Pioneer

I The Electric Theatre Few American authors hane a bigger British public than Kate Wiggis, whose "Levey Mary" and "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch" were amongst the first importations of the new school, preceding even the famous O. Henry. Literally millions have enjoyed those two books, and who- ever read them fell under the quiet charm, and real humanity of the work, and bought tha.t still better book I Rebeoca. of Sunnybrook Farm that followed it. It will therefore come as a real piece of joyful news to thousands in our town to learn that delightful little Rebecca and her straight-laced aunts are to be the main feature in the hohday programme at the Elec- tric next week. From Mondav to Thursday charming Mary Pickford will play Rebecca in a reraion of "Sunnvbrook Farm that is true to the book, and that reproduces that distinctive human touch that marks out the stories of Kate Wiggin's as work,; that will live for all time. This big feature has in no ways weakened the rest of the bill. Indeed, the whole is stronger than ever, for not only is there a Billy West extra special comedy The Government," but there is also one of those remarkable Triangle burlesques that the Electric was the first to in- troduce into this borough. For the closing half of next week. Paulino Frederick, that remarkable actress who played "Sapho" and "Bella Donna," is back in the greatest piece of work she has done since those classics of the screen—"The Love that Lives" is its title. The work is probably the finest pieoe of character presentation that the screen has over given us. In addition Pimple is fun- nier than ever in Pimple's Paralysing Per- formance," and there is an attractive list in- cluding a fine episode of the super-serial "The Red Ace." The presort week's programme have been ones of real delight. The main feature for the Mon- day half, "Prisons Without Walls," being one of the finest top liners ever projected anywhere; though it is easily equalled bv the old-time drama The Winning of Sally Temple," that is being so much talked about this end of the ses- sion..Fanny Ward's work as the Queen of Old Drury is amongst the best we have seen. Pimple has a strong comedy as a "P.C. and there is a full attractive list. By the way, I should like to congratulate the management on the im- provement in its orchestra.

LITERARY. UNITARIAN PAMPHLETS on The Bible," LJ Heaven," and Hell," given post free. —Miss BA&KVT, Mount Pleasant, Sidmouth. NOTICE OF AUDIT. MERTHYR TYDFIL COUNTY BOROUGH FOOD CONTROL COMMITTEE. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVES that I have appointed the AUDIT OF THE AC- COUNTS for the period ended the 31st day of March last, of the above-named Food Control Committer, and of any committee appointed by them and of their officers, to commence on Tuesday, the 2Sth day of May, 1918, at 10 o'clock in the forenoon at the Town Hall, Mer- thyr Tydfil, when and where the Executive Officer,, and the several other officers of the said Committee who are bound to account at such, Audit are severally required to attend, and produce all books, bills, accounts, vouchers and other documents containing or relating to the Account* then to be audited in the custody or power of each person .-espectivery. DATED this 2nd day of May, 1918. M. D. PROBERT, district Auditor.

An Open Letter to Arthur Henderson I DKUt MR. HENDERSON,—This letter is ad- dressed to you because you wield a huge amount of influence as the Secretary and one of the chief spokesmen of the Labour Party. You have written a book upon the Aims of La- bour." You represent a middle body of opinion between the left and right wings of the pro- gressive forces. Under the stress of an ap- parent COMMUNITY of interest with the master- class, in the early days of the war you entered the Cabinet; but the more recent door-mat. incident turned many of your critics into your defenders and admirers, and partly swept away the sorry associations of that alliance. Through the war the anguish of a bereaved parent has been voure. A reading of your exposition of too aims of Labour leaves the conviction that you, like many of your fellow-workers, entered the war to defend high ideals and with hands which you sincerely intended to keep cljpan and empty, and that you are resolved to build a new social order upon the ruins of the old. jA REGRETTABLE HESITANCY. I Yot. somehow beneath your future plans and immediate attitude there lvmains a regrettable hesitancy. A tendency to wait until the end of the war before working for this change to wait nationally self-righteous for Germany to reform HER evils; to postpone action; IT-IA (piliv from hehilld; and await events instc-ad of shaping them. Despite the almighty influence of the press and its deliberate- perversions a.nd tbo inexpediency of forcing a political fight upon the old register and with a half-developed party organisation, there aro many factors at work erecting a considerable body of opinion which seems to lack and wait the courageous expression it demands. If the spokesman of Labour does not attempt to break the hypnotic spell, who will?. To be even partially silent is to share in the resulting shame when the tide is fully turned. UNVEILED. I The ruthless Man-Power Bill brings the real- ity of wa.r into thousands of homes. The budget proposals will have a sure, if slow, effect. Industrial conscription is an undoubted fact. Tho authorities have made at least one attempt to use O.O.'R under the Home Office. Scheme strike-breakers. Propaganda and the in- creased circulation of Socialist papers are having their effect. More people tha.n ever are con- vi nced of the ulterior motives of our ?overnin? class. Imperialism in all itA stark-naked, bru- ?aJ u?an<?a is b?in? inc??asin?iy unr?ilod in every land. No person now WANTS to go. A victory upon the field is recognised as an in- possibility by most civilians and soldiers alike, and fortunately D.O.R.A. is not present it many of the conversations of the latter. AN APPEAL. You, Mr. Henderson, cannot be unaware of these factors. You must know that our hato of militarism is being widened to include our own. The dangers of delay must be app&re.nt especially to one who is in hope of great ad- vances by a peio,-ful revolution; who stands for the restoration of all our pre-war liberties and against continued enmity by economic, war.. A s a worker expressing the thoughts of many of my fellows, I appeal to you to oome out with an immediate clear-cut lead at thi critical ?un<?ure. Only by the overthrow of our pre- f?ent rulers and their K n00k-out Blow" policy will the war be ended. This is the premise to all else in the programme and future of La- bour politically or industrially. Undoubtedly your courage would be represented as cowardice in some quarters, and oven a section of the workers may misundorstand for a while. But to help end the drifting of the world into fur- ther barbarism, to aid in the cessation of this holocaust, would be to win undying renown and the wholehearted admiration of the men and womon who are the real soul of the Labour Movement. What finer commencement to the enlarged political activities of Labour could be imagined. Let the new class ri se now out of the wreck of the old. In anticipation that this appeal will not he in vain.—Yours sincerely, I' WAGF WORKKR. I

