, & .graceful plan, to meet the enemy as near at home possible (laughter and cheers). So, if I am I correct in my surmise, that the gallant Colonel will come out and fight the Boroughs, as he has I done for so many years—(laughter)—I considered I the best plan possible for me was to meet my good I friend, Colonel Pryce-Jones, by coming to his own home territory, and flying the flag of Liberalism, and carrying the war into his own country (cheers). The war has broken out, and it will be a short war, a decisive war (hear hear). I hope that success will be to the Liberal cause, and that the Conservative cause will be treated with a good deal of consideration—(laughter), and be allowed a long and happy and peaceful rest after this campaign is over (laughter and cheers). I have sympathy with those who fight, and with those who lose, and, when they lose election after election, I consider they have earned a good, hard rest (loud laughter). I will do my best to give them that rest (uproarious laughter and cheers) "WE SHALL BE PAINTED VERY BLACK." I know my own cause; I know the cause of Liberalism we are fighting for. It is a straight- forward cause. There are not many complica- tions in it. And I am very anxious to hear the defence that will be put up by my opponent at this election, because a great deal of the merits of the case depends on the defence. We are so full of confidence in our own side that we actually overlook small weaknesses and deficiencies-I am not aware that we have any deficiencies. But I am perfectly sure that when the speakers come out on the other side we shall be painted very black indeed-(laughtet) -and our cause will be a most outrageous, revolutionary cause (laugh- ter). That will not disturb me in the slightest. I shall be perfectly prepared to meet those attacks (hear, hear, and cheers). But in this free country of ours it does everybody a lot of good to thoroughly thrash out a matter, and we cannot understand these public questions unless both sides are thoroughly thrashed out. THE TROUBLE WITH THE LORDS. There was a general election in 1906. I should like to know whether you think that decided any- thing. Do you think that decided the question of Free Trade ? Vigorous chorus of voices: Yes! Mr Humphreys-Owen: There was a general election about ten months ago. Do you think that decided anything ? The Voices: Yes! The Budget! Mr Humphreys-Owen: That decided Liberal finance. Well, there is going to be another election in two or three weeks. And what do you think that is going to decide ? The Voices The House of Lords Mr Humphreys-Owen: I think so, too (laughter and loud cheers). But the House of Lords is a question that haa to be explained very carefully. People are apt to think that when you attack the House of Lords you are acting with some personal animosity against Lord Jones and Lord Brown and Lord Robinson-(great laughter),—and all kinds of very noble gentlemen, entirely on account of some personal vices of their own. That, of course, is perfectly preposterous. The trouble is, that when you get a lot of excellent, well meaning people together, chosen by nobody, it is wonderful the amount of mischief that may come quite un- intentionally out of one assembly chosen in that manner. Human nature is of a very varied description, and if you choose a whole lot of men from an enormous crowd, you will get a very representative assembly. But if you chose a lot of men because all their eyes are blue or all their hair is red, or because they are all perhaps descended from certain heroes in the past or for something entirely unconnected with their merits in the present day, you will not get a very useful assembly for public business (cheers). WHY THEY ARE VICIOUS. In other words, the vices of the House of Lords as an assembly are due to the fact that they are a hereditary House, and also that they are chosen chiefly from men who are tainted with one point of view-that is the point of view of the successful man, the rich man, and the man who has a certain amount of family pride. There is no fault in this, there is no harm in this; but it is apt to cause men to lose touch and to lose sympathy with the realities of life and with the realitities of the world as we find it in the House of Commons (hear, hear). I said we as if I was already there (loud laughter and cheers). But after all, you know, anybody can go into the House of Commons—except some ladies (great laughter). I have often been there and spent some very interesting and enjoyable afternoons. And what we want is a House of Lords more like a House of Commons (hear, hear). When there is a general election, and a Tory Govern- ment comes into power, there probably will be a reflection of Tory sentiment in the Upper House; if a Liberal Government comes into power, the probability is that there will be Liberal sentiment in the majority in the Upper House. In the words of Mr F. E. Smith, Liberal Bills are to have as good a chance or as bad a chance as Conservative Bills of passing through the House of Lords" (hear, hear, and cheers). And that is the very bottom of the whole matter. THE PEERS' PARADISE. When we shall hear that the Lords have done a great deal