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..ORGANISATION THE WEAK SPOT.I
ORGANISATION THE WEAK SPOT. The Labour Party conference that has just concluded its deliberations at Glasgow is in point of numbers and interest, one of the best yet held. An acute observer of the international working-class movement once observed that whereas Continental, conferences liscuss live and human issues, British conferences seem to be machined and Organised out of existence. However true that criticism may be of past con- forenc-es it certainly does not apply to the one just concluded. The discussion at the opening meeting of the Women's Labour League; Tuesday's debate on Parliamentary policy which served a good purpose if only to give the more Atrabilious critics of the party the opportunity to "let off steam" the brisk, vehement discussion on the bar- barous and illegal action of Botha; the struggle over proportional repre- sentation and other features of the conference—all invested the delibera- tions of Labour's Parliament with ex- ceptional interest. If there was one thing more notable than another about the conference it was the absolute frankness with which the affairs of the party were discussed. The concluding paragraph of the report to the delegates touched vital issue. The real weakness of the party, de- clared the report, is in its number, and that fault lies largely with the con- stituency. Mr. Tom Fox, the chair- man, in his able survey of the present position made a remark of similar pur- he sai d port. "In my judgment, he said, "the primary cause of the failure of the British workers to make industrial and social progress commen- surate with the effort and sacrifice they have used is the deplorable inefficiency of our- methods and organisation." There is nothing new in this view, but it is one that' must be emphasised again and again until the weakness is eradicated. No Labour man can con- template the results of .the by-ejections of recent years without- feeling very keenly the fact that our successive humiliations have been due to the utter lack of efficient electoral machinery. Time after time this lesson has been. brought home to us, but the officials and rank-and-file alike have gone on trusting in the bad old mad old policy of muddling through. The history of the Labour. party's electoral work in the last few years is a striking illustration of how things s&hould not be done. Contrast our record in this respect with that of the German Social Democrats! Under the guidance of the late Herr Singer our comrades in GArmanv constructed the most perfect electoral machinery that the world has known. It would bp idle •• to hope that similar machinery would produce similar results in this country, or that our machinery could be built in a similar manner, any move than j that our party's method of work should be on parallel lines to tlia;, of many. But at least we can copy their thoroughness.. If we look at the organisation of the Liberal and Tory parties in this country we see afresh how much leeway there is to make uP. Where is there a Labour area as well organised as the Tory vote in Liverpool has been organised by Alderman Savage? Where is there a Labour constituency organised in the I same way as Swansea is organised in the Liberal interest? There is of course, a great disparity between the money at the command of Labour and that (de- rived in the Liberal case largely from the sale of honours) at the disposal of the historic parties. An idea of this may be gained from the fact that the Glasgow conference was recommended to appoint two additional organisers for the beggarly sum of C550 or there- abouts, a year. At least ten times this expenditure is called for, but with the party still reeling from the blow of the Osborne Judgment there is a great gap between what should be and what is practicable. Nor are limited funds the only handi- cap. Unlike the average Liberal and Tory M.P., the Labour member cannot give his whole time to political work, or give attention to charitable work, sports, etc., as the ordinary capitalist representative does. Nine-tenths of electioneering is sheer advertising, or at least a use of the advertising method in exploiting the sub-conscious mind of the electorate. The manner in which South Glamorgan is being worked by the Hon. Roland Phillips at present, and the way in which the Liberal news- papers .are giving publicity to his Boy Scout work, his speeches for religious causes and charitable institutions, are good evidences of how the ordinary politician curries favour with the elec- torate. In this matter the Labour candidates are as children. A very notable instance of how we are out- manoeuvred by the Liberals in this re- spect is provided by the North-West Durham by-election. Every newspaper picture of Mr. Aneurin Williams has depicted him in the centre of a smiling, cheering, confident crowd of supporters, with the portrait of the alleged oldest elector (a Liberal voter, of course) inset at the side. The pictures of Mr. Stuart have been absolutely unin- spired, and in one case he was depicted in company with Mr. Keir Hardie, whose picturesque appearance made Mr. Stuart appear by comparison a mediocre person of little consequence. A small matter this? Certainly; but there is'not a publicity expert in the kingdom who will not say that this kind of subconscious suggestion influences votes. And an accumulation of small things like this spells the difference between defeat and victory, for it is the marginal vote, a few hundreds one way or the other, that really matters. We do not think that the Labour party should slavishly copy the elec- tioneering methods of the historic parties. Better utter and final defeat. than that we should climb to power by the intrigue and bribery which are the distinguishing features of Liberal elec- tioneering in Wales. There are other ways of setting to work, and ways, we are confident, which the Labour party, despite the disabilities under which it labour, can adopt. Between the forces behind Liberalism and Toryism on the one part, and Labour on the other, there is a great gulf fixed. The historic parties have only interests to defend; we have a faith and an ideal. Where they depend on bought services, we can look for the loyal and infinitely more valuable work of the enthusiast. It is for us, and for our leaders, to find a means of guiding this enthusiasm into effective channels. If the right methods were adopted we could make Gower, for instance, a Labour seat so strong that we could snap our fingers at a combination of Liberals and Tories. And the possibilities of Gower are the possibilities of scores and scores *of in- dustrial constituencies up and down the, country. If it were feasible to call a close time on mutual criticistn in the Labour movement, and the energies now dissipated in that way were direct- ed to strengthening our cause and at- tacking the enemy.