New Theatre Manager. I I am glad to find Mr. Fred Dry has so com- pletely recovered from his recent illness to take over in toto the management of the Royal. Mr. Dry will, I am sure, quickly win the kudos of our people, for he has had wide experience 111 the vei-v heart of English plavgoing—Manches- ter; and, wha.t is of more importance, he has a personality that one is quickly on terms of friendship with. I know the Broadhead houses on which Mr. Dry has won the respect of his chiefs, the goodwill of his audiences, and the approbation of staff and artistes, and I know that what was good enough for the Broadhead tours, and in particular the Hulme Hippodrome, will be plenty good enough for Merthyr if its scope is unrestricted. Mr. Dry had several cihoioes when he accepted the berrth at the Theatre Royal, including a Grimsby house, where lie was selected from amongst about fifty applicants. Mr. Dry speaks very highly indeed of his late employer, Mr. Percy Broadhead-as "the best man in vaudeville to work for," and I know that the esteem is mutual for I have seen a letter from Mr. Brjadhead that speaks in unqualified terms of Mr. Dry's work during the fourteen years he was with the great Northern houses. I am positive that nothing but failing health would liave loosened the bond that existed between these two, and whilst I am pleased that Mr. Dry has oome to us at the expense of Hulme, and Mr. Broad- head, J can still sympathise with his feelings of regret at leaving Cottonopolis. Before taking up with the Broadhead houses Mr. Dry served under the country's greatest "props"-—Mr. Flannigan, and he himself can set to .and make anything that a company may require. I wish him the best of luck, health and enjoyment during his management of the RoyaJ. PLAYGOER. I

