Pioneer

I Merthyr Tydfil Union. FOSTER FATHER AND MOTHER. THE Guardians of the above Union require -L the services of a man and wife, as Foster Father and Mother, at the Cottage Homes, Llwydooed, Aberdare, which contains between 20 to 28 Boys. Salary, Father JE40 per annum, plus the pre- vailing War Bonus: Mother £ 30 per annum, va4L]in ite prevailing War Bonus, both with Board, ging and Washing. Candidates must not be under 25 nor more than 35 years of age. Tho.Mot-her will be required to take charge of the Home, Oook the Food, arrange the Meals, do needlework, and generally undertake the duties of a Home of the artisan class. The Foster Father, who must have a good knowledge of Gar- dening or Carpentering, will be required to as- sist in the general management of the Boys in the Grouped Homes, and to act generally under the supervision of the Superintendent. Any further particulars of the duties to be performed may be obtained upon application to the Superintendent of the Cottage Homee, Llwydcoed, Aberdare. The appointments will be subject to the pro- visions of the Poor Law Officers Superannuation Act, 1896, and National Health Insurance Acts. Applications, with copies of three recent testi- monials, must be sent to me on or before the 12th day of February, 1919, and be made upon Forms, which can be obtained upon application i at my Office, or by forwarding me a stamped, addressed, foolscap envelope. By Order, FRANK T. JAMES, Clerk to the Guardians. Union Offices, High Street, Merthyr Tydfil.

PONTYPRIDD INDEPENDENT LABOUR PARTY. The Annual General Meeting will be held on SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 9th, at 6 p.m. sharp. MEMBERS TAKE NOTE:— I.-Time at which Meeting oommences. 6 p.m. sharp, and not 7 p.m. 2.—Comrade Smith, of Newport, and Comrade Bowden, of Aberaman, will attend the meet- ing as a deputation from South Wales Socialist Sunday School Union. 3,-Agendas may be had from the Secretary on application. 111.11 I. Merthyr Tydfil Education Committee. INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL. WAKTED a Man and Wife as Caretakers of W this School. Wages 35/- per week, with house, coal, and light (for the present a war- bonus of 2.5/- per week is allowed). List of duties and form of application may be obtained at this Office. Residents outside this Borough need not apply. Applications to reach me on or before Friday, the 14th inst. RHYS ELTAS, Director of Education. Town Hall, Merthyr Tydfil, February, 1919. BEVAN. — Will Machine-gunner William B'Bevan, of Merthyr Tydnl, orderly, August, 1918, at Valenciennes Hospital, communicate with Mrs. Butlin, 45 Upper Paddock Road. Bushey, Herts.

I Soermus. StERMUS, the Russian violinist, is to-day the butt of all the cheap and poky fun of journalists whose wit. is as coarse as it is cheap and com- mon. The rag-tag jackal packs of the Press who alone arc cowards are spewing forth their most odious filth at a man who as a workman is in- comparably more competent in his sphere than they will ever be in theirs, and who in the brawler and grander sphere of mere manliness at least possesses sincerity of conviction and with it something of the leonine courage that dares to stand alone; the very opposite to his traducers who change their convictions to meet the market, and whose courage is the coward courage of the mob and the pack. At the same time we cannot help but feel that Soermus has either been foolishly advised, or with still more foolish obstinacy has disregarded good advice, in forsaking the gloriously international language of his executant art which he speaks with such eloquence from his violin, and taking to the cruder use of the tongue in a language with which he is but indifferently acquainted. We respect, and deeply respect Mr. Srermus' convic- tions, we believe that the whole fervour of his being leads him to expose himself to the ÓQrts of the little, misshapen souls who are to-day de- lighted to have him to attack. We believe that that fervour would carry him to the scaffold or the stake, but we detest martyrdom, and we stand hard by the logic of experience. Whether Soermus has been advised by foolish persons to court the repressive persecution of a bourgeoisie government that would only be too glad of an excuse to remove 1lim, or has himself conceived the idea that that persecution will have auy effect upon the Democracy he cares so much for. we do not know but we would remind him and his advisers (if there are any) that his own little speech contains the logical abrogation of the very idea that there will be any marked offen- sive tactics adopted on. his behalf by the workers. He himself tells us that the t-ae Christians of Britain are in our gaols suffering unto death because of their political and moral dissensions from the theories of their pastors and masters. He knows how long they have been there, and he has seen how much, or rather how little, the workers (whose sons they are for the most part) have concerned themselves over them. Soermus is being led by perversity or cruelty to immolate himself upon the altar of Capitalism, and if he does so, then the blame will be largely upon those who allowed him to depart from his special sphere on excursions into a sphere which is certainty not his. His exuberance had better be curbed for the benefit of everyone, and particularly the benefit of those of us who iind in his music inspiration, rest and joy.

