Pioneer

How the Papers Treat Anti= Conscriptionists SEE PAGE 8

The I.L.P. Altitude Justified, I GOUN. MORGAN JONES' GREAT SPEECH AT WELSH DIVISIONAL CONFERENCE AT MERTHYR. The Annual Divisional Conference, of the Welsh I.L.P. Branches was held in Bentlevis Hall, Merthyr, on Saturday, Ooun. Morgan Jones, of Bargoed, presiding over an attend- ance of 82 delegates representing 50 branches. These figures are themselves significant when compared with last year's conference, and clearly show the growth and increased interest that is being engendered by Socialism in South Wales. Last year there were 47 delegates re- presenting 35 branches. If anyone had expected that the Conference was going to get hysterical about Compulsion, they must have been sadly mistaken, for though the spirit of strenuous, determined and unre- lenting resistance time and again swept as an under-current through the Conference, it was taken as a matter of course that as I.L.Peers we have already made up our minds on the point, and as more important work was to- ward. Compulsion was never actually a phase of the discussion. Indeed, one was pleased to find that the delegates were more concerned with the effects of the war on every-day life, and particularly on child life and education, than with wasting breath in re-affirming its opposition to which Democratic bodies, such as the I.L.P., must in their nature be sworn. The accounts show a much better complexion than last year, and the balance in hand is satisfactory. The Chairman's address is reproduced in full below, and as the Conference was treated as of a private nature, we will satisfy ourselves with again expressing our appreciation of the spirit of Conference. It is interesting to note that Conference expressed its appreciation of the attitude and work of the N.A.C. during the year, and afeo of the national organ, the La- bour Leader," and the allied local press. "Dick" WaUhead was present with Comrade F. W. Jowett. M.P., on behalf of the N.A.C., and tlii- latter closed the Conference with an address that touched the present situation and the justice of the I.L.P. attitude very closely. We have pleasure in reproducing the full re- :"po" of the Chairman's (Councillor Morgan Jones Bargoed) address to the T.L.P. Divi- sional Conference at Merthyr on Saturday — Oomrades and fi-ieiid!i,Twelve months have passed awav since last we met to discuss mat- tors i our movement. At that time we gathered together under saddened c.rcum- stances. Thti war cloud that had been gather- ing for years on the international horizon had burst m all its i wry upon Europe, and was soon found to be enveloping all the civilised world. Already it had raged for five weary months. Why it came none seemed to know; few had either the time or inclination to inquire. The welter of war rarefy permits too close an exami- nation of its causes. Whole nations had aban- doned, at the instigation of a" few ambitious potentates, ably supported by equally powerful financial interests, the pursuits of the arts of peace. Every national activity' was consecrated to the single purpose of the destruction of naan- kind. From every land, amid the shriek of shells that hurled through the air, there arose the piteous erry of the wounded and the dying, the widowed and the fatherless, demanding in the name of outraged humanity that the carni- val of crime might cease. There was then no sign of abatement of the storm's fury. The blood Just was upon Europe; mercy, pity, rea- son had been destroyed by its hideous canker. Etarope revelled in an orgy of barbarism. Twelve months have passed away, and still the war drum throbs loudly on the battlefields of Europe. The lust for blood still remains ap- parently unsatiated. The sacrifice of life and treasure, so unprecedented in character, abso- lutely unparalleled in history, still goes on. Meaningless words and phrases are still suceessfully used to delude the innocent. and to trip the un- wary among the workers of the belligerent na- tions. "Theirs not to reason why, their's but to do and die." The diplomats of Europe, counting upon the servility of a capitalistic Press, reckoning, too, upon the docility of Par- liament and upon the patriotism of their too confiding peoples, gambled with brazen effron- tery with the resources of the nations, and when the game was over, and loss became their por- tion, they reported to an appeal to force to re- trieve their menaced fortunes. Alliances, un- derstandings, arrangements, ententes were dis- closed, the existence of which the gamblers had previous,v denied so vigorously. A few dozen men in all Europe prepared the material for ■fehe