Pioneer

The Labour Fights in Cardiff. I ENTHUSIASTIC MEETINCS IN THE CITY. I ENC CANTON MEETINC FOR JIMMY I EDMUNDS. CORY HALL DEMONSTRATION FOR I SATURDAY. Labour is contesting the three seats in Car- diff. The candidates are: J. E. Edmunds, nomi- nated by the I.L.P. A. Williams (N.U.R), and J. T. Clatw orthy (Coaltriminers), and they are all three pushing the campaign vigorously by outdoor and indoor meeting. COALITION. I Joint meetings are being held both at the Docks and in the town. The candidates are everywhere well received and the workers give our candidates good reception. J. H. THOMAS' VISIT. I Several big meetings have been held in Cory Hall, and next Saturday afternoon a great day is expected. Mr. J. H..Thomas, M.P., will speak in the Cory Hall in support of the La- bour candidates in Cardiff and district. THE ONE bISABILITY. I What is deplored is that The Hall available is so small. On Saturday, December 7th, there will be another great rally, when Mr. A. Hender- son will be the principal speaker. EDMUNDS FOR CARDIFF. I Jimmy Edmunds is going great guns, getting unanimous support at every meeting. Dinner- hour meetings are largely attended and are very enthusiastic. A WORTHY CONVERT. On Tuesday in Canton Secondary School we held a splendid meeting with unanimous support. Jimmy was ably supported by his father, who stated that he had been a life-long worker in the Liberal cause, but was now convinced that the only hope for workers was found in the La- bour programme. THE CRIMINAL COALITION. I After reference to his connection with the ward and his five years' service as a ward re- presentative on the Board of Guardians, lie in- dicted the ramshackle Coalition Government for their criminal act of political profiteering by precipitating a General Election at the present moment. It was significant that the Coalition Government had the undivided support of the Tory Party. It represented the combined inter- ests of Land and Capital, and it was evident they were determined to stand together in their common defence. PLAYINC WITH REFORMS. I The Coalition programme such as it was raised the question of Health and Housing. This was not the first time that Lloyd George had tin- kered with the problem of Health. Evidently t-lie rare and refreshing fruits" had not yet arrived. The workers had not received 9d. for 4d. Their Housing proposals would end in petti- fogging patchwork as the basis of any housing reform essentially depended upon vigorous hand- ling of the land question. THE ONLY BASIS. I The pre-war conception of Society was that human beings must be organised for the utmost production of wealth. Jimmy demanded ifhat the post-war conception must be the organisation of the production and distribution. of wealth to secure the best possible human lives, SUPPORTED BY A DISCHARCED SOLDIER. Another supporter of the Labour candidate was Mr. Davies, an N.C.O. in the first Canadian Contingent, who in an eloquent address stated his reasons why lie, now a discharged soldier, thought it his duty to publicly support the La- bour Party. He showed how if a discharged sol- dier was to obtain adequate pension and full re- cognition of his rights it would be useless rely- ing on men who themselves had never faced the hardships of the poor, such as almost all Coali- tion candidates, but rather how much more sym- pathy could be got from those who had lived with the discharged soldier and who knew ex- actly his wants. For instance, what confidence could be placed in the profiteers who, whilst the boys had been in the trenches, had themselves been reaping their harvest at home at the expense of the de- pendents of the soldiers. The Canadian discharged soldier, owing to bet- ter treatment by the Canadian Government, was faring infinitely better than the British Tommy, and lie stated that amongst Colonial troops it was freely expressed that the British soldier must be keeping his eyes shut. Not that he got treated too well, but how much better was his treatment than that meted out to the English soldier. He showed how lie had to leave his homeland Wales some years before the Avar, because owing to the industrial, system and not through any fault of his own he could not make both ends meet, and he had to emigrate or get on the scrap-heap. Mr. Davies is an accountant by profession, and a worthy asset to the Labour forces in Cardiff. His speech was very impres- sive, and it was a pity there were not more of our ex-khaki boys nresent. A motion of confluence in Mr. J. E. Edmunds was put to the meeting and carried unanimously.

