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I LOST AND WON !
I LOST AND WON I By TOM SMITH. The terms which Mr. Runciman took away Mr. Lloyd George has restored. The classes which were excluded are now included again in the terms of the New Agreement.—"Engine- men, Pumpmen, Stokers, Banksmen and work- men engaged on the mechanical staff." For a time it seemed as if the sun had set for these classes of workmen, and that they were- in for another long night of struggle, fighting to share in the same advantages of payment for the same conditions of labour that is. work;ng on afternoon or night as every other class of workmen in the coalfield. It was meant to be a rending and dividing of our forces. It seemed as if between us as different classes of workmen there was to be another long farewell-You are going there, but we must go back here. But a shout of pain and anger went up. This cleavage was cutting through everything, not only creating econo- mic differences, but differences in the social conditions as well. Pitiable. Poor Ignorance. In the same home some members of the fam- ily would be paid for working on afternoons or nights because they belonged to certain classes of workmen; others would not, because they belonged to others. Among companions, some would be paid, others would not: al- though the Lloyd George Award of July 20 had said they should be. The revulsion of feel- ing against such an attempt was beyond mea- surement or control. There were to be no par- tings, no leave-takings this time. And the poo." ignorance which pictured this to be the result of pro-Gorman sympathy is too pitiable to be noticed. The miners of South W ales are conscious as they have never been conscious before, that they are brothers of each other in the great working class. And their determination to stand together was just an expression of a noble feeling, a, holy passion, an earnest of the highest stage of progress the poor humans in this great world of struggle can hope to reach or attain. "I Wili not do it." I Two men with whom I was Intimately ac- quainted were one evening sitting conversing earnest together in the back parlour of a little public-house. It seemed to me as if there were some secret conclave between them. be- cause the one was heard to say. "I will not do it." with an emphasis that s howed that he was labouring under some strong feeling of re- sentment. From their youth they had been companions together. They were of similar age left school together; entered the estab- lishment of a big engineering firm together; and between them their many inventions and improvements wjiicli they had made and plac- ed on the market were fairly on the way to dominate the business. The man who was speaking was of exceptionally strong personal- ity: a man to command and to be obeyed. "ill at morning the head of the firm had call- ed him into his private office and offered him a leading position in the firm at a princely sal,-ti- Foi- a moment the offer was exceeding- ly tempting, and he felt strongly inclined to accept it. But then another thought, another vision flashed through his mind, and turning to the head of the firm, he asked: "But what, sir. of my old friend and fellow-worker? What ot him' "He'll remain where he is." d Then you make no offer of advancement to him?" one. None?" No. we have one vacancy, one position or advancement, and so only one man can be ad- vanced, and that man we have decided to be yourself." The strong man stood with an expression of resentment visibly written across his face. Un- der all this he felt there must be a motive, a strong motive for separating them in their life's work, and turning again to the great man. lie asked: sir. if I may ask, why is there no offer of advancement made to mv friend? Is there anything standing to his dis-credit? Has he fa iled in his duty? Has he not at all times rendered equal set vice, as I myself have, to the success of this firm?" "Yp- that is true, and we certainly lian-e nothing against your friend. And we readily acknowledge all that he has done and accomp- lished. But the real point is that for years we have watt bed you have noted your strength of character and power to control: and have Ion" realised the fact that between you both there is nothing you may not accomplish but without vou it will be impossible: therefore, the offer is made to you." A Strong Man's Decision. n The strong man stood silently reflecting tor a few moments. Not that he was any longer tempted by the bait thrown out towards him but reflected upon the motive actuating be- hind it. all, to separate tlieiii. to prevent them obtaining any further economic power or con- trol: to rend and divide their forces; to keep themselves, the exploiters supreme. Then, lifting his head and turning four square towards