Pioneer

Whose Side is God On? SEE PAGE 2

TRADES COUNCIL PETITIUN LUHU CHANCELLOR. PUBLIC RESENTMENT AI MAGIS- TRATES' DECISION. The assault case, Holding v. Rees, which was dismissed by seven Aberdare justices—the Sti- pendiary alone dissenting—last Wednesday week has stirred up the Labour forces in the Valley, and the Trades Council has addressed a petition to the Lord Crancellor. setting forth the case, and asking for an enquiry. Holding, the complainant in the case, is a. haulier, and Rees, the defendant, is the son of a coalowner. It was alleged that Rees assaulted the complainant in the main road the facts a,re briefly set forth in the- Aberdare Trades Coun- cil petition produced hereunder. PROTEST MEETING. On Saturdy night the Labour forces of the Valley held a protest meeting at Black Lion Square. Councillor W. Lawrence presided, and was supported by Councillors E. Stonelake and Idwal Thomas, members of the Labour group on the local Urban Council, and others. Mrs. Rose Davies, chairman of the local Education Committee, was also present. Mr. Stonelake first reviewed the case, and announced that a petition on behalf of the Trades Council, representing 10,000 workmen, had been forwarded to the Lord Chancellor. This petition, which called for an inquiry into the conduct of the seven local magistrates, sitting with the stipendiary magistrate (Mr. R. A. Griffith) on Wednesday last, had also been sent to the local churches, with an appeal that they should endorse it by sending it to the Lord Chancellor with a covering letter. In supporting a demand for an inquiry, Mr. Stonelake said it was amazing that the people so readily allowed themselves to be trampled on" by those who belonged to the "classes." For seme time after hearing the result of the case in question he could scarcely contain him- self with indignation. If the churches of the district would only take the matter up in earn- est and join in the demand for an inquiry, he ventured to think that there would not be a repetition of this kind of thing in the future. Councillor Idwal Thomas moved the follow- ing resolution — That this meeting of the inhabitants of Ajberdare and distript protests riiost. inly against the miscarriage of justice ut the local court on Wednesday last, and directs that such protest he forwarded to the Lord Chan- cellor. Mr. Thomas said that so far as the working classes were concerned, the only court of appeal they had was public opinion. It was their duty to stand at all costs by the complainant, Mr. Holding, who was a son of the people, and to see that justice was. done. What had happened was nothing but a scandal, and it was the duty of the publio to rally to their support in de- manding an inquiry. The resolution was carried unanimously by a show of hands.. THE PETITION. I Trades Council to Lord Chancellor. 1 Ciedwvn Terrace, Aberdare, Glam., 5th .February' 1916. The Hight Hon. the Lord Chancellor, House of I oids, S.W. My I.,oi-d,f am instructed by the Aberdare Traces Council, representative of 10,000 work- men. to ask that an inquiry he instituted into the conduct of the seven local magistrates sit- ting with the Stipendiary (Mr. R. A. Griffith) at Aberdare Police Court, on the 2nd instant in the assault case of Holding v. Rees. Briefly, the case is as follows: —The defend- ant (Mr. Roos) is the son of a wealthy and in- fluential coalowner, and the complainant (Mr. Holding) is a coal haulier. According to the evidence, Holding was proceeding along the main road. and had occa- sion to turn his horse and cart to the left-hand side of the roacl in order to allow a tramcar to pass when the defedant came along from be- hind mounted on a horse and accompanied by a pack of hounds and his groom. Defendant, in trying to pass Holding, told him to get out of his way or he "would bash his face in." Hold- ing replied that he was on his proper side of the road when defendant withdrew his foot from the stirrup and dealt complainant a kick in the ribs, causing injuries necessitating medical at- tention. Defendant then sends for the police, and complains that Holding was obstructing the road and using indecent language. When Holding summoned defendant for as- sault a cross-summons was issued for obstruc- tion and indecent langauge. When the case came on for hearing an unprecedented num- ber of local magistrates sat on the Bench. Fail- ing to agree, tney retired to the magistrates' room., and after some 15 or 20 minutes' con- sultation, the Stipendiary announced that all the summonses were dismissed, and made use of the following words — I wish to say most emphatically that the decision was that of a majority, and I disso- ciate myself entirely from that decision. Your Lordship will note that all summonses were dismissed when only one case had been heard. The next factor upon which we base our re- quest for an inquiry is that (according to a sub- sequent public statement bv the Stipendiary) all the seven local magistrates were against a conviction and the third is that every indica- tion points to the probability of the Bench being packed for the hearing of this case, as they im- media-telv left the building and did not return after lunch. It is also a well ascertained fact that never in the history of the Aberdare Po- lice Court have there been seven local magis- trates on the Bench at the same time. There may have been that number present at a Brew- ster Sessions, some of whom would be Gentle- men from outside the locality. The general public is seething with indigna- tion at the appa-rent injustice of the decision, and upon the three heads mentioned and in the interests of British justice we petition your Lordship to cause an inquiry to be made into these proceedings.-—I am, your Lordship's obe- dient servant, EDMUND STONELAKE. P.S.-I would like to explain that as Trade unionists we have no interest whatever in com- plainant. He is not and never has been a Trade Unionist.—E.S.