Death of 4od. I ODIOUS RECULATION WITHDRAWN. I Election time is generally the time of small concessions by the retiring ministry as sops to catch more votes, and this has not proved an exception, though the concessions have amount- ed to an efnpty nut, or not much more, for the only one of any importance is the withdrawal of the notorious and detestable 40D Regulation, which had, before an election had been even dreamed of, called forth the execration of every decent-minded woman and man in the nation; an execration that must have resulted in the staying of the attempts to fasten the odious thing upon the people for all £ ime as a statute law, and the death of 40D itself at the earliest pos- sible date.

NEATH WORKERS VOTE FOR MORGAN

11 Merthyr Notes Winstone's Congratulations. Speaking at Clwydvfagwr, Mr. James Win- stone, Labour and anti-Coalitionist candidate for Merthyr, congratulated the workers of the Cyfarthfa Ward on returning to the Borough Council in the Labour interest, Mr. John Wil- liams. This, he said, was one of the greatest victories for Labour for some time in the bor- ough. Merthyr Printer's Death. Mr. Isaac Llewellyn Davies, printer and book- seller, High-street. Merthyr. died on Thursday from influenza at the age of 52 years. Influenza: 28 Deaths. Twenty-eight deaths from influenza occurred at Merthyr hist week, an increa.se of twenty cases on the. fignres for the previous week. David John's Estate. Mr. David John, of 3, Iron-lane, Georgetown, Merthyr, deputy-mayor for Merthyr, member of the Merthyr Town Council, formerly in business with his father at the Vulcan Foundry in Georgetown, who died on the 22nd September last, intestate, and a widower, aged 74 years, son of Mr. Matthew John, and grandson of the Rev. David John, left estate valued at £ 1,542 gross, with net personalty £ 1,011. Letters of administration have been granted to his daugh- ter, Mrs. Anne Jane Thomas, wife of Mr. Wil- liam Thomas.

Briton Ferry Notes John Maclean's Release. The Briton Ferry Trades and Labour Council at its last meeting had before it the letter of Mrs. Macle;1,n—-wife of John Maclean—descrip- tive of his sufferings at the hands of the prison authorities, and it was unanimously' decided to press for his immediate release. The resolution embodying the demand is to be sent to the pro- per quarters. The I.L.P. Concert. -1 After being refused the Town Hall the I.L.P. luckily secured the use of the Grand Theatre, Aberavon, for their concert of Saturday last. From n musical standpoint, as well as from thp social and enjoyable point of view, the con- cert was easily one of the best ever held in the town, and the thanks of the movement are due to the well-known artistes who rendered solos and concerted numbers, as well as to the Neath Male V oiee Party for their splendid services. I The concert closed with the rendering of the Red Flag;" by all present. Safe for Democracy. The usual meeting of the T.L.P. was held in the Bible Christian Chapel last Sunday, when D. L. Mort's exposition of that common phrase: Making the world safe for Democracy," was more satisfying to the reasoning faculties than the Coalitionist-capitalistic interpretation of the phrase. Indeed, orthodox politicians would pro- bably have turned white with fear had they heard Mr. Mort's explanation of the only way in which the world can be made safe for any- body, though there was nothing "Bolshevik "— using the term in its erroneous popular sense— about his utterances. Councillor Ed. Hutchin- son was an excellent chairman. Lifting. The ban on the local Public Hall is now par- tially lifted. The authorities are graciously pre- pared to tolerate week-day meetings, but Sun- day gatherings are still taboo.