THE MORAL OF SENGIIEN YDD..…
THE MORAL OF SENGIIEN YDD. On Monday the conference of the South Wales Miners' Federation will consider a series of important propo-, sals, formulated by the Executive Council, designed to make the working conditions in collieries more safe; The proposals are the outcome of much earnest thinking and heartsearching occasioned by the Senghenydd holo- caust. That disaster brought home to the public the danger of the miners' occupation in so far as they are exposed to moving accidents of that magnitude. But what the public do not realise, and what every mineworker knows, is that explosions, harrowing as they are, by no means constitute all or even the greater'part of the toll of the mine. The single fatalities, which average five a day, are the worst feature, but be- cause they happen singly, and net on a dramatic scale, they are apt to pass unnoticed and unheeded by the general public. For., the last ten years the average number of deaths "from colliery 'accidents in a year have been 1,420. "•This means that a number of miners equal to those employed in any one of the largest collieries in West Wales are annually wiped out. Five thousand dependents are every year bereft of their breadwinners and thrown helpless (save for the pitifully small compensa- tion allowance) on the dark and cruel waters of a friendless world. If these men lost their lives in battle on a South African veldt, or on an explor- mgexpcditian in the Antarctic, or in a in, the itntar(!t-ic, in' a to .0te %z ov ii) he.t of t} r.ation would be stipred to depths. But it L» a.poor nation, and a poor patriotism that account^ rniner; of less value than soldiers or sailors or explorers, or Transatlantic passengers, The- men who lose their lives winning th:1t keeps the \vhff.e. Gf -industry | :evolving perish in as good a cause as any officer or scientist whose bOIfc, are covered rudo cairns u: Polar war^-os. The tragedy is that these deaths in I collieries are preventible; they are not 1 a toll exact-ed by a cruel an inexorable nature over which men have no control. It is the business of the Federation to make this fact known, and to have the obvious implications acted upon. In another column v, ill be found a list of the proposals that the Federation is to discuss. These comprise provisions for prohibiting the stowing of inflammable or combustible material, particularly of small coal, for prohibiting the use of electric power for haulage, for substi- tuting electric lamps for safety lamps, for safety doors in intake roadways, and doing away with haulage machin- ery in return airways, for better super- vision by the workmen's examiners, and increase in the number of Govern- ment inspectors of mines. Whatever doubt may attach to one or two: of these proposals it is certain that the majority are feasible. One thing stands in the way—expense, or in other words the profits of the coalowners and the exactions of the royalty owners. The proposals which the Federation finally decides upon will not be adopt- ed without a struggle. The fight will resolve itself into a battle between capitalism and humanitarianism. Divi- dends or men's lives, profits or human well-being, greed or brotherhood, sel- fishness or love of our fellow-men r- that will be the issue on which the Federation will have to appeal to the public. We have no doubt which will triumph in the long run. Leagued with the coalowners and the royalty owners will be the great bulk of the capitalist interests, the Liberal Govern- ment and its egregious Home Secretary, and in a lesser measure, the whole of the mining department of the Home Office whose inspectors and officials are drawn from a class accustomed to look at affairs from the standpoints of the employers. On the other side there will be the sympathy and active assis- tance of the organised working class, and that ever-growing section of the community which inclines to view seriously its social obligations. The miners and the Labour Party must look forward to unremitting effort. After the death of one of her children the late Mrs. Margaret Macdonald could not bear to contemplate the statistics of infant mortality. They were so terribly real. She felt the poignant heart-stab in each of the units that made the total. There is tragedy, there are seal ed human hearts behind every one of the 1,420 deaths that occur annually in the mines. We must give the nation no peace until that is realised.
