Llais Llafur

CWMTWRCH CYMRO. ) DORICN. I DEWI SAVr CELEBRATION'S. Gwyl De-wi Sant was celebrated at (Jwrntwrch on uesday evening bv the Welsh 80cwty. The commemoration took the form of a social tea and I meeting, over which Mr T. R. Thomas, schoolmaster, presided in the unavoidable absence of Miss Rachel Davies, who was unable to be present on account, of illness. An excellent toea was served by the ladies, the ar- rangements being admirably carried out by Misses \nnie Jones, Bessie J. Moses. Agnes Jones, Gwen Owen, F. Thomas, Mrs. Weston, Mrs. Davics, Mrs. Marks, ilrs. Dennis, Mrs. Jen- kins, Mrs. Lewis, lrs, Evans, Mrs. niomas, hsa Anme Jones and Miss Ida Jones. Mr Jones, Pe-ntwyn, acted as carver. After tea had been partaken of, a recitation was given by Master Will. GwVll:W J"ns: Mr J. yfrig Owen, who addressed the meeting, expressed renewed pleasure :.Lt again being abkf to cele- brate St. Davids Day. St. David's Dav annually becoming more of a festival, and it -was a matter for gratification tha t the heads of ?loola paid so i?h attention to the jSach- j ? ? 1sh -tirs, 8'Wri, and ?cita- tions St. Dav?d had not killed draüns or serpent^ s but had lived a to Others, and was im- doubtedly gifted with great spiritual powers. He hoped they would always preserve the memory of one who was so noble and good (Applause). Councillor Jas. pon said he felt the power of St- David with them at the meeting. He felt that Wales was a nation, and they had suffered a loss by not having a society for Wales, Various Welsh bodies aiid Council* were appealing to the I rime Minister not to forget the land of Ins birth, in the matter of greater self government. He hoped, however, that they would not live on the traditions of the past, but develop a nation of people proud of their language and of their conn- try. (Applause). Mr Chas. Edwards (Myfyr Mai), headmaster of Gurnos schools, re- ferred to the legends of St. David, and said he felt that the paitron Saint must h;ue possessed a strong personality that was felt all through the ages. The true essence of a League of Nations and international brotherhood was to be found in a true love of one's own country. (Hear hear). At this juneture Mr Thomas, the chairman referred to the individuality of the Welshman, and to the extra- ordinary number of Welshmen who had risen from lowly stations to be leaders in a world wide sense. (Applause). Mr Evan Alexander then gave an instrumental solo, and had to give an encore. Mr T. Longville Bowen, when' called upon to speak referred to the strides tha t had been made in the teaching of Welsh, and in the en- couragement of the cultivation of a Welsh sentiment from an educational and scholastic point of view. There was a time when children were punished in Welsh schools for speaking Welsh. He spoke of the tendency of young people to read widely in English, and thought this could be .remedied and a love for Welsh culti- vated if the world's best works of fiction were translated into the ver- nacular. (Applause). Mr T. R. Thomas stated that up to* few years ago, the teaching of Welsh recitations and songs was not a p- proved by the school inspectors, but now this had changed, and every en- oouragement given to the teaching of Welsh. (Applause). Mr John Owen gave a violin solo, accompanied by Mr Walley Chambers, after which a vote of thanks to all who had taken part was proposed by Mr Jas. Powell, and seconded by Mr J. Dyfrig Owen. An enjoyable evening was ended with the singing of "Hen Wlad fy Nhadau," by Mr J. Thomag, Ystalyfera. The following verses were read by Mr Rees Powell. Gauaf oer, yn agor erw Oer y gweryd ydoedd hon,— Dwys atgofion sydd yn chwerw Ingol loes mewn llawer bron. Diolch am i'r haint fyn'd heibio A rlio"r cleddyf yn y wain, Gobaith wyna'r* llwybr eto, Gwel ef flodau 110 bu drain. Ffydd sy'n breiddio i'r dyfodol, Pryd bydd tlodi byth ar ffo, 1a u' l' gormeswr yn oes oesol "Wedi'i gladdu fyth dan glo; Cariad wyna'r byd mewn purdeb, t Heddwch sanctaidd a iaiwynhid, Afon loew o sirioldeb 'N llifo'n gyson drwy bob gwlad. Dysgwn gadw'n hiaith yn loew, Fel gwiiaeth Dewi yn ei ddydd, Siatadwn hi, mae'n werth ei chadw; Peuaf drysor Cymru fydd Gwalia llllvyl, dysgwn ganu Dy alawon seinber di, Xoddwn hyfryd Fabinogi Rhoddwn hynt i'r dyddiau fu.