Pontypridd Notes. Aye! Coed Luck. Councillor D. L. Davies, the Labour nominee for this Parliamentary division is an I.L.P.'er, is the local sub-agent for the miners, and is a very popular and strong candidate. Good luck to him. Owen's Cood Crowd. Comrade Owen Hughes was last Sunday even- ing's meeting speaker at the I.L.P. Hall. De- spite the rain, there was a, splendid attendance to listen to him. Oliver Jenkins chaired. Plenty of questions were asked, and Pioneers" were sold out.

The Electric Theatre None of the American dramas of the film possess such a glamour to the British mind as tales of the adventurous North-West. Such an one is "orth of 53," the bill-topper on Mon- day's programme at the Merthyr Electric Theatre, a story vibrating with life and' move- ment, accurately portrayed in setting and true in characteirsation. In the leads are Dustin Farnum, brisk and vigorous as alwavs, and Winifred Kingston, making an admirable hero- ine. Kinecture comedies are something new in film-farces, and the first of a series to be fea- tured at the Electric Theatre. The Haunted Hotel, is full of promise of hilarious moments. Chaplin will he found at his funniest in his latest revival, "Charlie's Elopement," and Judex's further exploits reach a gripping climax in the current instalment. On Thursday the big-reeler is The Branded Soul," tensely dramatic and spectacluar, the tale of a modern St. Cecilia, with Gwladvs Brock- well in the leading character. "A Neighbour's Keyholf," is a typical Sunshine comedy, and Eddi0 Polo provides more thrills in the Bull's Eye" serial instalment. Pathe's Gazette and news pictorial are included in each show.

Tories Support Coalition at Merthyr and Aberdare. Merthyr and Aberdare Conservative and Unionist Association on Wednesday decided not to run a candidate in either the Merthyr or Aberdare divisions, and to urge followers of the party to support the Coalition candidates, Sir Edgar Jones and Mr. C. B. Stanton. E- ¡