great conflagration, and while those few skulk through the corridors of the .Foreign Offices, millions of innocent people are offered as a living sacrifice in expiation of their crime. And now, with a callousness that is truly aston- ishing, leaders of public opinion for the most part either openly applaud the ghastly slaugh- ter, or cower in guiity silence. Organisations that by their very calling should be among the first enough, betray their holy mission and de- mand the continuation of a struggle whose cer- tain result must be the. destruction of millions of lives, and the condemnation of later genera- tions to the task of unrelieved suffering in. or- der to redeem their country from indebtedness to the Shylooks of our day and their heirs. The new gospel apparently constitutes a demand that sin shall be extirpated by the innihilation of the sinner. Erstwhile pacifist's, politicians, novelists, and poets (of all descriptions) join in unholy chorus of praise to the Moloch of war. Everywhere, in all the warring lands, reason has been dethroned; the spirit of hatred, ava- rice. rapine and murder hold undisputed sway. Mankind seems to have gone mad in the fury of war. But since the first clash of arms was heard in Europe one small organisation in England has remained faithful to its principles. The Independent Labour Party, founded less than a quarter of a century ago, for the purpose of propagatng Socialism and International Peace, has withstood all calumny, abuse, and vilifica- tion, and remained loyal to its trust. It was not in a spirit of flippancy and from a sheer love of controversy that it has proclaimed for 23 years the redemption of the workers of the world from social and economic bondage by the adoption of Socialism and International Con- coru. We proclaimed our faith because we be- lieved it. We see no ground for altering it even now. Our faith has never been reposed in the efficacy of powder as an instrument of reform. Whether it be measured by the num- ber and powerfulness of dreadnoughts and sub- marines, or by inexhaustible supplie of con-I script men, might has never been interpreted bv the I.L.P. as a synonym of right. The de- struction of towns and cities, t4io conversion of homesteads into mere shambles, the turning ad- rift of millions from their beloved homes, mav be dignified by the name of strategy, but that it heralds the coming of a new freedom is more than we are prepared to believe. I, for one, have not yet been able to see the neces- sity of turning Europe into a hell that liberty might have room to breathe. Physical force has never been regarded by us either as the most desirable nor the most reasonable arbiter of our misunderstandings. We still pin our faith to reason and discussiQn for the solution of differences between nations. If no decent ethic avails in the Chancellories of Europe, I, for miy part, cannot have recourse to the ethics of the jungle. And while we speak of the matter of might being right, it might not he superfluous to observe that Nietzche cannot claim as many proselytes within the precincts of St. Bride's House as he can in Carmelite House. And so, my comrades, having regard to the question of its attitude to the war it- self. ,I believe the opinion of the vast majority of out- members to be that conscious as we are of the manifold wrongs that have been per- petrated in the names of the peopder, of the belligerent countries, bearing in mind the re- cord of bestiality, rapine, murder, and the catalogue of infamies that the Jiistory of the war has up to the present disclosed— and what self-respecting man, whatever his view about the war, would care to defend those? still, looking back upon the hideous deeds of the past 18 months, 'wicked and diabolical as they have been, and war aot best is but organ- ised dovilr.v--still we declare that we have no regret to express for our attitude. We have no apology to offer. But in common with a few stalwart comrades in other lands, whose untir- ing efforts in behalf of peace, in face of almost insuperable obstacles we whole-heartedly ack- nowledge, we are proud to rally round the Flag of the Old International, and proclaim anew the solidarity of the workers of the world. And when we come to consider the develop- raen-t of our internal affairs as a nation do we find any cause for rejoicing? Is it the wor- ker that is expected to hail with joy measures that strike at the very root of the most pre- cious liberties that have caused our land to be called blessed among the nations of the earth? Have we undertaken a war of liberation on behalf of the oppressed and militarist ridden peoples of foreign