his tempter, he said: "Sir, I can accept no position which separates my friend from rue. or which places him beneath me in a mote disad vantageous position in life. \Ve were children together: went to school to- gether, entered upon life together. Since then we have worked and laboured together; giving to you the very best of our brains and hands. And together we shall go forward to work out our salvation, and will allow no man to separate us." What a blessing for him that the great world's war was not in swing at the time, or he would most certainly have been dubbed a pro-German. The Analogy of the Mines. That is all the South Wales miner has been guilty of. For years these excluded classes of men from the bonus turn have worked with him in and about the mine. Their lives have intermixed in a hundred different ways. They have worked together, lived together, and in a hundred different ways have contributed to the successful working of the collieries. And now the coal owners wanted to divide them; to split up their organisation or-to prevent any further organisation taking place. To the demand for a bonus turn they had been com- pelled to say "Yes. but not to these, the weak the less able to take care of themselves. The Pro-German Charge. To this the miners replied they must; no work until they do. But to do that was "pro- German." so the so-called anti-German said. Pro-German to ref use to be satisfied with what they had not acquired pro-German to stand hv the weak, to succour the helpless, to fight their battles, and refuse to put down the wca-? I pons of warfare until they had won the same privileges for them also. Pro-German? Why, the men who cry themselves anti-German have illuminated the other word pro-German. Nor that the South Wales miner was concerned at the time with German or British. He was engaged in a struggle; a struggle for life and existence—but as real deadly earnest as if "ie had been on the fields of Flanders. It was just an episode in the great class war, and au- gurs well for a glorious future, because when the strong refuse to move, until hand in hand they can take the weak along with them also when those who are strong enough to obtafh whatever they demand, refuse to touch it un- til the weaklings who cannot so obtain have al- so obtained what they demand, then indeed is the great working class humanity saving it- self redeeming its future, and preparing for the great day of liberty, when every man, wo- man and child will exist to live; not live to exist as now, but exist to live on everything that is noble, pure, inspiring—the arts, sci- ences, literature but especially in life; to live not that individualism may exist, but human- itv with all its endless potentialities and in- finite possibilities. And surely the South Wales miner is walking in the pathway which leads upwards to the glories of that morn. Won Because True to Self. I But the thing for the moment is that the South Wales miner has won, and won be- cause lie was true to himself. And to-day he has got an agreement which secures the in- terests of the Federation members, an agree- ment which WIpes ouL the previous defects of the Hunciman Agreement: an agreement which establishes a five days' working week, and protects them against the abuse of the management, and maintains any better condi- tions which may exist elsewhere. But all this must surely lead us to one con- clusion In order to secure the united interests of the members of the Federation we must have a fighting purpose for all: a purpose in which all are to participate, and from which all must benefit. We all start from the same economic basis—we are all wage-slaves. And so between us as miners we can always dis- cover a community of interest. In the past there were sharp distinctions drawn between one class of workmen in the mine and another. The labourer was the commonest thing of all-" a necessary evil." He was unskilled in everything; he could use the shove", but a mandril or hatchet, these he shculd not touch. They were tools which re- quired a lot of training to acquire skill in their handling. And so there was a great deal of antipathy between one class and another. Gradually all this has been removed: preju- dices which destroyed every effort towards progress and advance have in turn been de- stroyed. and in its place a strong feeling of class consciousness is daily growing. Preparing for Greater Things. I The miners of South Wales are leading the \a:l and are preparing for greater things. There are higher things to be reached greater needs to be satisfied; every advance made in wages, every improvement in conditions of la- bour can only be temporary. Every time it leaves a thousand evils behind to be remedied. Labour all the time has to be exploited, and so long as ever exploitation