I Y Frwydr Fawr. I YN ERBYN LAFUR. Mat:>'r rliyfel drosodd ar gyfandir Ewrop dig- wyddiad ym mywyd gwerinoedd y byd oedcl hono. Mae'r fu rydr fawr wedi dechreu brwydr rhwng -t b wed a cyfalaf a llafur; brwvdr rhwng eaethiwed a rhyddid: brw vdr rhwng celwydd a gwirionedd: brwydr rhwng y gweithwyr a'r segurwyr. Galwaf y gweithwyr i'r gad. O'r diwedd y mae'r Rhyddfrvdwyr a'r Toriaid wedi uno a'u gilvdd goncro Llafur. Yr uyf wedi ceisio dangos drwy'r blynyddau fod y ddwy blaid yn sefyll dros yr un peth. Bellach mae'n amlwg fod hyny yn wir. Mae concro Ymgeiswvr Llafur yn bwysicach yrig ngholwg y Llvwodraeth na choncro Germany. Yti wir, y iiiae Llwodraethwyr Prydam a Hywo- draethwyr Germany wedi bod yn ymladd gyda'u gilvdd ers dros flwyddyn yn erbyn y gweithwyr yn Russia. B?Ua<'h mac cyfle'r gweithwyr wedi dod. Rhaid i'r Chwvldroad Cdeithasol ddod yn ffaith. Nis gellir ei osgoi. Nid cwestiwn o ddcwis ydyw. Yn 01 cwrs bywyd y byd rhaid i'r Ciiii- i-ldi-ota ddod. Gall ddod drwv i weithwyr ddanfon dynion i'r Senedd i sefydlu cvfundrefn gymdeithasol newvdd; neu gall ddod drwy alluoedd y tu allan i'r Senedd. Dywed Lloyd George nad oes arno ofn Chwyld- road; gwyr yn dda v gall gad w'r gweithwyr yn dain-el ag wns o fenyn yr w ythnos. Gwyr fod addewidion teg wedi denu'r gweithwyr i bleidlei- sio ganwaith dros gyfalafwyr. Da genyf fod y Prif Weinidog wedi taflu ei goelbren gyda'r Toriaid o'r diwedd. Gwvddom ble yr ydym yn sefyll o'r diwetld. Y mae wedi mabwsiadu rhaglen y Toriaid yn gyfan. Mae Diffvndollaeth, ar ei raglen; nid oes Ymreolaeth i't- Iwerddon nid oes Dadgysylltiad i Gymru. Call enill yn yr etholiad liwn ond v r11ao ei ddydd ar ben. Bydd digwyddiadau y ddwy flynedd nesaf yn si or o agor llygaid y gweithwyr i weld pwy yw eu evfeillion. Dywedodd Mr. Bonar Law fod rhaglen Mr. Lloyd George yn debyg fawn i raglen y Toriad, Nid yw Mr. Lloyd George y dyn oeddwn wedi feddwl ei foci;" meddai arweiniwr y Toriai<l. Gwir hob gair. Meddylnxld Rawer ei fod yn earn heddwch ond profocld ei lixin yn ryfelwr lieb ei fath. Credodd llawer ei fod yn erhyn arglwyddi a thirfeddian- wyr: ond y mac wedi crcu arglwvddi in-i-bli y dwseni. Credodd Rawer oi fod yn caru c-ydwy- bod ond y mae arwvr cvdwybod yn y carcliarau wrth y miloedd. A fyn gweithwyr Cvmru i'r gwrtligiliwr mawr fod yn ben ? Carwn apelio at famau Cymru. Mae Gor- fodiaetli Filwrol yn gyfraith gwlad. Mamau sydd wedi dioddef fwyaf v pedair blvnedd hyn. Map calon mam yr un fath ym mliob gwlad. Os caiff Lloyd George fynd yn ol i awdurdod bydd bob hachgen yn gorfod uno fyddin yn ddeunaw oed, rliyfel neu beidio. Unodd miloedd o feehgyn yn ii-ii-foddol dan y dyhiaeth mae dyma'r rhyfel diweddaf. Ond yn lie hyny, y mac y Hywodraethwyr yn dechreu siarad eisioes am rhyfpl araB, Y mae Mr. Winston Churchill wedi ?(,I"-eyd ar y nawfed o Tachwedd: Er fod Ger- many w edi ei maeddu, gall fod anrhefn yn Rus- sia, yn Persia, yn y Balkans, yn China, ac yn Mexico, yn galw am arfau rhyfel, ac am gymorth milwrol oddi wrthym." Cyn fod cyrff y miloedd wedi oeri, bygythir rhyfel arall. A yw mamau yn foddlon i hyny gvmeryd lie? Mae ein cyfle wedi dod i daro ergyd marwol i Filwriaeth drwy bleidleiso dros ymgeiswyr llafur. Ar y bedwarydd ar ddeg o Ragfur cofied gweithwyr Cymru am eu ffrindiau. Nid heb reswm mae y Toriaid a'r Rhyddfrydwyr wedi uno i goncro plaid llafur. Uned y gweith- wyr a'u gilydd eto i gadw allan yr ymgeiswyr sydd wedi addaw cefnogi'r Llywodraeth yn ei mesurau i ladd gweriniaoth ym mliob gwlad. Yr eiddoch dros achos geriniaeth. T. E. NICHOLAS. I

T LLOYDS BANK LIMITED. IRM OFFICE: 71, LOMAM SIUM EC COLODML AND FOREIGN DEPARTMENT: 17, GMMHUi, u. I. I, ————————— t This Bank possesses exceptional facilities for the transfer of moneys to or from France, including i payments against documents, &c., in connection i with its French Auxiliary, 18 LLOYDS BANK (FRANCE) A NATIONAL PROVINCIAL BANK (FRANCE) LTD., of 60, Lombard St., E.C. 3 Paris (3, Place de l'Opera), Biarritz, Bordeaux, Havre, Marseilles and Nice. vS q——crnmmtPHWIII—MN W—MP—W——————MM—— I