Romain Rolland to The Bolsheviki. "To Free Russia "-a letter thus addressed to the Russian Soviet Republic has been re- ceived by the Russian ttovernment from the famous French writer, M. Romain Roiland, re- cently elected member of the Russian Socialist Academy of Sciences :— Russian brothers, creators of a great revo- lution, accept our congratulations and graH- tude. The freedom you have won is not for you alone, but for all of us your brothers of the West. Human progress is an evolutionary process. But evolution soon becomes tired, slackens its pace, stops, stumbles over obstacles, or falls asleep in the road like a lazy mule. To arouse it, vigorous shakings are from time to time ne- cessary powerful revolutionary stimuli are re- quired which spur the will, strain the muscles and surmount all obstructions. Our Revolu- tion of 1789 was one of those 'awakening s of the heroic will, which drag the human race away from the beaten track and drive it forward along a new path. But after this effort, no sooner had mankind advanced than again it halted. The fruits of the French Revolution were long ago gathered in Europe. But the time has come when the once fruitful ideas, the propellors of a new force, become but dead idols of the past, pushing backward not forward, and rising athwart the road as obstructions. New times—new battles, new hopes. Rus- sian brothers, go boldly forward, and we will follow you. Every nation in turn must lead mankind. Your virgin strength was not wasted during the long years of forced inactivity. Now pick up the axe at the spot where we dropped it, and cut new paths and sunny avenues for us through the maze of injustice and falsehood. Our .Revolution was the work of great bour- geois, men of great vices and great merits. Their race has died out long ago. Your Revo- lution must be the revolution of a great, healthy, united and generous people, and must avoid the mistakes which we in France have made. Above all, be united and strong in spirit. May our example be a lesson to you! Remem- ber our French Convention-tho Saturnus. which wa,s ever devouring its own children; be more tolerant than we were. Let all your energy be given in defending the cause of the liberty which you are bringing to the world; defend it from the mischievous and perfidious enemies who are lying in wait to attack you as soon as you weaken or become disunited. Remember, Russian brothers, you are fighting not for yourselves alone, but also for us. Our forefathers raised the banner of Revo. lution in 1792 in order to give liberty to the world. They were unsuccessful; perhaps they were insufficiently equipped for the task. Never- theless they were animated by a. noble and ar- dent desire for liberty. May this wonderful fire burn also in your hearts." ROMAIN ROLLAND. I

Dowlais Railwaymen I DEFINE THEIR POSITION. ALL OUT FOR NATIONAL PROCRAMME AND A LIVINC WACE. At a specially summoned mass meeting of the members of the Dowlais N. U .R. branch held on Sunday the following resolutions were unani- mously passed. SUPPORT FOR EXECUTIVE. "That this meeting pledges its support to the E.C. in their interpretation of the eight- hour day and instructs the E.C. to use all the force of the union to make this principle imme- diately operative." THE PREMIER CONDEMNED. "That this meeting strongly deprecates the action of the Prime Minister in 'not opening up negotiations with onr Executive Oomiuittoe upon the national programme,, and demand the E.C. and the Prime Minister to at once open up ne- gotiations, failing which a mass meeting to be held on February 9th to seriously consider the .enforcing of our demand hy taking drastic action." SHOPWORKERS. That this meeting emphatically protests against tho methods gPlwrally adopted to bring the railway shop workers under the 47-hours week agreement. Wo also protest against the arbitrary manner in which the railway officials are putting the agreement into operation. See- ing that we were not consulted in the drawing up of tho agn^ement, we instruct- our E.C. to immediately demand that the 47 hours shall in- clude both meal and travelling times, and such agreement shall include all men receiving the ] 21 and 7j per cent, bonus." INDUSTRIAL, NOT POLITICAL WEAPONS. "That this meeting, realising that the deci- sion of our E.C. to leave the general secretary to raise the question of our national programme in a reactionary House of Commons means tha.t delay will ensue and our members be swindled out of their just rights, we most emphatically protest against this degradation of our indus-j trial power, and instruct the general to immetiiately summon the E.C. fr) qgiiii pre- sent the programme, and failing a satisfactory reply to call together the special general meeting delegates with a view to further action." THE LIVINC WACE. Tlii,t tjils ni(letilig, realising the time has arrived to give cffwi to the decisions of our national conference to abolish all piece, tu,sk and bonus work, and in lieu thereof secure the establishment of a living wage for time-work, we coll upon -ill our members to loyally abide by these decisions and instruct the E.C. that when negotiating the new hours agreement to do away with these degrading forms of labour." The .secretary was instructed to forward copies to Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., general secretary, the Press, and also to wire a. oopy of the second resolution to the Prime Minister.