of noble work, and self-sacrificed them- selves—(laughter)—giving measures of self- reform, we must examine these measures very carefully. Lord Lansdowne and Lord Rosebery have tabled their measures in their resolutions, and their resolutions are excellent in themselves. That great orator, Mr Winston Churchill, likened these resolutions to the resolutions which form paving-stones to a certain discreditable part of the nether world (laughter). And I am afraid the resolutions of the House of Lords are not likely to lead us to a very Paradise of legislation —(renewed laughter and cheers) because there is one point missing in all these resolutions-they do not provide for popular representation, but they do provide in case of necessity for the destruction of Liberal Bills such as the Liberal Budget of last year. And the danger will be that, whatever plan for reform by the House of Lords comes into power, it will be done by Statute and be the law of the country. There will be no doubt about constitutional measures or what ought to be done by the House of Lords; it will be written down in black and white, so you must be extiemely careful as to what is carried into law. You all know, when we enter into any contract or agreement, we are very careful as to the wording of every clause and article, because we shall have to pay or lose by the text of that agreement. So it will be with our agreement with the House of Lords. WHY THE ELECTION IS NECESSARY. And that is why we are thrown into an election at the present time. I think everybody will agree that a General Election at this time of the year is the most distasteful thing in the world. I don't enjoy giving up family comforts, and going out in all weathers and telling you how wicked I think the opposite side are and what noble heroes we are (laughter). But I must say, when you get into it there is an excitement and enthusiasm about it which make you forget the distasteful part. I hope we shall finish this election discovering that it has not been in vain, and that the result will be worthy of the good cause we are fighting for (cheers). I believe there are a great many people who think this election was quite unnecessary when the Liberal House of Commons sits with a considerable majority. Why should they go to the country on this occasion P Well, the reason is that the question ef the House of Lords was not decided at the last General Election. It was referred for that purpose to a Conference of eight worthy gentlemen, noble statesmen from both sides, who sat together all through the summer and tried to thrash out some common grounds of agreement for settling this constitutional dispute. And, if these eight gentlemen of high integrity, honour, and ability were not able to find a common ground of agreement to lay before both Houses of Parliament, it is absurd to expect that the House of Lords can now start debating the subject, and turn out some successful scheme (cheers). It is all humbug on the part of the House of Lords to say Give us a little more time and we will give you an excellent scheme." We know very well that Mr Asquith and Mr Lloyd George (great oboerii)-and Mr Birrell would not have recom- mended a dissolution if there had been any real cause of agreement between the two parties. WHAT THE RESULT WILL BE. The fact remains that the cause of difference between the parties is a fundamental one, and no mere talking in the House of Lords is going to assist the situation any further. There is nothing left but to appeal to the people (hear, hear). The House of Lords always wants to appeal to the people (laughter). And now they are going to have their chance (laughter and cheers). They suggest all kinds of methods, like the Referendum—a very clumsy and expensive and entirely unsatisfactory method, which I never wish to see put into practice in this country. We at this election are going to fight the question whether the House of Lords are going to have a permanent Veto over Bills in the House of Com- mons. And this is going to be decided by II Yes" and "No," and no prevarication, and no-dust in our eyes, and no side issues or red herrings across the path—(laughter)—or as many similes as you like, to obscure the real object of this General Election (cheers). I don't want you to run away with the idea that we are going to abolish the Constitution of the country, and destroy the prestige of Great Btitain for ever. That is an idea which probably the Conservative speakers will try to beat into your minds with the utmost vigour they possibly can (laughter). The only result will be that legislation will move a little faster than it did before. Instead of it taking 30 years for a measure to pass the House of Lords we shall probably got it at the most in three years. JUSTICE TO CREEDS AND KINSMEN. There are some measures before this country which ought to have been passed during the last thirty years. There is a measure connected with the Welsh people, called the Welsh Disestablish- ment Act (hear, hear, and loud cheers). People try to pretend that it has been before us as politics so long that we have almost been able to get along without it. But, I assure you, it is only owing to the