Anti-Conscription Meeting at Ystalyfera. The Central Hall, Ystalyfera, was well filled un Sunday afternoon when an anti- cOliseripiion meeting, under the auspices of the National Council for Civil Liber- ties was held. The meeting was organ- ised by the Trades and Labour Council. Owing to the illness of the Rev. Herbert Dunnieo, Miss Minnie Pallister, Bryn- mawr, and Mr. Tom Evans, Ynismudw, were the speakers. Mr. T. Johnson was the chairman. Mr. Wm. Thomas, Ysttadgynlais, moved the following resolution :This conference declares its uncompromising opposition to the system of compulsory military service, and demands that the Military Service Acts passed as tem- porary measures on the plea of military necessity in the war against the Central Empires should, now that hostilities have for nearly four months been at an end, be no longer kept in operation for reasons and purposes not declared at the time of their enactment. It fur- ther demands that the British represen- tatives at the settlement conference should nress for the abolition of con- scription in all countries as the only possible safeguard against policies of imperialistic and capitalistic aggression and as an earnest of the intention of the nations to pursue a policy of univer- sal disarmament." Mr. Wm. Evans, an ex-member of the Navy seconded the resolution, which was unanimously carried. Mr. Tom Evans, who supported, said the chief reason for the maintenance of a strong military force was to safeguard the spoils of war, and also to suppress industrial unrest at home. He spoke of intrigue and secret diplomacy, and said that many people in the country would spare no effort to see that conscription would stay. He alse referred to the mean treatment which he alleged was gi ven to discharged men and their de- pendents by local pensions committees. Miss Pallister addressed her audience on the mother's side of conscription, and said that the State did nothing to ensure decent conditions for children until they became of military age, when the State claimed the boys for service. She deplored the militarising of educa- tion, and said that had she possessed the power of the great trade unions, these, things should not be. She also re- ferred to the unjustified treatment that had been meted out to the conscientious objectors.

-< Y stalyfera Bigamy Case. Emmanuel Thomas (35), iron building erector, pleaded guilty at the 'Glamor- gan Assizes on Tuesday, to marrying Maggie Bowen, Ystalyfera, his former wife, Annie Thomas, being then alive. Mr. Hugh Jones (instructed by Mr. Harold Williams, Swansea) who prose- cuted. said the prisoner had lived with his wife until eighteen months ago, and there were, twelve children, eight of whom were alive. Eighteen months ago they quarrelled, and he left her, and then went through a form of carriage with a young woman named Maggie .Bowen at Ystalyfera on May 18, 1918. Prisoner made an allowance of £3 a ;week to both his wife and the second woman. Miss Bowen, who was 24 years of age, had a child by prisoner on July 28, 1918. Mr. Marlay Samson (instructed by Mr Edward Harris, Swansea), for the pri- soner, said that Thomas went through a form of marriage with Miss Bowen iiT order to give peace of mind and con- tentment to the woman. Prisoner was sentenced to one month's imprisonment.

BRYNAMHAM- St. David's Day was celebrated at Brynamman with a splendid concert and lecture at Gibea, Brynamman. There was a good audience, presided over by the Rev. W. D. Thomas. Mr fed Morgan, A.L.C.M., accompanied. The artistes were: Miss Mair Jones, Carmarthen (National Winner); Mr. Harry Roberts, t Gorseinon; Mr' John Roberts, Glanamman. Mr Roland Thomas, M.A., Brecon, gave a most scholarly lecture on the subject: "What about St. David's Day?" The event was under the auspices of the Soldiers' and Sailors' Committee. A concert was held at Banwen Schools, when Welsh airs and recita- tions were the order of the day. The leek vitas very much in evidence, and many of the school-chldren were about in Welsh oostume. The period was more generally recognised than has been the case for years. There are two candidates for the County Council seat (Carmarthen) in the field, viz., Messrs. Gomer Harries (Lib.) and Griff. Williams (Labour). The election takes place on Saturday next. The Brynamman Male Choir was called together on Sunday afternoon. This is another sign that the spirit of song is again revivihg.