lands, only to maka it possible for repression, retrogression and reac- tion to beome rampant at homeP Is it to be nothing to the workers that the very liberties in behalf of which men decayed in dungeons er died at the stake in their defence—liberty of thought and of speech, liberty of the press and of free trial—is it, I repeat, to be no- thing to us that those have been taken away ? Our history books have led us to believe that absolute autocracy in the kinship was long ago settled in this country. And now we have a new and worse problem—how to prevent the ascendancy of an uncontrolled class of mo- ney lords. The Governors of these islands will be held accountable for many errors—some ex- ceedingly grave and serious, others less so. But no indictment can be formulated, having grea- ter import for those governing classes than this —that in the name of national unity, with a discrimination as between class and class that has been nothing short of scandalous, they availed themselves of the blind confidence and trust of the electorate to strike against the wholè fahrja of our constitutional liberty and prostituted to power reposed in them for the purposes of repression and reaction. Is it the worker who is expected to toss his ready cap in the air and lift his voice in servile shouts at the impositions im the workshops of restrictions of the most aggravating character. Are we presumed to be so stuffed as to regard Muni- nitions Acts, Defence of the Realm Acts, and Conscription Acts as the first Streaks of dawn? that herald the advent of the Millennium? Let the Government remember that this fooling of the people can only be temporarily success- ful. There will come a morrow after the war, and retribution will be demanded and exacted by a disillusioned people. The fact has not been overlooked that while the sons of the working classes, with nothing by way of pro- pertv to defend, have sacrificed willingly their lives, which was their all, on behalf of their country's cause, the old enemy, the exploiter, was allowed to avail himself of the circumstan- ces of the hour, with the tacit acquiescence of the Government, to exploit the loved ones who had been left at home. The tale of the shameful exploitation and wicked extortion must yet be told to those who return to their native shore; the infamous gambling with men's lives must yet be exa- mined, and, if I understand the trend of things rightly, in that examination the I.L.P. will not remain unjustified. Let it not be for- gotten in the days that ice yet- to come how elaborate precautions have been taken on every hand to curb, to restrict, and to carefully cir- cumscribe the extent of the people's acquaint- ance with the conduct of their country's affairs. he one outstanding characteristic of which has been not an expression of confidence in the ability of the people to bear themselves with dignity and composure; but, on the contrary, anlll-concaled contempt for and distrust of trie people. How else can one explain the vaga- ries of that product of political expediency the Censor; What other excuse can be offered in defence of secret trials if it be not indeed, a lack of faith on the part of the Government in thestrength of its ownoase? It will be the business of the I.L.P. and the Socialist move- ment to see to it that at the earliest possible moment English liberties shall be restored to the people in as full a measure at least as they existed in pre-war days. Time will not permit, nor perhaps would dis- cretion allow, erf my discussing in these few cursory remarks the internal affairs of the Labour Party itself. The circumstances have been so exceptional, and the views of its leaders so varied, that perhaps happy co-opera- tion could not latterly have been expected. Be that as it may, so far, at any rate, as th I.L.P. is concerned, I for one see no cause for misgiving, no reason for remorse. It matters nothing that epithets of pro-Germanism and the like have been hurled at us. Hard names do not discourage us, and by paucity of numbers we are not dismayed. We Imow only a desire e know on l y a der?,ii-e to remain loyal to truth. The consequences of following such a course we await without trepidation. To the leaders of the Party, therefore, to the N.A.C., and to our M.P.'s, and to all in- every part of our land who have rendered any service, however obscure, in these difficult days, we tender our heartiest congratu- lations and our sincercst thanks. Let reaction- ists of all parties coalesce if they will; our fight is not with persons: we fight with the principle and spirit of reaction itself. It has chosen to throw down the gauntlet, and