patience and perseverance of the Welsh people that the wild enthusiasm of 25 years ago is not visible on the surface in the way it used to be. But there still burns beneath the surface in Wales to-day a desire that is all the more real, and because they know that in a few months, or a year or two at most, a proper measure of justice will be given to all creeds alike in this country (hear, hear, and cheers). Our kinsmen across St. George's Channel have a grievance of their own. Our good friends the Irish had many a bitter quarrel with English legislators. And I don't blame them for it. We hear a great deal about Mr Redmond and his dollars (laughter). Well, I am not telling you a secret when I tell you that Mr Balfour and Mr Asqnith have all got war-chests with plenty of dollars" in them (laughter). And why should not the Irish Party have their dollars as well as anybody else? (hear, hear). It is a wonder how" dollars" grease the wheels of public life —(laughter)—and how you cannot get along without them! The whole of legislation has to be fought now, unfortunately, by contested elec- tions, and the most able and the most noble ex- ponents of policies very often are those who are most lacking in the needful interests of this world. Otherwise I don't know whether we should find so many titled nobility in the House of Lords- there you can get a Beat for nothing—(loud laugh- ter)—except the fact that you have some ancestor who managed to distinguish himself some hundreds of years ago and by old customs and title-deeds, eptail, and what-not, generations after genera- tions are able to hand on the empty shell of their glory to their descendants (laughter, and hear, hear). IMPERIAL INTEREST IN THE IRISH. A point of view on which I feel very strongly at this election is the immense necessity of coming to a friendly arrangement with the Irish (hear, hear). The Irish have stood as a thorn in our side for whole generations, and once we have set- tled that unfortunate eonntry, and settled it for ever, we shall have the thanks of the whole world, the whole of that enormous continent across the Atlantic, and the whole of our Colcnies (hear, hear, and cheers). I don't believe that people in this country realise the interest taken in the Colonies, and in America, and Canada in this election. It is an Imperial question, whether the Irish are going to have justice done to them at last. This is only one of these measures, like Welsh Disestablishment and several others, which are simply waiting for the repeal of ths Veto of the House of Lords to be brought into effect and into practical legislation. For what other pur- pose would you suppose the ablest and the noblest men in the American Centinent have subscribed to the Irish Party's fund ? We are told that they are traitors*to this country and enemies of our land. But you will find-no doubt, most of you have read the list in the papers—that the chair- men of big banks, presidents of railroads, the Prime Minister of Canada—(hear, hear)—the Prime Minister of the Legislature, the most noble and respectable, wealthy, and prominent men on the American Continent give freely of their dollars to help Mr Redmond to fight the cause, which, I think it is extreme impertinence and a ridiculous absurdity on the part of the Tory Party to call an uujust and unpatriotic one. THE YEAR OF EMANCIPATION. Once we win, we shall enter on our new year with new hopes and the possibilities of realising these hopes, and we shall never forget the year 1910 as possibly the year of the emancipation of the English legislature (cheers). I hope you will all do your very utmost to carry back into your homes some enthusiasm and some desire for a Liberal victory—(hear, hear, and loud cheere)— in this cause you are fighting for. I shall have another opportunity, I hope, of addressing you, several times possibly, before the Election (loud cheers). Maay points, no doubt, will arise during the campaign, which I shall wish to discuss on a future occasion. I have only been able to cross over the ground in a brief survey, and I may have overlooked some points. But I shall leave you to-night with this one desire and this one hope That you will remember that this is a sincere fight (cheers). It is a true fight. It is a fight in whioh I am giving a con- siderable amount of personal sacrifice (hear, hear, and more cheering). I don't want to see the Montgomery Boroughs fall back into Toryism at this election (hear, hear, and great cheers.