W. A. WILLI A MS, Phrenologist can be consulted daily it the Victor! Arcade (near th,. M^rk»tK Swanse*

Ystradgyniais Bolshevik and Xstradgyniais Soldier. To the Editor. Sir,- The paternally-toned letter of Captain Hoskins to my fellow-workers of Ystrad- gynlais with Its pre s-pat tirade against Bolshevism and oth r "isms" which the power-that-be are terribly afraid the workers will embrace as a substitute for capitalist imperialism. calls for a com- ment, if not a complete reply. Captain Hoskins has been mesmerised by that blessed 'v' "Reconstruction," promised by the Government as a pan- acea for all t • "lis caused by the war to soldiers t.. .11 as civilians. I wish I could be as ive as Captain Hoskins, in my faith, a -egards this coming re- construction, "tiiis dawn of a new and fairer age" as he puts it. As poetry and romance from the pen of a captain, it might sound all right, but its emptiness is seen when one compares it with the real facts as quoted in the London "Daily News" of March 3rd:— Corpl. -Jarvis, V.C., of the Royal Engineers, is now out of employment and has been so, since Nov. 20, 1918. He possesses testimonials from the American authorities and British em- ployers stating that he is a superior plumber and gasfitter, and is sober and trustworthy. Corpl. Jarvis says, "If the Government don't move I'm going to get a barrel-organ and fasten all this correspondence on the front, wear my medals and play patriotic tunes outside Buckingham Palace. I can get six more V.C. 's to come with me, too." If the above is a sample of what a British Tommy, who has "played the game" in Frarioe can get from this blessefl promise of reconstruction, then we as civilian workers know what to expect of these forces and principles making for reconstruction. Our fellow- Celts in Glasgow from the experience of their recent strike know that these so called "forces" have turned out to be tanks and ''bayonet-bearing soldiers. And some of us as leaders of the miners here are fully alive to instructions to the colliery managements of S. Wales, from official circles, to be ready with provision for the accommodation of troops for strike eventualities. We are also aware, as Chiozza Money has pointed out, that before having, a Com- mission appointed to deal with the miners' demands, arrangements were. made to recall to England all the Guards. As miners, I can assure Capt. Hoskins with due respect to his being a military officer, we are not "blind to the diffusion of that most insidious -of poli- tical doctrines"—the use of militarism in industrial affairs, much to the detri- ment of the workers, as at Peterloo and Tonypandy. Not until that Tsar-like, tyrannical, political weapon of the ruling classes, D.O.R.A., is repealed, can I have the pleasure of refuting Captain Hoskins tirade against Bolshevism, of which ray study and researches into, as an Inter-. national Socialist, leades me to quite a different conclusion and estimate of thist Russian working-class movement to that of Captain Hoskins with his terrifv- ing tales from a Russian Socialist in Belgium. I would sooner believe that the apos- tles and satellites of D. Lloyd George were wealthy British and German Jews from the East End of London and Swansea Valley than believe that Lenin's satellites were wealthy Russians —"whose unlovely persons breath e an ill-gotten plutocracy," for the simple reason that 1 know of no wealthy per- son who would welcome Lenin's regime the corner-stone of which is (under the Soviet programme) "By the sweat of thy brow only shalt thou eat." Captain Hoskins' gratuitous statement —"In Russia you either find the very wise or the very foolish," I will leave to the reader's judgment, and Carlyle's historic phrase that "In England there were 40 million people fools!" Another of Captain Hoskins' gratui- tious statements deserves a refutation. He says "the Bolshevist rule has par- alysed the industrial machinery of Rus- sia." The facts are that where under the Tsarist and the subseqeunt Keren- sky Government the people were starv- ing and famine faced the population, since the fall of the Kerensky adminis- tration in 1917, Lenin and his followers, the Bolsheviks, have fed the people, despite the dastardly and cruel food blockade of the Allies, who have con- sistently hindered tho Bolsheviks and aided the reactionaries in Russia. Per- haps it will help Captain Hoskins, who is a University Graduate, to sympathise and study more of the Bolshavik move- ment of Russia, when I tell him that under Lenin (who is a graduate and an eminent scholar) and the Bolsheviks, more universities have been founded for the people in the few months of their regime than were founded in all the terrorist years of the Tsar's Govern- ment. But enough for the nonce about Rus- sia and the Bolshevik movement. Per- haps in the days when D.O.R.A. is dead and this blessed promise of reconstruc- tion has become a fact, Capt. Hoskins will take up the cudgels in a public debate against Bolshevism, while I'll J..sent to take the opposite. The pro- ceeds of the debate I am sure Captain Hoskins would have no objection to de- voting to help some British Tommies in the same boat as the above V.C. We as workers at Ystradgvnlars have no objection to Capt Hoskins desiring to advise the workers of his native place but we would strongly advise him to "play the game," as he says, and be intellectually honest as a student and present to the workers of Ystradgvnlais the other facts of Bolshevism, which the gutter-press of Great Britain have kept back to the exclusion of the blood-curd- ling concoctions circulated by their kept press.— Yours faithfully JOHN THOMAS New Diamond Colliery, (Check.), Ystradgynlais.