exists, so long must there be suffering, inequalities, and the other evils under which society continues to reek and groan. But the next great movement must not sim- ply be a movement of miners. It will be a movement embracing miners, railwaymen, and transport workers. This movement has long been talked about, and had it not been for the war, would have crystalized ere now. And it is full time this matter was pushed forward. There should be no waiting. The demand should go up from the rank and file. Do not wait simply and solely for an official lead. Let the parties concerned hold their meetings; branch, lodge, district pass resolutions and make the cry so insistent and persistent that the leaders will be compelled to go forward and complete their scheme, and livae every man organised ready for the great struggle. If the workers in these three great branches of industry say these things must be, then they will be. No leader can prevent this if the workers are decided. After the War. I And there will be infinite need after this war to have this movement in readiness for action. To-day women are crowding out every indus- try —except, perhaps, the mines-where men were formerly employed, and they are doing this at a greatly reduced wage; at a wage, in- deed, which will make it impossible for men to have the opportunity to return to their former employment and wages. Our social and industrial arrangements are going to be turned upside down. Men will walk the streets while poverty will ravish the land, break up our whole domestic arrangements, and gaunt hun- ger will make men everywhere servile and sub- missive to any conditions the capitalist class may choose to impose upon them. And the question which the workers ought to be facing at this moment is—Shall we wait until that crisis comes, or shall we organise all our forces ready for action? The Duty Now. Time is ours while we have time. After that, when the opportunity is passed, when the storm ha,s burst aoo the flood gates are opened, it will be too late to talk of what we should have done. Enough that we see the signs of the tunes that we know the greed, selfishness and inhumanity of the employing class. Do we need any other incentive, any other causa 01 reason for action? If we do, then we are play- ing with fate, simply allowing it to future events to shape our destiny, instead of at this hour guiding and shaping those events by which our destiny as workers must be decided. Our duty at this very hour is to be moving forward in advance, laying down our future pobcy, our mode of action, and unifying and organising every tittle of power which may lay anywhere in our movement. Then when the blow conies, as come it will against the workers of this country, it will be met by an- other blow so strong, so irresistible, so over- powering and crushing in its weight and di- rectness that the common foe will fall a man- glefcl shape, a useless ruin, that will never rise agam to dominate the workers, an d make them the slaves of a horde of parasites.
Advertising
Wherf you send a Shilling for the Pioneer 10,000 Shillings' Fund, you have the saitsfao- tion of knowing that you are making sliver bullets for the war againot GaprtaHsm.
Christianity and Socialism.,
Christianity and Socialism., HAS CHRISTIANITY FAILED, By A. L. Hoknek. A suggestion has been made very generally recently to the effect that those who profess to abide by the principles of the various systems existant- to-day for the establishment of Uni- versal Peace must feel that the position they occupy at present, in the light of the happen- ings of the past 12 months, cannot be a very enviable one. Whilst numerous petty systems have for their objective the abolition of war, our attention must of necessity be taken by the two great sys- tems-Christianity and Socialism. First, because of the prominence to which they have attained, and second, because of the greatness of their claims in this direction. Apparently Failed. There is no possibility of ignoring the tact that apparently both have failed to realise their ideals in so much that, to-day, we find ourselves, in common with the majority of civi- lised humanity, engaged in a war which is unprecedented, both in numbers engaged, and in interests at stake whilst the hate and cruel- ty called into being 'is producing terror and suffering unparalelled in the history of the world. Such a state calls for an answer in justifica- tion of both systems. To deal with each in order of seniority, of course, places Christianity first, and we must confess that this system is quite definite upon the general question of the desir- ability of Peace. The advent of its leader into this troubled world was remarkable for the keynote which characterised the event. "Peace on earth, goodwill towards men." is a startling