—A Voice: They won't!), when the whole of the country is going to carry to one glorious victory the Liberal Government-Mr Asquith, Mr Lloyd George—(loud cheers),—and the Liberal Party. which contains, I may almost say, the best that there is in English ability. All the hope of its youth, and all the joy of the future life of the country liesdn the hands of tthe Liberal Govern- ment at the present day. They hold the power to realize the future. And the Tory Party are only striving to hold back the hands of time, and to banish for ever the possibility of freedom for this country from the domination of its aristocracy and the tyranny of its peerage (loud and prolonged cheering amid which the Liberal candidate sat down, having spoken for 23 minutes). Not content with cheering and cheering their candidate, the audience also sang with heartiness, For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." This same sen- timent was next expressed in the following resolution: That Mr Humphreys-Owen having been this day unanimously selected the Liberal Candidate for the Montgomery Boroughs, this meeting pledges itself to do everything in its power in a legitimate manner to secure his triumphant return." Mr. T. Parry Jones. "WHAT WE WANT, SIR!" "A few days ago matters looked rather blue upon us in these Boroughs," said Mr Parry Jones in moving the resolution. "The candidate who had fought the last two elections for us. and who has been our member-and I must say he has voted all right, whatever may be his opinions (laughter)—he found reason to leave the Party. And yet, out of that apparent difficulty, we are to-day emerging splendidly (cheers). In Mr Humphreys-Owen I believe we have a thoroughly honest candidate (cheers). We not only have a son who is endowed with a great deal of the talent, the ability, and the clear-sightedness of his splendid father, but we also have a man who is conscientiously a Liberal" (hear, hear). Mr George Jones: That's what we want, sir! Mr Parry Jones: He is a man worth fighting for (Voises: Yes!). Therefore I feel very proud to move this resolution, and by your cheers I know you will carry it with acclamation when the time comes. We want to keep clearly before us during the coming election that there is one main'point— this question of the House of Lords (hear, hear). Don't let us be led away. We shall be told by the opposite party that if we only give them time they will do all that is needed.—(A Voice Non- sense !) Years ago, in his Liberal days, when he was Premier, Lord Rosebery said we should never do anything in this country until we tackled the problem of the House of Lords. And his cure in those days is the cure we are adopting now- limiting of the Veto. Now he wants reform in name. But it means that this old, time-honoured barrier, that has been blocking up the stream of Liberalism, shall be rebuilt with ten-fold strength, rebuilt so that you will never demolish it. If they only have the chance, they will make such a reform of the House of Lords that the House of Commons can take a back seat whenever it has a Liberal Government. The Rev. Edward Parry. TRIPLE THANKS TO SIR JOHN. The Rev Edward Parry, M.A., seconded the resolution and delivered a characteristic speech, which the audience greatly enjoyed. It reminds me of the old times (he also began) when we always won—(laughter)—and we didn't feel in danger of losing. Of course, it has been chequered times between, and we have had to lose a time or two. But now we are back once more into the days like the old days (hear, hear). It is in the air—(cheers)—it is in the people-(hear. haar)- it is in the candidate (great cheers). Last Tuesday-no last Thuriiday-(laugh ter)- I was thinking rather seriously about the situa- tion. The election was to come, I was told, and I was thinking how would we fare. I must confess I was afraid. I felt a bit gloomy. I didn't know whether it would be worth my while to throw myself into the fray (Mr George Jones: Hear, hear). I expect I should have to (laughter and cheers). And the thought came to me-if our Member would only leave us (laughter and cheers). Of course, I felt too courteous to think of asking him to, and I also felt too great an indebtedness to show him any discourtesy. But in my thought-at the back of my mind-it was there (laughter). On that Thursday it seems the same thought was in his mind (great laughter). It may be telepathy or thought-reading, I can't explain it. So he hurried to the Travellers' Club—(laughter) and very much to my relief the next morning there was the letter in The Times'—(Mr George Jones: Hear, hear; hear, hear) I am thankful to the late Member—(Mr George Jones: I'm noti- on three counts: First: That he came and helped us when we were weak. Secondly: That he voted right (hear, hear). Of course, his talk was wrong (laughter—A Voice: Quite so!)—but his votes were right. And it is votes that count. And thirdly, that he went (loud laughter and cheers). So, however he may feel to-night, he leaves me grateful (laughter). "HOPEFUL, COURAGEOUS & JUBILANT.' And now we are facing the situation hopeful and courageous and jubilant—(hear, hear)—we have got our candidate (hear, hear). We were thankful to have him. He come at short notice. He leapt into the gap. And here he stands. I listened to-night to that speech, or rather the outline of a speech, for what can you expect elaborate at short notice. I listened, and it rang true (hear, hear and cheers). I was listening keenly and it sounded honest—(hear, hear)—and sincere—(Mr George Jones: That's what we want!) Mr Humphreys-Owen will go to Parlia- ment (hear, hear and cheers). And he will vote rierht A Voice: And he will talk right! The Rev Edward Parry: And he will talk right (hear, hear and loud cheers). The Montgomery Boroughs will be honoured in their representative (haar, hear). Nobody, not even Punch'— (laughter)—will have a chance of making