A Committee of Inquiry into the question of industrial insurance, upon which the Labour party will be repre- sented, has been set up by the Govern- ment.

0 ♦ A Q ,S2 + X ? S IN SPITE OF ALL DIFFICULTIES, ♦ t J. Llewelyn Jenkins ? ——————————— | !RONMON(iE? CWMLLYNFELL, I Q + HOLDS a very Large Stock of Bar Iron, Steel, ? ÇUiery Requisites, Albion CoDiers' Shovels, J l? ickory Tool Handles, Mandn!!s, Hatchets, • 5 CoHiers' Baskets, Netting Wire, Manures, all kinds ? of Oils, Colours and Distempers. ? ❖ • y 5 Tons or Best Sole Leather, Boot Nails, Protectors, Tips, Studs, Rivets, and everything for Boot ? and Shoe Repairing. 5 d + > 10,000 yds. of Floor Cloths in all widths. 20,000 Rolls of Wall-Paper to suit all tastes.. Soap and Candles in enormous quantities..Po 1 1 ♦> + & e J.L.J.'s prices have always been near the mark, and he cordially invites a trial order or  ? enquiry. ? <♦ ,9 0 ❖ ? 0 m 6" C /iÕ- {f; .¡(", 1íF\ -IfT:L." <>' "r,. iFf'. I'l"\ .'>" rif'. rr fí: ? .Vt$f'Jf.Ç:>j).V/;Ø.J"" ? >r- ? .W'