battlecrv for the greatest leader the world has ever seen; and, what is more. throughout His life the same thought which the words contain was evidenced in all His actions towards man- kind. ARevotutionaryPrmctpte. -1 To voice the precept ot love towards ttie enemies of Himself and His followers was to state a contradistinction of all current ideas, and to live and act consistently in accord with it was equal to an attempt to produce a revolu- tion both daring and wonderful. in the princi- ples and characteristics of humanity, governed bv the theories of life which were then preva- lent. S The statement which Jesus made when he said, "They that take up the sword shall perish by the sword." is sufficient to show the antago- nism with which the Creator of Christianity regarded hostilities both among nations and in-, dividuab, The statement of the Apostles of Christ clearly denote that one of his foremost principles was an utter disregard of colour, na-I tionality or station as a cause of difference. To ignore this outstanding fact is to deny the uni- versalitv of Christianity as stated by Jesus in His last word, on earth, when He commanded His followers to go into the whole world and to preach to every creature. Only Applicable to Individuals. Even whilst we declare the repugnance with which this world system regards war in all spheres, it is but fair to say that the condemna- tion is generai and the principles which govern the disciples of this question are applicable on- ly to the individual as such. In the light of the fact that though so ardently opposed to suffer- in- and destruction, it is clear that to abide by the original fundamental, she can work for the accomplishment of her theories only by means of persuasion, and nowhere has she been sanctioned to set up machinery for the estab- lishment of a preventive war foioe in a political sense. Further, she only claims to apply her .principles to the adherents of the cause. and whilst the benefits of such disciples' faithfulness must profit humanity generally, yet Christian- ity as a system claims no right to arbitrate or coerce in the affairs of the nation as a political party attempts to do For her to adopt the organisation of such a party would necessitate the abandonment of her own position. For whilst the one is a coerc- ing force, the other is essentially a persuasive one. Polit-ics-and Reli-gron. I Practical politics attempt to gain the ascendant for a particular sectioft of the com- munity. and, then, by virtue of the occupation of a superior position, endeavour to subordinate the minority, or inferior force, to their govern- ment. On the other Jiand. Christianity appeals to the individual, and having succesfully ac- co'mpnshed thai. goes no further than to re- quest that individual to procure another. Thus though we assume her being in the majority, the very doctrine itself forbids her to enforce her will or government upon the minority ag- ainst ti cir will. To deal fully with this matter would require much more space than the Editor has allowed, but even after a cursory study of the foregoing, you must conclude that Christianity is not a failure when considered apart from politics, in the connection of universal peace, not because she has been or is a success, but rather because she has never been tried, neither is s he sanc- tioned to endeavour to create or maintain a political peace between nationalities. This. I say, would be within the range of politics which fact excludes her from participation in rivalry about, or competition with any question or party as such, upon purely political or diploma- pel' f O]?Ce to d(,peiid tic questions, she having, perforce, to depend absolutely on the machinery set up by her lea- der. which necessitates her working through in- dividuals. primarily for the realisation of per- fect peace for such a one in the hereafter though, incidentally, peace on earth would be realised were there sufficient faithful followers of the Prince of Peace to in fluence those out- side her sphere in the direction of a perman- ent cessation of hostilities. Tills is purely specu- lative. and recognised as wholly unrealisable by Christ's most faithful and optimistic disciples. Even whilst we state this frankly and openly, it must not be thought to condone the weak- ness of the members of the churches through- out the land, who. at the first trump of the bugle. regardless of "all-general" principles, flung themselves venomously at the throat of their brother man. Unchanged and Unchangeable. Christianity as a system, through its follow- ers. should ha-ve made more difference than she has yet done towards preventing and discoun- tenancing anv connection with t-liis war. This lack of success, as we hope to s i)OAI- in a later article, is due. not to the iiiacfapt-aiblity of the religion of Christ, hut must be charged to the unfaithful individual's failure to abide by that which in times of trouble they professed to adhere to. 1 Tho system remains the samp: unchanging and unchangeable, as efficacious in its own sphere and within the horder of its own princi- ples as ever. p This I trust, may help to dispel all doubts upon the score of Christianity's failure. Next week we intend to ask the same ques- tion of Socialism, and to endeavour to dispel another illusion largely resulting from ignor- ance of the fundamental facts upon which both systems are based. i