fun of our representative henceforth. And he is going there at a great time, a critical time. The his- torian of the future will say that 1911 was the beginning of a new era in the history of Britain; he will write," It was then that Great Britain threw off the body of death' (loud cheers). It is incomprehensible to us how the people of the 20th century bore it so long—(hear, hear)—how they endured to have all their hopes and purposes thwarted by some wild men from the back woods. THE LORDS LIKE STEPHENSON'S "COO." It is a wonder how we have borne it and taken the trouble to send up our best men all over the country to represent us, the people. And then they have the best Cabinet that has been in existence in the history of this land (hear, hear). They have a Cabinet with strong men in it, men of intellect, men who have worked up from the bottom (cheers). But they want to do something for us after getting there. They get big salaries, and they want to earn it (hear, hear). But they shan't! The representatives of the people—a majority of 100 of them—are no good. Those are the fellows over there, who haven't risen, who haven't shown their mettle, these fellows up in the gallery that know nothing about things below here (laughter). So, You shan't do what you promised; you shant give what the people have asked for." Why not ? Because we are in the way (loud laughter). Like old Stephenson's "coos," in the old days, when he was pushing his railway scheme, someone asked in the Parlia- mentary Inquiry-I daresay it was a peer- (laughter)—" What would you do, Mr Stephenson, if there should be a cow in the way on the track ? It would be very bad for the I COO,, 11 said Stephenson. Well, we say it is going to be bad for the coos up there before long—(laughter) —the "coos" with coronets, plus horns (loud laughter). "SHIFT THEM OUT OF THE WAY!" And now is the time! Next January or Feb- ruary the Commons will come to grips with the House of Lords, and they are going to settle this. We have waited long enough. We can't afford to wait any more. There are too many things waiting that we want settled. And it is going to be settled. And, friends, we want to be 'there (cheers). We want our Member to be ihere- (hear, bear)-and to speak for us, and to say to Asquith and the rest of them. We are with you. The Montgomery Boroughs are behind you; so go ahead, and shift them out of the way!" (loud oheers). The Lords want to reform themselves (laugh- ter). They are standing on the brink of the river. They are standing, shivering! (laughter). But they are backing from it (renewed laughter). They don't want to go in. Mr Humphreys-Owen we are going to send you up there to help to shove them in! (great laughter and loud cheers). The Rev. T. E. Williams. "WE WANT ANOTHER HUMPHREYS- OWEN." The Rev. T. E. Williams supported the resolution. Mr Humphreys-Owen's father," he observed, "co-operated betore with Mr Lloyd George. And we want the son to do the same, and so help on the legislation of our land" (cheers). In the past we have had a name iden- tified with Education in Montgomeryshire, none other than Robert Owen (cheers). And there was another Owen identified with education, with Welsh education in Montgomeryshire in particu- iar-none other than that of Humphreys-Owen (loud cheers). And we want another Humphreys- Owen—(loud cheers)—to identify himself with education in Parliament as he has identified him- self with education in this county (hear, hear). FREE CHURCH AND FREE STATE. I have taken interest in Welsh Disestablish- ment for 40 years (hear, hear). Mr Humphreys- Owen's father took a great interest in the ques- tion, and helped in many ways to bring it in such a way before the people as would enable the people to understand it. We have lately had the Welsh Church Commission, and, now that the report is issued, or, at least, a summary of it, let me give you a few figures from that report to show how strong our case for Disestablishment is. And I rejoice to think that Mr Humphreys-Owen is going up-and of course, he is going up to the House of Commons (loud cheers)—to support this The Established Church has 193,000 com- municants the Nonconformist Churches have more than 500,000 communicants (hear, hear, and cheers). The Established Church has 168,786 Sunday school scholars; the Nonconformist Churches have 645,000 scholars. The Established Church has 1,864 places of worship; the Nonconformist Churches have 4,800 places of worship. The income of the Established Church from endowments annually is about £ 300,000; the annual free-will offerings of the Nonconformists for the ministry and the services of the churches are at least X423,496 (hear, hear, and cheers). These figures set forth our case to shojr the strength of our demands and the justice of our claim. We want a free Church in a free State- (hear, hear)—fair-play all round—(hear, hear, and cheers)-fair-play all round so far as legisla- tion is concerned—Liberals to have the same fair- play as Conservatives in passing their measures— (hear, hear)—fair-play all round so far as the Churches of our country are concerned, fair-play all round so far as the inhabitants of this country would be concerned