I INTERVIEWS WITH THE JUSTICES. I ALLEGATIONS OF PACKED BENCH DENIED. The  S7, The bouth W?Ies Daily News" Correspond- ent on Tuesday night visited the Justices whose decision in the Assault Case. Holding v. Rees, has caused such a public sensation, and oon- cerning which the Abertkre Trades and Labour Oouncil has petitioned the Lord Chancellor. Five of the six were at home, and two of them readily made statements in defence of their position. It will be observed in the report that the Stipendiary disagreed with the decision of the rest of the Bench. One of the Justices was away from home. Mr. Rees Llewellyn (Bwllfa Colliery Co.):- 1 got up that mommg with the intention at being at the colhery as usual. I went through my letters, and then took up the paper and went through the South Wales Daily News." I noticed a paragraph about a meeting of the Joint CoNcihatton Board to take place at Oar- diff at two o'clock. I dressed with a view of going down by the 10.30 train. I asked my confidential clerk how it was he had not brought this before my notice, and he replied that he had not seen anything of it. I looked at my watch and asked my clerk to at once get into telephonic communication with the secretary of the coalowners. I asked him to telephone me at the police court, that I would go there and kill time between 1@.30 and 11.48, and that I would go on bv the 11.48 to Cardiff instead of b- the 10.30. A message reached me at the police court. 'No meeting of the Conciliation Board. It is the Wages Committee meeting.' This was given, me by Mr. Mander, who sat nea-rest to Superintendent Rees at the court. I then re- marked. Alright, I will sit to the end of the court.' That was at about 11.30. That was why 1 was at the police court that day. It was quite by accident, but due alsLe to a desire to put m an appearance some time or other. My hearing is defective, and as a consequence I do not attend as often as I should at the police court. When the Stipendiary asked me at the con- clusion of the case: 'Now, Mr. Llewellyn, what do you say?' I replied, I am sorry I was not able to hear the evidence of the boys, and I vote, due to my defective hearing, with the majority.' I did not know where the majority was. Mr. Llewellyn concluded: "I have explained the position to some of my working men friends." Senior Lay Justice. I Mr. D. P. Davies (senior lay justice and chairman) said :—" At the moment I would rather say nothing. I have not had an oppor- tunity of seeing Mr. Griffith, the Stipendiary, since last Wednesday. I might have something to say later." Mr. D. W. Jones: I have nothing to say." Mr. IF. W. Mander: I have no statome nt to make. I don't consider it a proper thing to talk about outside the magistrates' room. The matter has been dragged in the mud deeply enough without my assisting any farther in that direction." Absolute Justice Done." I Mr. J. H. Powell: So far as I am person- ally concerned, I can only say that there is no truth in the allegation that the Bench had .been packed for the occasion. I did not know until I arrived at the oourt that there was such a, case as Holding v. Rees coming forward. Havmg heard the evidence, I feel that absolute ju ti", ? has been done in the case. More than this I am not inclined to say at present." Mr. Ij. N. Williams I have no statement to make until the magistrates have had an op- portunity of meeting with the Stipendiary." FREE CHURCHES' RESOLUTION. I '1"1 Ille touching official report has been supplied to the Press: -A ta special meeting of the Free Churches of Trecynon district, representing 12 churches, it was, unanimously carried to for- ward the following resolution to the Lord Chan- cellor: That Wè, representing the Free Churches of Tracynon and district, appeal to you to institute an mquiry regarding the ver- dict m the case of Holding v. Rees, given by the majority vote of the Justices of Peace on Wednesday. February 2nd, from which the Stipendiary publicly announced that he dis- sociated himself. We make this appeal both in the interests of the magistrates and the in- dividuals concerned, inasmuch as there is an impression abroad tl-iat justice has not been done and that p?bhe e.pnndence has thereby been BenclT in the administration of the law on' the  Similar resolutions have been passed by Cal- fana (Baptist) Ohureh and Soar (Congrega- tional) Church, Aberdare.

HIRWAIN. I TRIBUTE TO THE LATE MR. DAVID JOI-IN.- At the conclusion of his sermon last Sunday even- ing the Vicar of Hirwain spoke a, few words with regard to the passing away of Mr. David John, who, he said, had been a sidesman of the St. Lleurwg's Church for 12 years in succession. He was one so unassuming, so meek and mild, vet firm as a rock. "The Dead March" was played at the end of the service as a tri- bute to their departed brother.