Advertising
Miners' Enquiry Bureau. CONDUCTED BY TOM SMITH. Mr. Tom Smith is prepared to settle in this column the difficulties of our Miner comrades, on all points touching their trade practices and organisations. Experience has taught us the need for such a column. All that the miner in a doubt has to do is to set out his difficulties as plain as possible in writing and address them to- MR. TOM SMITH, C/o of "The Pioneer," Williams' Square. Merthyr Tydfil. How Does This Suit? In August, 1913, The Workers' Union BANK BALANCE WAS W 69800 ~m In August, 1915, THE BANK BALANCE WAS OVER £ 34,000 AN INCREASE OF THE WORKERS' UNION, 16, Agincourt Road, PER  ? ? PER Hampstead, London, N.W. CPEENR T. ?? V CENT. CENT CENT. CHARLES DUNCAN, M.P., In Exactly Two Years. General Secretary. 11,381 Big Bobs Bagged in August
Our London Letter. I
Our London Letter. I the Speaker of the House of Commons came prominently into the public eye recently. In a speech at Penrith, he put forward the suggestion that as a lead in public econo- my Members of Parliament should forego their salaries of zC400 per annum at present. He I did not state that he was going to return his t5,000 per year to the public purse: and even if he did. seeing that he has been receiving that sum for some years, it might be less of a sacrifice than many a member would be mak- ing by returning a quarter's "draw. The principle of the payment of members is a good one. and this, sacrifice would weigh heaviest on men of sterling worth who could not afford to be there without a alary, while it would give men to whom the L400 is a mere flea-bite a chance to parade their patriotism at the cost of their less fortunate fellows. By the way. steam-rollers are busy on the ring roads in Hyde Park kept exclusively for pleasure rid- ing and wanted only in the London "season. We wonder if the L.G.B. would state this work to be more urgent than building houses for the poor. Dr. Clifford completed 57 years of minister- ial career at Westbourne Park Chapel on Sun- day week, and served his official connection with the church. Although at different times he received offers from larger churches, his devotion to his first church was too great to accept them. Although 78 years old, he will still occupy various pulpits, while he has not severed his connection with the political world. Ever a great fighter. he reached his pinnacle in the opposition to the Education Acts of the last Tory administration, being THE spokes- man of Nonconformity, setting forth clearly the wrongs which the late Liberal ministry had not righted after being in office nearly ten years. Some interesting figures relative to Co-opcr- ation are seen in the Chief Registrar's re- port. The total sales (counting wholesale and retail) for 1913 came to 136 million pounds. Other forms of business, mainly the C. W.S. Bank, amounted to 87 millions. The wages paid were 8J millions, and bonuses of £ 86,000 were distributed amongst employees. The net profits amounted to 14l millions, mainly paid in dividend to purchasers at about 2/- in the £ and 1;1,750,000 interest on shares coming to about 4 per cent. The productions, i.e., of the wholesale societies, were valued at £ 30,000.000 and it was this productive side that took the bulk of the wages. The report also contains in- teresting statistics relating to the 1.342 socie- ties connected with agriculture, 351 agricultu- ral credit banks, and the 92 co-partnership tenants' societies in existence in the same year. We are not alone in being numbered just at present. Australia has its War Census, with questions more extensive and intensive. There they have two forms to fill. The first contains columns for entering (a) State of health, good. bad or indifferent: (b) if not good, the cause of illness (c) whether sight or hearing is defect- ive, and if a limb has been lost: (d) what mili- tary training has been experienecd; (e) birth- place of self and of parents. The second form requires full particulars of the possession of or holding on trust of any property, and ol all mcomes received. The process of "fishing" for a Budget, as Disiraeli called it, is in full swing, and seeing that such enormous amounts will be wanted, the