the I.L.P., without regret and without hesitancy, take up the challenge, and with courage and determination the battle shall be fought in Parliament, and in mine, factory and work- shop. Let there be no mistake about it, The I. L P. and all it stands for is winning. It shall win to the end. Democracy must prevail. In that spirit, the spirit of the old pioneers and martyrs of the past, with the same meas- ure of courage and determination that our wonderful party has demonstrated in the last J8 months, let us enter the new fight that now draws upon us. At the moment Militarism stalis triumphant through the land. The Prussian invasion is an accomplished fact. Already our statesmen hurry to do homage at the shrine of the junker's god. Aye, and with shame do we in Wales recognise it, the foul and treacherous hand that threw back the door which barred the entrance was the hand of a fellow-Welshman. Once again are the people who so readily lifted to place and power being spat upon by its hero with derision and contumely. But what though politicians and preachers, and all the motley crowd of party hacks and place-hunters join in the un- holy chorus and urge the enslavement of the people, wlta* of it? If the workers) do but, realise it, no government and no force can be strong enough to foist these new shackles upon them without their acquiescence. In spite of the defection of Labour leaders, therefore, in spite of the cunning devices and trickery of political gamesters, we of the T.L.P. recognise our duty in-this matter. With this iniquity there can be no half measures. If we lose in our struggle, we lo without dishonour. We cannot in these days compromise with slavery. What measure of freedom we now enjoy must not—shall not—be sacrificed at the bidding of a bastard patriotism. The fair flower of liberty cannot live in the vitiated atmosphere of mili- tarism. Men there are who will not sear their sout with the "guilt of blood. Let the Govern- ment take heed, therefore, while there is yet time. This foul treachery cannot but bring into open hostility forces whose strength may well suffice to overthrow diplomats and despots in whatsoever quarter they may be found. Craftiness and cunning are not statesmanship and diplomatic devilry is not democracy. The crushing of Prussian militarism may lie a good thing, and even a desirable thing, though an operation best left to Prussians, but the des- truction of British liberties is not desirable, is not permissible, is not tolerable. Millions have not spilt their blood so freely that coming generations might be enslaved, but that they might have life and freedom, and have it more abundantly. It will be the business of the I.L.P. to achieve that larger freedom. Wit. its unshakeable faith in the ultimate awakening of the democracy, who dares to withstand it? And so, on behalf or the movement in South Wales, I assure the Chairman of our Party, whom we are so glad to welome to our midst to-dav, in common with other members of his Council, that we look to them confid- ently for a lead. We are ready for the fray. We look to the future with hope, but our watcrword is still the same as it was of old. We enlist whole-heartedly under the Flag of Socialism and International Peace.

I Penrhiweeiber W.E.A. GUARDIAN TROMANS AND POOR LAW I ADMINISTRATION. Guardian Noah Tromans gave an address on "Poor Law in War Time" to the Penrhiw- ceiber students last Thursday. Poor Law in war time was little different, said Mr. Tromans, to Poor Law in peace times except that certain individuals were always ready to economise, even if they had to rob the most needy of the poor to do so. He dealt with the education of the child in the Homes and also to out-relief, mentioning here that the Abercynon Labour Guardian, W. C. Dyer, had been instrumental in getting an increase of 20 per cent. on out- door relief to meet the extra cost of living. He also remarked that wherever this course had been adopted, it had invariably been moved by the Labour and Socialist Guardians throughout the country. Another interesting fact men- tioned was that the number of vagrants had been reduced by 80 per cent. since the war, thus proving that the large percentage of vagrants who use the workhouse in peace times are will- ing to work, but cannot find it. Mr. Tromans also gave some considerable en.1ightmenE on the question of assessments. An interesting discussion ensued, in which the following, took part: Messrs. Elnrys Hughes, FhiI Thomas, W. Bennett, F. Tromans, W. Jones, and R. WiMiams. A he-artv vote of thanks was given to Mr. Tromans for his ex- cellent address.

Wr HELP THOSE WHO HELP I YOUR PAPER.