I The Spread of The Gospel LLANELLY FEDERATION STILL CROWINC The quaint little village of Llangennech (medneval, aj as, not only in quaintnoss, but also in housing conditions) has reformed its I.L.P. branch under the secretaryship of Mr. Jonathan Owen, Maes-street. Considering that this village had a Labour vote of 9H per cent, it should soon become a force i'or Socialism in the district. The schoolroom was packed on the occasion of the. organiser's visit. JAMES WINSTONE IN SWANSEA VALLEY. The new-Swan sea alley Federation was for- tunate enough to secure Mr. 'Winstone for two meetings at Glais and Ystradgynlais. It is hoped that the branches will be loyal to the Federation meeting. It is impossible for the F'ederation secretary to get speakers and a llo- ("ak them successfully if branches do not send deh ?ates and insist upon receiving reports I from them when they return. TAKE NOTE. Here is a point for branches who are discus- sing the coming Federation meeting:—Your secretary sends you the agenda of Fede.rat.ion meeting, therefore your delegate must be sent with power to book a speaker on the date lie j thinks most suitable. It is exceedingly irritating when the delegate says, "I cannot definitely book this speaker until I have seen my branch. If the Branch knew that dates were to be offered they should have given their delegate a mandate. The only proper place, for the allo- cation of dates is the Federation meeting, much time is lost by taking back to branches, business which should have been finished in meeting. Brandies plea.se note and help your Federation secretary by deciding business in your branch mwting. M.P.

The New Catechism. A STORY OF THE GOSPEL OF TO-DAY. A minister of the Gospel, with a strong North- Walian accent was, the other evening moraJ- izing to, and cat"hising his chapel band-of-hope choir: Chiltren," said he, "I have heard to- day very, very wicked newss about some of you. Tho newss his, given me very much pain. I have been told that some of you are going to another band-of-bolw-the band-of-hope of the I.L.P. Now, all who are going to the I.L.P. band-of-hope raise up your hands." J A few children put up their hands, at which the rev. gentleman almost collapsed with horror, and addressing the youthful culprits with a voice shaken with indignation, he said:— "This is very terriple indeet! Very terriple! For any chiltren to go to the I.L.P. band-of- hope is wicked, but for chapol chiltren to go is worse/ and I must tell you once for all that if you go again to the I.L.P. band-of-hope you shall not come to the chapel band-of-hope. Only goot chiltren are allowed to come to our nice chapel band-of-hope, and all chiltren who go to the other band-of-hope will go to—now chiltren," turning to the whole c-hoir, where will chiltren who attend the other band-of-hope go to? Snjall child: "To the 4 Centre,' Sir." Minister: "Very goot. But that is not the answer. Try again, Well, Willie?" Willie: "To Germany, sir." Minister: "Very goot indeed. Very near the right answer then. Try again. Where will all the Socialists go after they die?" Several children: "To 'ell, sir." Minister: Splendid! Capital! You are goot chiltren and have got goot mothers and fathers to teach you that. Always remember that wick- ed chiltren go to the I.L.P., and all the people who go to the I.L.P. Centre' are Sociali-sts, who don't believe in God, or in the Bible, or in anything goot."