Ireland's Argument. I I MERTHYR SPEAKER FRAMES AN INDICT-I MENT OF COALITION AND EX-PREMIER. I An important meeting of the Robert Emmet Branch of the United Irish League of Great Britayi, Merthyr TydfiL was held on Sunday at Kentley's Hall. The President, Mr. D. Hennessy, occupied the chair and was supported by Mr. T. J. Barry, vice-president; Mr. M. Mahony, trea- surer; Mr. Jas Sarsfield, secretary, and others. Correspondence was read from the hon. organ- izer, Mr. Joseph Keating, re conference at Car- diff next Sunday, and it was decided to be re- presented there. Tho President delivered an address which was loudly applauded, in the course of which he dealt with the very unfair misrepresentation of Ireland's contributions to the fighting forces. Ireland had contributed 375,000 men voluntarily, and this from a country that had been bled white by emigration for, during the 60 years previous to 1914. the population of Ireland had dimin- ished from 8 millions to 4 V millions, and 40,000 emigrants on an average per year left the shores of Ireland-fleeting from cruel laws at home-- their ages being between 18 years and 45 years, and then Ireland was expected to supply the same proportion as the countries where the Irish emigrants had rushed to. Again every Irish- man joining in this country was credited to Great Britain. FALSE CREDIT. The speaker was Secretary of the Ancient Order of Hiherniaus Benefit Society at Merthyr Tdyfil, and from this small society alone nearly 200 men had joined the Forces—Irishmen all, yet everyone of them was credited to Wales. In Liverpool and London and on the Tyneside the Irishmen joined not in units, but in brigades, such as the Liverpool Irish,- London Irish, and the Tyneside Irish Brigade, not to speak of the Colonies, and the U.S.A., of which nearly one- half the army and navy are Irish. Still Ireland was expected from her depleted population, where the proportion of fighting men owing to long generations of persecution had been reduced to one-half what it is in this or any other normal country in the world, to fight on every battle- field in Europe to win freedom for every other nationality and to make the world safe for demo- cracy in every country but their own. In the beginning of this war Irishmen rushed to the colours with enthusiasm, and Irish blood was spilt like water, though now that is all for- gotten. Tens of thousands of Irishmen have perished in this war. Ireland's contribution a lone has been as great as Australia and greater than any State in America, and if at the latter portion of the war there has not been the same enthusiasm in Ireland in the matter of recruit- ing the government of the country is to blame; they have broken pledge after pledge and told our people we were to be denied the benefits and liberties we entered this war to vindicate for other races. THE REASON OF IT. All these attacks and abuse have been levelled at us bemuse the people of Ireland refused to be conscripted. But Australia and South Africa, both enjoying the blessings of self-determination, refused to be conscripted—but they are not called disloyal, and no one suggests they stood aside. General Botha declared he would never allow South Africa to be conscripted, and still he is one of our delegates to the peace confer- ence. In Australia a plebiscite was taken and the people rejected conscription. But in Ireland no body of public opinion was consulted—the Bill was to be passed over their heads and with- out their consent. rl1 this country our representatives in Parlia- ment agreed to it, and the Prime Minister went down to tho British Trades Union Congress to consult their members, but refused to consult tho Irish Trades Unioti Congress, and treated them with oontempt. OF NO IMPORTANCE. He shows now as ever that while public opinion in Great Britain must be satisfied, public opinion in Ireland does not count. In the early years of the war, when Irishmen flocked to the colours they were repeatedly insulted by the re- cruiting authorities, and in many cases they were told they did not want Catholics and Na- tionalists—they were unwelcome arguments for Home Rule, and they told them to go back, and they would fetch, them later when they had con- scription. Continually the threat of conscription was held over their heads, and when the matter was exposed in the House of Commons, Lloyd George admitted it and declared that the stupid- ities and ineptitudes of the War Office were ap- palling, and yet now he is out to vilify the Irish people because they resented these very methods. In conclusion the speaker asserted that Ireland would never bo contented until she was allowed the God-given right to manage her own affairs, and advised Britain to try the experiment so successful elsewhere of allowing the majority to rule. J.S.