CWVTWRCH CWMLLYNFELL Rev. W. T. Hughes, Beulah, kas again added to his collection of chairs by win- ning another trophy at Hirwaun, Aber- dare, on Saturday last. This is his third successive win within the last three weeks. The death took place on Friday at his .sister's residence in Susannah-street, Lower Cwmtwrch, of Mr. James Grif- fiths, a single young man, and a native of Pembrokeshire. Deceased, who was in his 33rd year, had been ailing for the last 2i years. Recently he entered the Swansea General Hospital, where he underwent an operation for an in- ternal complaint, and was brought home from that institution only a few days before he died. He was of a quiet disposition, and highly respected by all who knew him. He was a miner by calling, and had worked at the Tirbach Colliery. The funeral took place on Wednesday, when his mortal remains were buried at Bethania Cemetery. There was a large gathering of relatives and sympathisers, the Rev. W. T. Hughes, pastor of Beulah officiating. The Rev. D. J. Bassett, who is a native of Cwmtwrch, and a son of the Rpv. D. Bassett (Twrchfab), Gadlys, Aberdare, preached on Sunday at Beulah. At the Gilwen Colliery on Friday night of last week, Mr. Johnny Moses, residing at Tro'rgleien, met with a slight accident to his arm which will incapacitate him from working for some time. The members of the Cwmtwrch Welsh Society wish tp tender Ap Cledlyn their warmest thinks for his kindness in carving free of charge the prize chair, given at the recent, eisteddfod. Nos Lun diweddaf yng nghyfarfod y Gymdeithas Gymraeg, adroddodd Mr. Evan Kinsey ystori ddiddorol iawn i'r plant am "Y Merthyr Bach. Cynorth- wyd ef gyda Mri. Lewis Kinsey a Willie Williams, trwy ddangos gyda'r llusern gyfres ragorol o ddarluniau i egluro'r stori. Canmolwn. Mr. Kinsey ar ei ddewisiad o stori, am fod ei harwr yn wrthrych teilwng o efelychiad y plant. Nid gwaith 'rhwydd hefyd. yw dyddori torf o blant anesmwyth, ond llwyddodd i wneyd hynny yn neillduol dda. Daeth y tymor hwn o'r gymdeithas i ben trwy ddathliad Gwyl Dewi nos Fawith. The electors of Cwmtwrch residing in the Ystalyfera division have a genuine grievance at election times., Local government elections as a rule take place in March, and usually in boister- ous weather; and the tramp from Cwm- twrch to 'the Wern Schools is a long and disagreeable one. Now that so many more women are entitled to the vote, is it not possible to move the authorities to the extent of getting a polling booth at, say Beulah vestry? Councillor D. T. Jones would earn the gratitude of Cwmtwrch electors if he took up this matter with the County Council. Odl goffa i'm cyfaill y diweddar Gun- ner Edgar Phillips, R.F.A., Cwmtwrch Isaf. 0, mor hyfryd oedd dy gwmni, Cw *miii'r gwanwyn ac mor fyw Oedd dy eiriau ffraith. i'm llonni Fel alawon ar fy nghlyw 'Roedd dy wedd fel gwawr y bore, Llawn o obaith a mwynhad, I Ac ynghanol swyn dy chwarev ) Ti atebaist gorn y gad. Ti a geraist fyw'n naturiol, Byw yn ddidwyll oedd dy glod, Ac ymestyn i'r ysbrydol Drwy dy fywyd fu dy nod; Chwith yw'th golli annwyl Edgar, Daeth vr hwyrnos gyda'r wawr, Cwyno'r wyf yn nos fy ngalar, Trwm yw niwl y bedd yn awr. —Herbert J. Levi » Counoillor James Powell, the county representative for Palleg West at Bre- con for the last six years, has been re- turijed unopposed at the County Coun- cil elections. Mr. Powell is a Labourite, and has done excellent work on the dif- ferent committees for those whom he represents. He is also a prominent mem- ber of the Craftsmen's Union of the S.W.M.F., and a deacon at Bethel, Glantwrch. Gunner Herbert Griffiths, R.G.A., son of Mr. and Mrs. T. J. Griffiths, Cwmtwrch, has arrived home this week on 10 days' hospital leave. He was re- cently invalided home from the Rhine, and is at present in a Newcastle-on- Tyne hospital.

r I | Short-Sighted I Persons the'. fwant to bring the S m book close to their eyes. It means that the object looked at does not focus ( tgBKM the retina, the focu- comes in front-too soon-the eyeball is therefore too long. We cannot change the eyeball, so we change the focus. We put a lens in front of the eye which throws the focus back to the proper position. Call upon as and learn more about this important subject of defective vision. t C. F. WALTERS F.S.M.C., F.I.O. QUALIFIED OPTICIAN, j Oxford St., Swansea [ (Nearly opposite National SchüulT -J. A. KITLEY & CO., FOR I WREATHS. I Etc. FLORAL and ARTIFICIAL. Choice Cut Flowers and Table Plants. Oxford-st. & The'Market (Opp. Nat. Schools), (Central Stall) Tel. 431 Central. SWANSEA j FIREWOOD Q HARDY, ■ •» o o 20, Brecon Road, AJ PONT ARDA WE. t'fj W In tton lots and upwards 0 (X delivered, at 3/3 perewt 'Phone 38. t:1 FIREWOOD FS- Septic poisoning, following a kick re- ceived in a secondary school football match, caused the death at Llanelly of David Charles Lewis, aged 17. ❖ E. S. CHAPPELL ❖ LADIES' & GENTS' TAILOR SWANSEA Allows 10 per oent. discount ♦J» all discharged Sailors and Soldiers. »J»