PARLIAMENTARY BOROUGH j OF MERTHYR TVDFIL. 1 ABERDARE DIVISION. 1 I PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION, 14th DECEMBER, 1918. THE following is a summary of the Returns respecting Election Expenses of Thomas > Evan Nicholas and Charles Butt Stanton, which Returns were received by me on the 31st day of January, 1919, and the 25th day of January, 1919, respectively :— THOMAS EVAN NICHOLAS. £ s. d. Personal Kxpenses of the Candidate paid hy me 35 10 0 Received by me for my services as Flection 11 4 0 Paid for Clerks 20 4 6 Paid for Printing and Stationery 139 3 1 Paid for Advertising and Billposting 36 8 2 J Paid for Postage and Telegrame 2 19 7 Paid for Hire of rooms for public Meetings 15 14 G Paid for Hire of rooms for Committee Rooms 3 16 0 Paid for Miscellaneous matters 28 2 2 (Signed) EDMUXI) STONELAKE. I CHARLES BUTT STANTON. 1 £ s. d. Personal Expenses of the Candidate paid by me 18 10 6 Received by me for my services as 15 0 0 Paid for Clerks 178 17 4 Paid for Messengers 13 2 6 Paid for Printing and Stationery 346 2 8 Pa.id for Advertising and Billposting 72 8 1 Paid for Postage and Telegrams 5 0 8 Paid for Hire of rooms for public Meetings 12 15 0 Paid for Hire of rooms for Committee R,o(ims 23 11 0 Paid for Miscellaneous matters 39 12 2 j (Signed) GEORGE BROWN. AND [ GIVE NOTICE, that any voter is per- mitted to inspect the said Returns and the ac- companying Declarations and Documents on payment of a fee of one shilling, at the Town FJall, Merthyr Tydfil, at any time during office ttours within two years after the said date of the receipt of the same by nw. Dated this 7th day of February, 1919. I T. ANEURYN BEES, Acting Returning Officer.

PARLIAMENTARY BOROUGH OF MERTHYR TYDFIL. I MERTHYR TYDFIL DIVISION. "j | I PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION, j 14th DECEMBER, 1918. THE following is a summary of the Returns respecting Election Expenses of Edgar Rees Jones and James Winstonc which Returns were received by me on the 30th day of January, l919, and the 1st day of February, 1919,. respec- tively :— I EDCAR REES JONES. ;£ ø, d. Persona Expenses of the Candidate ■ £ «. d. paid by 12 8 6 Received by me for my services as Election Agent 1($) 0 0 Paid for Clerks 149 3 6 Paid for Messengers 3 13 6 Paid for Pri uting and Stationery 203 10 1 Paid for Advertising and Billposting 51 7 1 Paid for Postage and Telegrams .5 13 5 Paid for Hire of rooms for public Meetings z) 7 17 0 Paid for Hire of Booms for Committee Rooms 40 14 6 Paid for Miscellaneous matters 102 7 S (.Signed) ISAAC EDWARDS. JAMES WINSTONE. 1 i (I. Personal Expenses of the Candidate paid by himself 30 0 0 Persona Expenses of the Candi(iitt, paid by me 70 I) 0 Received by me foi- niv services as Ek?'tionA?ent 50 0 Paid for Clerks 10009 0 Paid for Printing and Stationery 362 5 10 Paid for Advertising and Billposting 11 5 8 Pa.id for Postage and Telegrams 5 18 0 Paid for Hire of rooms for public Meetings 77 2 6 Paid for Hire of rooms for Committee Rooms 26 6 6 Paid for Miscellaneous mattei 146 10 6 (Signed) T. I. MARDY JONES. AND 1 GTS E NOTICE, that any voter is per- mitted to inspect the said Returns and the ac- companying Declarations and Documents on payment of a fee of one shilling, at the Town Hall, Merthyr Tydfil, at any time during office hours within two years after the said date of the receipt of the same by me. Dated this 7th day of February, 1919. I- T. EURYNREF, Acting Returning Officer.

I.L.P. MEETINGS. BENTLEY'S HALL, Merthyr. Sunday Next, Feb. 9th, 1919. Speaker: MRS C. G. AMMON London, Organiser Council for Civil Liberties. CHAIR TAKEN AT 2.45 P.M. PROMPT. Admission by Silver Collection. PRIZE DRAWING. WINNING Xumh?s of Abraham Thoma.s  Cefn Cocd:—l. 2359 2, 195; 3, 1172; 4, 645; 5, 761; 6, 426; 7. 643; 8, 2339; 9, 2958; 10. 799; 11, 1754; 12, 521; 13, 1275; 14, 367; 15, 449: 16. 1111; 17, 1883; 18, 1491; 19. 193; j 20, 889; 21, 294; 22, 904; 23, 2123; 24, 19; jI ?2?3014; 26, 1357.—T. Eynon, Secretary. j