After Clynes-Brace. WHY HE IS RESICNINC. Mr. William Brace, under-secretary for Home Affairs, is to withdraw from the Coalition Gov- ernment in accordance with the decision of the uational conference of the Labour Party to re- sume immediate political independence. His intention to resign was announced in a* speech at Crumlin on Sunday. He said that for a time he was doubtful as to whether he ought. to observe the Labour Conference's decision and withdraw from the Coalition Government. In certain circumstances he thought it just pos- sible that he might continue as a Labour minis- ter in the Coalition Government until peace terms were agreed to, send in his resignation then and return to his duties as president of the South Wales Miners' Federation and miners' M.P. However, he was forced to the conclusion that if he adopted that course he would not be as helpful to the nation as he would wish, as no Labour minister could do his best work with- out sympathetic help from his colleagues and the. class he represented. As he did not feel he- could depend upon that he had come to the de- cision, after much consideration, that he was unable to accept office under the new Coalition Government. To continue as a member in the Government even if it meant his being divorced from the Miners' Federation and its activities, was one of those things he could not consider. If we were to have a satisfactory peace, with or without a Coalition Government, this free people should be united behind the Government. He believed in Government by the majority and lie had as much objection to tyranny among the working-classes as among other sections. He regretted the leaving of the Food Ministry by Mr. Clynes, who (he remarked), like himself, felt he cou ld not carry out the grave and re- sponsible duties if there were any suspicions at all. He was of the opinion we should regret sooner or later that the Food Controller was not. a Labour man.

The Herald" and The Hall HOW LABOUR CAN CHANCE OPINIONS'. ELECTRICIANS CAUSE FREE SPEECH EMBARGO TO BE LIFTED. Last Saturday the Herald should have been the holders of a great meeting in the- Albert Hall, London, for the purpose of discus- sing the transference of that bright weekly into, a daily organ of democracy at the earliest pos- sible moment, but the HaU authorities suddenly discovered that they had objections—presumably political ones—to the utterance of revolution- ary words" in their sedate building, and acting on the presumption that a business meeting such. as was to be held would be conducted to the tune of "revolutionary" utterances, they can- celled the letting of the Hall. THE" COME BACK." But the anti-revolutionary authorities either have failed to learn, or knowing had forgotten that the Herald possesses no small weight amongst the trades unionists of the nation, and particularly of London, and that proved a tragic error on their part. First of all the members of the Electrical Trades Union declared war on the Hall authorities by cutting off the current at the main outside the Hall, and when it was pointed out that the cable could be repaired the union members retorted that if it. was touched they would withdraw all their labour from the Kensington Power Station, and so plunge the borough in darkness. By six in the evening the action had produced the desired result, the Albert Hall authorities capitulated and an- nounced that the Hall would be at the disposal of the Heratdites" for their demonstration next Saturday, The only victims of this short, sharp, and incisive industrial war was the Royal Choral Society, whose concert in the afternoon was spoiled. Mr. George Lansbury, commenting on the situation on Saturday said that various Labour organisations had strongly resented being dic- tated to by the Albert Hall authorities. Labour did not intend to sit down and have all the pub- lic halls closed to them. They had shown that it was possible to secure a victory for Labour < without any forcible resistance. The power of Labour men when they were together was irre- sistible.

A CRATEFUL COUNTRY WILL NOT FORGET YOU- The" Dailv News" of Tuesday said: "Work at Bristol Employment Exchange yesterday dif- fered very little from the normal, though it was conspicuous that practically aU male applisants for work were silver badged." Printed and Published by the National Labour Press, Ltd., at the Labour Pioneer Press, Williams' Square, Merthyr Tydfil. LABOUR: THE ONLY HOPE OF THE WORLD!