THE PONTARDAWE FIRE. I
THE PONTARDAWE FIRE. General sympathy will be felt with the members of the Alltwen and Pont- ardawe Co-operative Society whose premises have been gutted by fire. The society is one of the bestr-regulated of its kind in Wales. Owned, controlled, and conducted by working-class folk, it is a standing refutation of the fiction that managing and organising ability is a monopoly of the capitalist class. The disaster is a grievous one, for a great part of the loss will fall upon the members and the committee, who by dint of thrift, frugality, and much hard work, have built up the society from small beginnings into a flourishing concern. The circumstance that a large crowd was compelled to look help- lessly on' while the building blazed should give the powers that be furious- ly to think. That there was no effec- tive fire-fighting lappliance available, or a supply of water, is distinctly dis- creditable to the local authorities. The Swansea Valley is a community still in process of growth, and every allowance should be made for a Council that finds heavy demands made on it to safeguard the public health and safety; but, at the same time, any local authority that was fully alive to its mission would not have allowed simple and inexpensive precautions against loss of property and even of life, by fire, to go by the board. In the Ystradgynlais and Pont- ardawe areas there is no kind of pro- vision for fire-fighting in any of the townships, except, perhaps, in Clydach. The regrettable occurrence at Pontar- dawe should make our councillors and other public men act, and act quickly.
II DULAIS VALLEY CHAT. ! )
DULAIS VALLEY CHAT. ) Gan Ymdeithydd. It will be remembered that a few weeks ago I drew attention in this column to the protest made in the local chapels against the action of a show proprietor who had opened his pre- mises in Seven Sisters for a Sunday evening entertainment. There was an interesting sequel to this at the Neath Police-court last Friday, when Jacob Studt, the owner, of Merthyr, was summoned for having opened the show on Sunday with a six days' licence. For the defendant, it was stated that the son, who waa- is ch*rg £ was not aw^are that the licence was for six days only, but Supt. Evans pointed out that there had been a similar case against defend- ant at Mountain Ash, when he woares ordered to pay the costs. Commenting on the fact that this was a second offence, a fine of 40s. and costs would be imposed. A sad death is reported this week from Onllwyn, a well-known local lady passing away with startling suddenness last Friday evening. This was Mrs. Gwenllian Richards, the wife of Mr. Llewelyn Richards, overman, of Duff- ryn Cottage. Mrs. Richards had not enjoyed very good health, but was not regarded as being seriously ill. She was siezed with a fit of coughing, however, on the day mentioned, and had expired when Dr. Armstrong arrived on the scene, very shortly afterwards. Mr. Howell Cuthbertson held an inquest on Tuesday, when formal evidence was given, and the jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes." Mrs. Richards, who was a little over 50 years of age, was a native of Onllwyn, and had many friends throughout the Valley. She had been prominently connected with the Onllwyn Congrega- tional Chapel, of which her husband is a deacon, and her passing away will be very much regretted. She leaves four grown-up children. The funeral took place on Wednesday at Onllwyn and was largely attended. The service was conducted by the Rev. A. D. Thomas (Onllwyn), and the Rev. Edmund Davies (Seven Sisters). I understand that the concert at Seion Chapel, -Seven Sisters, last Thursday was a great success. There was a crowded aikdieii-ce and the chapel funds will benefit to a considerable ex- tent as a result f í "j Interesting special services took place on Sunday last at the Pantvffordd Methodist Church, when the pulpit was occupied by the Rev. W. \V. Lewis (Swansea) who preached fine sermons to large congregations. It is also worthy of note that some of the deacons from Seion, Seven Sisters, were present ) during the day. After the evening ser- vice, the preacher administered com- munion, the first occasion on which this has been done since the church was founded three years ago. Collec- tions for the day realised a good sum I in aid of chapel funds. An important meeting was held last I week regarding the shorter Saturday for the Dulais Valley, all the members of the various workmen's committees of the district assembling nt Abercrave under the chairmanship of Mr. George J'ones, checkweigher, Seven Sisters. The present position of the movement was thoroughly discussed, and some at- tention was given to the question of whether it would be advisable to tender notices now or postpone the matter for two or three months until the milder weather arrives, but it was ultimately decided by a large majority to hand in I 14 days' notices on Friday next. Sub- I eequently a sub-committee was ap- I pointed to make arrangements for the tendering of the notices at all the col- lieries simultaneously, and the pros- pects therefore are that in three weeks' time over 3,000 workers in the Valley will be idle. Contrary to expectations, I am not yet able to a-nnounce the successful tenderer for the new Seven Sisters Co- operative Stores. The matter has been decided, but not yet publicly an- nounced. The name will, however, cer- tainly appear in next weeks' issue. An interesting coming event has been announced during the week, viz., a grand concert to be held on February 22nd, at Zoar Chapel in aid of chapel funds. Mr. D. W. Thomas will preside, and there will be an attractive array of Welsh musical talent, the vocalists engaged including Badame Bronwen Jones-Williams, the leading Welsh so- prano, and Mr. Ivor Jenkins, the popu- lar tenor. A crowded attendance is oon- fidently anticipated. Another forthcoming event is the visit of the Rev. W. Thomas, of Ferry- side, near Carmarthen, a popular minis- ter who is to preach and lecture at Pantyffordd on Feb. 27th and 28th. The subject of his lecture is "Henry Matthews, the great divine," and on that evening, Mr. D. W. Thomas, M.E. has promised to take the chair. There was a large gathering at the Church Mission Hall on Tuesday, when a social tea and Christmas tree took place. A very happy evening was spent all the young people receiving a suit- able gift from the tree. A rumour reached me on Wednesday to the effect that. three new magis- trates had been appointed for the Dulais Valley, the names mentioned be- ing Councillor Richard Davies (Ynis- davdy), Mr. C. Pegg (Gelli Farm), and r. Councillor D. Daniels, of Cry- nartt. What truth is contained in the rumour it is impossible to say, but the names mentioned are generally regard- ed as gentlemen upon whom this honour would be conferred. All are in every way suitable for the position of justi- ces, yet it is to be regretted that a representative of Labour is not includ- ed. The Valley is a typical working class district, and I venture to say that Mr. Geo. Jones, a sterling repre- sentative of the miners, would have proved himself fully capable of dis- charging the honourable responsibilities of a J.P. Labour has to wait a long time for just recognition of its rights. Deacons from all the Baptist Churches in the locality attended at Neath on Wednesday evening when a conference took place regarding the proposal to establish a fund to provide a minimum wage for ministers. The question of rendering assistance from this locality was discussed, among the --CttFse d amon g the speakers being Councillor W. Prosser, Seven Sisters.