Sparks from the Anvil. I Our Junior M.P. i Mr. Stanton lias not learnt the rules of procedure th the House of Commons. His ad- dress last week on the Compulsion Bil. was to some people perhaps good, but it was a case of "dram dros rails." Luekiiy the Mishdir Halier (the Chairman of the Committee) came to his assistance, put him on the rails, and sent him to the main. and the journey was completed by an apology. In the House one has got to adhere to rules, or he might find himself thrown to the "gob" as useless. Local Governing Bodies. I Mr. D. Llewellyn Griffiths, the Clerk of the Aberdare Urban District Council, has resigned, and Mr. T. Botting, the Director of Education under the Education Committee, is in the final for another post. The departure of Mr. Griffiths will I)e a great loss to the town. He was always most obliging when any person wanted information, on municipal and other matters. Mr. Botting is an Aoerdare boy, and I hope that the Education Authority will be able to retain his services. The loss of one good official is as much as the townspeople can bear at once. Well Guarded and Safe. I The gun has arrived at Aberdare, and » exhibited on the square, and is viewed by hundreds daily. We shall be safe at last. Of course, Merthyr was well guarded by having guns placed o-utside the Church, but the place is to be made more secure by the placing of another such article. What an interesting relic, of barbarism to show to the coming generation! It could be of better use by getting it re- melted and handed over tottie blacksmith to weld it to some more useful purpose. Let us do away with such relics of destruction, and place before the children higher ideals con- struction, and not destruction. Our duty is to teach the children to destroy all things that are ordained by man for the purpose of des- troying human life and tightening the, bonds of slavery. The New Court. I T "ist week the new Court House was opened bv the Stipendiary (Mr. R. A. Griffiths). The golden key was used for the occasion, but no dou ht manya. "pooi Tet88011 will find himself locked in, tua*>, e» coin will ncil- be enough to j h mKh e The Stipendiary, in the course of his jocular remarks, paid a great credit to the accuracy and fairness of the Press, not the Press-gang, The Fair Sex, I A new innovation at Aberdare is the intro- duction of lady conductors on our tramway system. Thev look smart in their uniforms, and are complimented on being smarter than the boy conductors. The lads will- have to be on the alert, or the lasses will be the i-rieans of getting them removed. I hope that the girls will be paid at the same rate as the bovs. The I.L.P. I The result of the election has not given the I.L.P. the death blow. Far from it. too! The Pa.rty is making steady progress. They have removed to larger and more ecammodions pre- mises in the main street. Tba meeting or- ganised by the members on Sunday last proves that they are stronger than ever. THE STRIKER. I

The Palace. I ffhe management of this popular house has prepared another great programme of up-to- date attractions for the coming week, but we should mention the nne programme being sub- mitted for the end of this week. It includes an exceptionally nne comedy, featuring Victor Moore, the finest man on the screen, in "Cliiiii- mie Fadden," a picture both grave and gay, wioth a touch of drama and romance, in four acts. This is supported by a fine drama, en- titled "The Green Idol," and a good selection of amusing and interesting pictures. The Ga- zette will contain some interesting items con- nected with the war, and a short but interest- ing travel picture will also be shown "Peasantry Around Smyrna. All well sustained by se- lections of music by the Palace Orchestra. On Monday another fine drama, The Circu- lar Path," featuring Henry B. Walthall, sup- ported by Warda Howard and Edmund Cobb, will be shown. Walthall's fine acting is being greatly appreciated by Palace audiences, and those who have come to look upon this artist as their favourite will be glad to see this all-star picture by H. S. Sheldon. The story is one showing the struggle of a soul from darkness in- to light, a play of strong heart interest. We need hardly mention the other attraction; one word is enough. It's Charlie. In this new Chaplin Comedy we have Charlie Shang- haied." Charlie, in his ignorance of nautical life, makes many absurd mistakes, which are the "Signal of unlimited laughter." "Charliel Shanghaied" will remain during the whole week, giving everyone an opportunity to have a mght of merriment. The finest tonic for the blues, and the children also will have their share of Charlie on Saturday morning next week. On Thursday of next week the star picture will be "Vengeance," a fine comedy-drama in three acts, featuring Richard Travers and Edna Mayo. The bitier bit was never more con- vincingly illustrated than in this engrossing story of political intrigue and blackmail, and the novel and unique revenge. A fine series of pictures of animals, the first of which will be in this picture, a veritable treat for allinal lovers, Animal World No. 1. "Britain's New Army" will be the special war picture, and the remainder of the programme will contain many amusing items, at the top of which will be Charlie," the Palace laughter-maker.