prophets are sure to make some hits. The people that know all about it at present speak sententiously of taxing amusements, while evi- dence is not ^wanting of fairly heavy purchases of tea. tobacco, wines, spirits and even cocoa. Taxes on tickets of admission to entertain- ments are found in many places. In Montreal 1 per cent. is levied on the receipts of circus- ils. otiiiiiseiiients and concert halls playing grounds, skating rinks and race-courses. Some amusement providers in London are already preparing for suc h H demand. In Paris these extras form a levy for the poor, while in Dutch towns 5 per cent. is added to the price of the ticket for the alleviation of the rates, an impost which many visitors resent. I Of late years the framework of large build- ings in Town has been made of iron or steel. The method is undoubtedly an improvement, but just at present it is a misfortune, and the I main cause of slackness in the building trade; and the large number of erections thai have not progressed for many weeks. Practically ali iron and steel has been commandeered for mu- nition making, so leaving re-inforced buildings at a standstill. Many people have been asking tor direct tax- ation. Members of Friendly Societies are soon to have a taste of something like it. Most of the large societies decided to pay the contributions of their members who joined the colours. In many cases this would cost vast sums, so a levy of ld, per month is to be made on the remainder by several of the large societies, while the Rechabites estimate that a two years' war will cost them £ 30.000 in oon- trilmitions for figllting- men, which works out at about 4d. per year per member far 20 years. Seeing that much of the money re- quired will be interest on the amount capital- ised. we think it would have been wiser and it would cost less to spread the levy over a fewer number of years. The receipt of the Certificate of Registration has caused some perturbation among men and women, but for opposite Reasons in most cases. Some fair maids who put their age at 21 or so have been shocked to see such numbers ag 41 after their names, while men over 40 see num- bers less than that on their cards and have ri- sions of their being roped in a-s conscripts when they thought they would escape. flo relieve the feelings of such, and to save them making in- quiries and looking foolish, we may let them know that the num bers refor to their oooupa- tkms. These have been listed from 1, which is agricultural workers, to 46. which means no occupation.
I Alleged Assault.-I
I Alleged Assault. I BARGOED MINE MEN COMMITTED TO SESSIONS. William Henry Burgwyn (37!, Frederick Burgwyn (25). Charles A. Burgwyn (28). Bar- goed. colliers, and John Matthews (28) and George Matthews (23). repairers. Bargoecf. were charged at the local court on Friday with causing grievous bodily harm to James McCarthy. Deri, on June 19. Mr. W. J. Canton prosecuted, and Mr. John Evans. Bar- good. defended. Mr. Canton, opening the case, said that prosecutor lived at Groesfaen Terrace, Deri. and was employed as an overman at the Groes- fa-en Colliery. Deri. On the evening in ques- tion prosecutor went to Bargoed to meet the secretary of the Bar good Town Football Club in connection with a prize drawing, tickets for which had been sold at the colliery. Having transacted the business, prosecutor left the McDonnell Hotel in company with Thomas Merriott. and the latter having proceeded to his home. prosecutor proceeded alone. Almost immediately a number of men. in- cluding the defendants. pounced upon McCarthy, and kicked him. fracturing both bone" of his leg. They continued to kick him from head to foot with the result that he was covered with bruises, and had been medically attended ever since. He had been in such a serious condition that emergency steps had to be taken because the man's life was despaired of. That was the reason why proceedings had not been taken before. James McCarthy, the prosecutor, corrobor- ated his advocate's statement. Dr. Stephen McCarthy, who had attended prosecutor until last week, said that there was a fracture of both bones in the lower part of the right leg and ext-ensive bruises on the other leg. the thigh, the back, and the chest, and prosecutor's condition had at times been very serious, owing to the injuries. The wounds were consistent with his having been kicked all over. and considerable violence must have been used. Thomas Merriott a lso gave evidence, re- marking that he heard John Matthews say to McCarthy, You die to-night." Mr. John Evans, for the defence, submitted there was no case on which a jury would con- vict. Defendant-, who pjeaded "Not guilty," were committed for trial at the Quarter Ses- sions. Bail was allowed, defendants m their own recognisances, each in the sum of £ 20.