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.-.....-. - - -.-' - I The…
Labour Party Conference I (Continued from Page 3) LABOUR INDIGNANT WILL LORD GLADSTONE SIGN I THE INDEMNITY ACT? The Labour Party Conference in Glas- gow on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution condemning the action of the Union Governme,nt in South Africa., 4tnd declaring that, necessary, Lord Glad- stone shld be immediately recalled. Mr Ramsay Macdonald said they in- sisted on the Government seeing that Lord Gladstone's conduct was the sub- ject of searching inquiry, so that in days to come the man who represented the British King in a self-governing domin- ion would not lend his authority, his in- fiuenœ, his patronage, and his position I to such things as had been done by the Government of South Africa during the past week. THE "MINERS' WAR." Referring to the deportation of the leaders, Mr Macdonald described it as a very cynical conclusion to the South African W a.r. he I he c-ontiiiuo d "A few years ago, he continued, ) "some of us who were fighting against, that war had to go in some danger of personal harm at tho hands of great I masses of the people in this country. We were told the war was for the liberty of British citizens, to eliminat,el all sorts of political tyranny from South Africa, to remove aH sorts of ra.cial and j -octional prejudices which WNe making J it imp08sibk for the people of tho T r na- vaal to express their will or take action j in accordance with it." j FAR-REACHING PROBLEMS I He said the question raised problems j that would have to be settled, otherwise J the British Empire would fall to the ( (Iugt., Mr K"ir Uardi^, supporting the rnotitn.i said that they in this country had a; right to .intervene in this matter. The Indemnity Act required to bet signed by the King, and Lord Gladstone had power to refuse to sign it until it had been sent homo for consideration. HOME GOVERNMENT'S I OPPORTUNITY. If the Liberal Cabinet did not agree ,with what was due in South Africa they could instruct Lord Gladstone to refuse to sign the Indemnity Act. Then the whole question would come before Parlia- mont for d-iscussion.. ARRESTS AND CONFISCATION A sensation waa caused when Mr Brownlie, chairman of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers, said the whole of the officials of his organisation in South Africa had been arrested, and their books and funds confiscated. The position of all their members, in South Africa was very precarious. They were anxious to obtain the necessary funds to carry on their work, and had cabled to the Executive Council in Lon- don to send funds. While they were perfectly willing to do, unfortunately they found on inquiry at their bankers that it was impossible to send money to South Africa, at this juncture, as it would also be confiscated. MR HARCOURT'S REPLY. They got into touch with Mr Harcourt, the Colonial Secretary, and asked him to receive a deputation, but he informed them that he was unable to do so, as the matter was one solely within the competence of the Union Government. Mr Harcourt said he had no informa- tion on the subject, and the he would obtain particulars from the Governor- General, but he assumed that the cir- cumstances, if correctly reported, were of a temporary character. "NOT AT ALL SATISFIED" Mr Brownlie declared that they were not at all .satisfied with Air Harcourt's answer, and, so fa.r as they were con- cerned, they going to press forward this matter to obtain satisfaction. At all events, they hoped to avoid a recurrence of such dastardly conduct on the part of a, bureaucratic Government. They should immediately demand the recall of Lord Gladstone. (Cheers). Air Oilley (Manchester) said :—"This canting Nonconformist white sepulchre, the Liberal Party, pretended to be the friends of Labour. All the d "Chenies" in South Africa ought to be deported as undesirable aliens." (Cheers). The resolution was carried with the ad- dition that if necessary, Lord Gladstone should be called. •9»♦