"Peace Offensive" in The House. MR. BALFOUR QUESTIONED BY OURS." FULLY APPROVED OF WHAT LORD ROBERT CECIL SAID. The Peace. Group again forced forward the question oi the Lord Robert Cecil "Peace (Of- fensive interview in the House of Commons on Monday when Mr. Ponsonby asked M#. Bal- four (Foreign Secretary) whether the Minister of Blockade was acting under instructions when, -it the reception of Americall correspondents last week, lie referred to the possible offer as a jxvaee offensive, to be directed very largely against Great Britain, thereby implying that, whatever the nature of the terms might be, they would be rejected; and whether this re- presented the attitude of his Majesty's Gov- ernment. Mr. Balfour replied t-hat he fully approved of what Lord Robert had said. He was un- to follow what Mr. Ponsonby meant in sup- posing that Lord Robert's words implied that Ls mplied that ]',U"e offers would be rejected, and the refer- ences which ho (Lord Robert) was supposed to have made to the presence of a Gorman emis- sary in the country in the shape of a distin- guished neutral were wholly imaginary. -N tr. P<)n.<m b Mr. Ponsonby: Are offensives not generally I esisted «J I give notice that on Thursday I will raise the-question of the repeated failures of our diplomacy. "CONVENIENT AND USEFUL." Mr. J--e('t; Smith asked Mr. Balfour whether Lord R. Cecil informed him of hits intention "before giving his interview to the Pi ess. Mr. Balfour: As far as I remember he did not. Why should he? (Laughter.) Mr. Lees Smith asked whether the Minister of Blockade could be prevented from making unauthorised statements in new of the iact that on the previous occasion hin statement had to be repudiated by the Foreign Seoi/etary himself. Mr. Balfour I do not agree with the hon. gentle man's history. In my opinion the inter- views of my noble friend with the correspon- dents are convenient and useful in the' public M'T^TOO. Mr. Snowden; Is it proper for an Under- Secretary, on his own, without consulting his isuperior, to make important announoements with regard to policy? HAS HE READ IT? Mr. Balfour: There was no announcement of policy, so far as I can remember. To what does my hon. friend refer Mr. Snowden Has the right hon. gentleman treated this interview, as he treated Count Hertling's spee«h ? Has he read it? Mr. Balfour: I halve read it, and I suppose my hon. friend haw. I hn.ve not discovered any announcement of policy. Has her Mr. Snowden: Yes. Mr. Balfour: What is it? (Laughiter.) The fepeaJcer: The hon. member will answer that on Thursday. (Renewed laughter.) Mr. Balfour, replying to a number of ques- tians. as to Mr. Lloyd George's knowledge of the Emperor Karl's peace terms, said that it woruid not be in the public interest to discuss the subject in question and answer. The French Government, which was primarily concerned. waA considering the whole matter, and he would put the House in immediate possess ion of any official, statement which they might issue. fr. Lees-Smith: Does the light hon. gentle- man mean to indicate that tlm, people of this country have no right to any infor-mation as to the reasons for a decision which is leading to tJbe loss of millions of Jin>?

it Arthur Henderson at Wrexham. BREAKDOWN OF CAPITALIST SYSTEM. FEDERAL HOME RULE FOR WALES. Speaking on the Labour Party R-eeonstfue- tion programme at the annual meeting of the North Wales Trades and Labour Council at Wrexham last Saturday, Mr. Arthur Hender- son, LP., tid that the problems of reconstruc- tion and of demobilisation must be faced with courage and determination. In the achieve- ment of their Ideals one of the first essentials must be the reorganisation of the Labour Party on such a basis as t.olJ('Come a real people's party. They must have a party unit- ing all those members of the community whose labour, mental and manual, produced the fabulous wealth which. if equitably distributed would provide a fair standard of life for all, and which would go far towards paying for the i eeonstructing of society. NO ECONOMIC WAR. wril,t asked the people to realise, and ho thought this war had clearly proved it, was that the capitalistic system, as they had known it., had broken down. In its new programme the Labour Party recognised and accepted the principle of the right of all nations, small or Hf'<?t, to t-hoo? for thMnsoiv? the form under which they win live. Th?y d<uioun?d?nnd r?- pndiat?d T.h? idea of all' economic war after Tli-, ldf,,i of ?iii w.,i. ,Tpr revive all the old antagonisms, divide the na- tions into opposing camps, and lead again to secret diplomacy and competitive armaments. THE'RIGHT OF WALES. La bour was convinced that all countries in- cluding Wales, had a. right to autonomous government. The party would fx- pledged to a scheme of separate legislative assemblies in the four countries of the United Kingdom, so that each of those countries could administer and legislate upon matters that were exclusively its own concern. The most patriotic. Welshman would acknowledge that as a political forco Welsh nationalism was still undeveloped. Welsh- men, he ventured to say, aimed at a great deal more than the preservation of annient customs. He hoped their nationalism meant the vigorous development of the material and moral re- sources of the whole people and a keener inter- est in the social and economic problems which awaited solution in the Principality. it? m Pr i n(,t i r?.tl it,v. A feature of the proceedings was the M- nouncement of the quickening interest in La- bour that is manifesting itself amongst the agricultural labourers of North Wales, in con- nection with whom no fewer than 30 trades union branches have. now been ootablished in the area. The membership of the Council now stands at at 30,000. A resolution urging the formation of local Trades and Labour Qouncils in every country or Parliamentary electoral district, with the present council as the "central executive body was unanimously adopted.