Conscription and Duty. Duty is the Catchword of the Hour. Like all catchwords and glib phrases it is used to delude the mob..Froan all quarters come the cry, "Do your duty." It is the text of all recruiting speeches, the stern command of the newspaper editor, and the refrain of a thousand beautiful little lyrics which fill up gaps in the magazines. Duty has become synonymous with khaki. To many people Nelson's signal at the Battle of Trafalgar represents the last word on the subject. It has become the motto of Lord Kitchener and the platitude of Lord Derby. It is the moral stock-in-trade of the militarist. On every hand the young man is met with the question, "Have you done your duty?" If the young man is neither in uniform nor wears an armlet, it is immediately supposed that he is a mixture of cowardice, heartlessness and selfish- noos; that he beiosgs to the worst degree of society; that he is an individual who cares on- ly for himself, nothing for his neighboring, no- thing for his country. The British Partian-ieni, has now declared that the young single man must be compelled to do his duty: that is. join the Army and In- come a. Conscript. If he does not recognise his duty to the State, he must be made to do so by Act of Parliament; if he refuses to do so, he must be imprisoned. Duty and the State. The Socialist says: "Each man must do his share in society, he must help in the pro- duction of wealth, he must do .everhing in his power to contribute to the welfare of the State; he must realise that it is an impossibil- ity for individuals to live apart from their fellows and exist in a position of isolation. Mutual co-operation must be the basis of a free commonwealth." Yet to-day it is the young Socialist who is loudest in his protest against thrf Government Compulsory Service Act, and rightly so. The newspapers point to this and say, "Your atti- ude is one of contradiction and inconsist- ency you are either a bigoted fool or your creed has no meaning. You. who have al- ways talked about service, are the first to 9p- pose this Bill. Why don't you do your dutyP" The Militarist assumes that the greatest duty a man owes to the State is the duty of be- coming a soldier and participating in the war, and so crushing Germ a militarism. To this the young Socialist r-^pli-.v. We believe in the weiiare ■ s„auj. VJicve that we have a duty to perform 1:0 the State, and we are doing it. In refusiii, Vo take our part in the war we are doing the greatest possible service to the State. In 1916 the greatest duty to the State is re- bell-ion. By rebelling against your authority we are doing the greatest service to society, we are trying to look to the future, to safe- guard the generations of to-morrow and the children that are coming after. When the eyes of the people are blinded by passion, and their brains blurred by the fury of racial hatred and temporary insanity, the citizen with the clear vision and the coof brain must rebel, or society will go down to chaos, destruction and degeneration. War and Duty. The majority of young men have decided that their duty is to become soldiers. They think they can serve the country best by fighting. The question to answer is: Has the horror in Europe tended to make England greater, atod its people better? Can the prolongation of the war serve this purpose?" But one answer can be given. Eighteen months of atrocity, murder and rapine have gone by; millions have been slaugh- tered, mutilated, broken in body and in mind; the fairest parts of Europe have become holo- causts; every fresh campaign irteans a new hell. Gallipoli, Serbia Mesopotamia all tell the same tale of ineffective horror. What of the future? Even the belligerent Mr. Wells recognises that it has all been inde- cisive, and despairs of military victory for either side. We must trear Germany out by the strength of our resources, it is said. What does that mean? Both nations bleeding to death bankrijptey looming in the future; the English working man's stomach pitted against that of the German Working man. A war of attrition means pitting the English workers' nower of resisting starvation against the Gor- man's hunger. Then we hear the politicians prating abotit duty ami the well-being of the State, when the State is being smashed up every day the war lasts. How can the individual best serve the State in this crisis? It is not by adding to the fuel of war, but by standing apart fijom the military machine and working for peace. Duty to the military machine is not duty to the State. The Duty of Rebellion. Conscription means perpetuating war; streng thening the hands of the militarists; playing in- to the hands of the diplomats and the jingoes, forgmg new chains for the enslavement of the woileers generally, and making peace more re- mote. It must be the duty of every citizen who wants England to emerge free, though badly weakened through waste of life and treasure, from this calamity, to see to it that this insidi- ous system is not perpetrated and allowed to taice root in our country. "There is no wealth hub life," said Ruskm, and there is no duty but that which aims at helping life in its progress onward. If it becomes necessary, the greatest duty is the duty of rebellion against this system so skilfully introduced and so cunningly forced upon the workers. Around resistance to the Governnaient Bill would crystallise a great work- ing class movement for peace, the militarists woul d have to curb their annexation aims and thai: Imperialist ambitions, and some hope of a saner Europe might materialise. EMRYS HUGHES.

PLEASE MENTION THE PIONEER WHEN ANSWERING ADVERTS.