altogether. And we are determined to send up Mr Hum- phreys-Owen to the House of Commons to see to it that we get this fair-play all round (loud cheers). Mr C. J. Newell. Mr C. J. Newell suppoited the resolution in a Iharacteristically fervent speech. I am glad to think," he said, "that we know where we are (laughter and hear, hear). I for one have no hesitancy in saying what I want. I want to know who is master. Are we to be masters in our own house or not ? Or are we to be frustrated in every desire that we want carried ? The Lords have had notice enough (hear, hear); they have had more than 12 months' notice (laughter); a very considerable number of us would be turned out of our homes in less than that a great deal." Mr Edward Jones. MORE ABOUT THE LATE M.P. With boisterous cheering the audience greeted Mr Edward Jones as he rose and stepped forward on the platform to give his support to the resolu- tion. "-It is quite 12 months ago since we were in the throes of the election. We had to swallow what a good many men did not like (laughter). But I am thankful that we took the dose— (laughter)—and accepted onr man Mr George Jones: You swallowed him! We didn't (laughter and uproar). Mr Edward Jones: Sit down, man, sit down I defy any man anywhere to say that you can find a more true servant Mr George Jones That's untrue! Mr Edward Jones: A true servant is he who will do for those that he is serving their bidding (hear, hear) Mr George Jones: He didn't! Mr Edward Jones: And, however, he talked- and talk he did (laughter)—he always voted right. Mr George Jones: We know that as well as you! What's the man talking about! (But, when Mr Edward Jones addressed his remarks to the political situation, he had no more appreciative listener than the Newtown Radical, who would not allow without protest the slighte&t complimentary reference to Sir John Rees.) WHAT THE WORKING MAN SAID. I hope," said Mr Edward Jones, "you will not say one hard word about your opponents (hear, hear). Say nothing about them and they will die a natural death (loud laughter and cheers). The religious people of Wales-most of them working people—are contributing out of their hard earn- ings more than these few rich people, if you were to see what they contribute. Well, you read the account of the Bishop of St. Asaph down there at Welshpool. They are now following the example of J. D. Jones, the great preacher and the advocate of raising minister's salaries so that they shall not be less than .£200 a year (laughter and cheers). A working man told me to-day, I shall have some pleasure in recording my vote this time (Mr George Jones Hear, hear). I had no pleasure in recording it at the last election; but I did record it" (hear, hear). Our man is well bred. The man is of a good family. And-as I said last night-one of the first landed proprietors that I heard say any- thing good about the Budget, was our worthy friend here, who gave it a hearty welcome (great cheers). The Chairman put the resolution, at 9-45 p.m., to the meeting, and it was carried with unanimous and tremendous enthusiasm. The audience rose once more to sing For He's a Jolly Good Fellow." Three cheers were againgiven for the candidate, and (on the suggestion of Mr Edward Jones) three for his good wife." "That's the Point!" Mr Humphreys-Owen, returning thanks, remar- ked that they could shout in public, but they could vote in private (laughter and cheers. A Voice: That's the point!). Remember that when you go to the meetings of the other side (laughter). Give the candidate a good hearing, and then think it over carefully (hear, hear). Mr Richard Phillips seconded the vote of thanks to the Chairman, which Mr Humphreys-Owen proposed, and thus ended the indoor part of the Radical candidate's first election meeting. Shoulder-high Through Newtown Streets. But there was an out-of-door demonstration still to come. Just after Mr Humphreys-Owen 9merged from the Victoria Hall, he was seized by enthusiastic Newtonians, who supported him phy- sically and politically. A crowd, numbering sev- eral hundreds, escorted the popular candidate, who was carried shoulder-high, along Market- street and Bread-street to the Elephant Hotel, where he was staying the night. Loud demands for yet another speech followed, and the young Squire of Glansevern met the desire by bringing out a chair and standing on it near the porch. Let me thank you for providing such a com- fortable carriage from the Victoria Hall to the Hotel," he exclaimed amid laughter and cheers. If you carry me through on polling-day as well as you did to-night (hear, hear, and cheers.—A Voice: We will!) even the whole of Wales will thank you, and you will have done the best bit of work you can for Mr Lloyd George and the Cab- inet (cheers)- I am glad to say that I can count more than even the 113 votes which we have heard so much about (A Voice: Three cheers for Mr Humphreys-Oweln!). Now, I have got to be up early to-morrow morning, starting work (hear. hear), so I hope you will receive my best thanks for your attendance and your hearty reception." Thus ended Mr Humphreys-Owen's first elec- tioneering night as Liberal Candidate for the Montgomery Boroughs.