The World for the Workers ONE of the most significant political moves of the past few months is that which is being en- ginred in the direction of federal home rule for the three constituent kingdoms of Great Britain. It is true that small groups of na- tionalists have long cherished the idea of home rule for Scotland a,nd Wales, but these have been few in numbers and unbacked in their de- mands bv a.ny considerable portion of the resi- dents in such countries. Unlike Ireland, neither Wales nor Scotland has produced from their soil that intense spontaneous and real demand for autonomy that aJone should actuate politi- cians in tampering with the constitution. But as we have observed, that depiand is now being pressed forward; and fortunately or unfortun- ately it has become one of the planks in the platform of the new laibour Party, and an im- portant one at that if we are COITeot, in inter- preting Mr. Arthur Henderson's speech at Wrexham last Saturday as having a meaning more sincere than that of merely scoring cheap rhetorical applause at a meeting of Welshmen. Personally, we do not doubt Mr. Henderson's perfect sincerity; it is being too well attested in the strenuousness with which he is throwing himself into the work of consolidating the new Labour Party into an effective Democratic poli- tical party to admit of doubt. But practical politics call for something more vital than an ab- stract right such as might be argued for Home Rule in the main island of Britain; though on the contrary an abstract right may very easily be fanned into a glowing flame long enough to de- ploy the great bulk of a people down a false path, when they might have been marching to a much more practical solution of their econo- mic difficulties than is represented by the fever- ish campaign for that whioh will not right a ingle fundamental wrong in present society. The ignis fatuus is a common and deplorable feature of political history. More than ever before is it necessary for the Democratic foroee of the nation to see to it that they do not allow the people of these isles to be decoyed into chasing such will-o' -the-wisps as these federal home rule schemes may prove, when the stu- pendous problems of reconstruction and re- organisation are calling for the concentrated energy of the people; and demanding the dis- play of the clearest sighted statesmanship, and most devoted ability of Labour's leaders. Home Rule does not in South Wales come from the people; there is no spontaneous demand for it except from a few whose purposes may be per- fectly honest and genuine, though we ourselves see in them more of personal ambition allied to a determination to scotch the growing Socialism of the coalfield by any and every means, than we do of sincerity. The argument that alone serves the propaganda of Home Rule, for Wales allows the weakness of its basis. There is nothing in that propaganda to prove that the demand is a germane one arising from the soil, footed deep in the life of the people, or vested in the very history of the nation as we find it in Ire- land. No, the reason we are to desire Home Rule is because the Central Executive at West- minster is overworked and cannot* spare the time that is necessary to adequately do its work of governing the nation, controlling our Foreign Policy, and regulating the relationship between the Mother Country and her colonies and dependencies. Personally we do not believe that the cause of the bad management of the past is to be found so much in the lack of time, as in the lack of inclination to determinedly at- tack the home problems that more and more have tended to become not Welsh, Scotch, or English problems so much as great and univer- sal problems. It is ridiculous to think of de- centralising such problem* as a National Medi- cal Service, Housing, Education, Social Hygiene, which in their very nature call for a generous measure of solution not for Wales or Scotland or England alone, but for all three. If Wales has special problome, and in matters of public health it b.,i;F-that call for a decentralisation, it is not a decentralisation of legislative author- ity, but the establishment of branches of such offices as the Local Government Board that can deal specifically and from a convenient centre with the problems of the Principality. Home Rule is a mirage that may easily decoy us fur- ther and further into the arid desert of politics as they have always been played. Too long have the high flavoured red-herrings of politics been used to beguile the people into gambling away their franchises on issues that always meant heads the Capitalists win, tails I lose anyhow." What matters to the worker is that real recon- struction shall be the key-note of politics in the future; reconstruction, that is, that recognises the economic basis of poverty, of crime, of all the evils that assail soeiety, including the stu- penduous evil of world war itself, and that wages war unceasingly and with clear vision upon the economic chaos of Imperialistic Capi- talism, by challenging it in the name of social ownership for social usage. We cannot solve those economio difficulties by establishing a le- gislative assembly at Cardiff or Tonypandy, those eoonomic evils are as oommon to the Dur- ham coalfields as they are to the Scottish and Welsh coalfield areas; and our effort is not to partition the country politically. The whole tendency industrially is to lop off the autonomy of -f?-unionimn; to oonaohdate into a big móoi1e army the workm?s of the nation aa3 thence to ex-tend the ramifications until the nation is swallowed into the international grand army of Democracy. Why then should we in poli- tics adopt a principle diametrically opposed to our practical experience on the field of indus- trial organisation? Not" Wales for the Welsh- man is our cry, but the "World for the Workers." Anything that hinders, be it but for a day or an hour, the realisation of our watch- word has no place in the political faith of a Social-Democrat. Once we get the foundations in firm we will soon put the superstructure up fair, plumb, beautiful and oonvenient. On then, comrades, let us dig those foundations aright.

SYMPATHY STRIKE IN THE LORDS. I The engineers employed at the House of Lords I have, it appears, struck in sympathy with some trade dispute which has arisen in another part I of the country.