Stanton The Patriotic Journalist. SOME GLIMPSES AT AN OLD PAMPHLET. I (CONCLUDED.) Men who would net shine in penny-readings at home. The workers sent them there, and it will be for the workers to remove them. The remedy is at hand, and will be applied in the near future. God speed it."—-Mr C. B. Stanton in 1903. When the student peruses the youthful maiin- derings of the .future prophet, he begins to rea- lise how different were the frenzied dreams of the ruthless iconoclast from the more concilia- tory ambitions of the clear-headed patriot. A careful examination of Why We Should Agitate," one of Mr. Stanton's youthful mas- terpieces, reveals this psychological change very plainly. One can conceive the outlook of the frenzied rebel. There would be a place in the new Eng- lish movement for a Robespierre, not a Robes- pierre inclined to quarrel about the philosophy of the Social Contrast, leading red-capped rebels on to murder, but a robust black-locked revo- lutionary urging on the Welsh miners to vigor- ous economic war, a, fervent agitator, intoxica- ted with the fervent enthusiasm of a class war, ic white heat denouncing the oppressors of his kin, and demanding a new and charming social order. As I pointed out last week, he had made a ferocious onslaught on the enemy, and had consigned the Georges to everlasting p&rdition, he bad scoffed at the Empire, pointed to the horror of the shameful wars, and railed about the Navy. The British Constitution also claimed his attention. The Monarchy having been dis- posed of, he turned his attention to the other evils in order of magnitude, the House of Commons, the House of Lords and the Estab- lished Church, By the process of elimination, he proved that there were only two parties—the Capitalist and 'the Labour Party. The observer will note that he has followed his theory to its logical conclu- ion, and nowadays has come down to one the National Party, which he represents, and of whose policy he is the chosen advocate. But, at that time, he had net boiled down divergent opinions to this crystallised essence of patriot- ism. He took sides with the Labour Party. He threw cold water on the enthusiasts of the our- rent war—the Boer War—and wanted to know if one of the results of the Boer War was not unemployment, and would put to Joseph (the late Joseph Chamberlain, M.P.) the ques- tion, Why, if he has the industrial interest of this country at heart, and wishes to see us in a position to compete with foreign nations, doesn't he propose to lessen or do away with the shamefully high royalties upon tin ore, pig iron and ooal ?" ,1 J. ne more simplified National Party was yet to come into being, it had not yet troubled him in his dreams. It is no idle dream," he says, "to picture a strong Labour Party in the House of Com- mons, courageously facing the capitalist gang, find telling them that we no longer come to beg for our rights, but to demand them. We have the necessary courage, eloquence and wis- dom, and the majority of the people are work- ers. and with us, so why should we fear the skulking forces of capitalism? The workers of this country who have so long been asleep will awake and spring into their places in the. ranks of the Labour army, and march with the ever- increasing thousands to do battle with the allied forces of capitalism, despotism and mis-rule, asking no quarter and giving none, until the red flag of Liberty and Progress flies trium- phantly over the strongholds of our enemies." Not a word of gratitude to anybody, a. flamb- oyant challenge; the humility which later sent him down to thank the workers for doing their duty to the nation had not appeared among the traits which now tend to make his ever in- creasing complex character. The House of Commons. t The House of Commons was in the early days one of his pet aversions, The very name is an insult to the democracy of this country." It was the temple of the bloated aristocrats to be hated by the political outcasts and the uncom- promising rebels. The culture of the lounge, and the convivial society of the smoke room did not appeal to him at all. In an outburst of resentment. he turned upon the House of Com- mons as he turned upon the Georges. "I t has often struck me," he says, that an extra powerful electric battery should be fixed to the seats of the House of Commons to work automatically every ten minutes, so that a goodly number of-what shall I call them? sleeping members would be recalled to a sense of their duties." It is not yet recorded that Mr. Stanton has brought this matter before the House of Com- mons, nor is it true that he has been seen in company with Lord Cahrles Beresford interfer- ing with the electrical apparatus of the Cham- ber. But to proceed: To sit in the gallery and watch a much be- jewelled individual, with a frock coat, and an eye glass stuck in his eyes, addressing the House and Mr. Speaker in a voice that must test the hearing of those nearest him—who will mumble something for half an hour without being heard or understood, and who then sits down to receive a few Hear, hears' frojji a. few of his side who happen to be awake-it rather gets on one's nerves." As for the House of Lords., the members of that body required drastic treatment. After some years of careful investigation and inquiry," he says. IItI am convinced that to kick them out, fumigate the premises and put the shutters up, would be greatly to the interest of the people of this nation." Of course, none of these practical suggestions have materialised into anything definite, nor can it be said that he has gone forward with his fantastical scheme in which all of them had set out upon a midnight excursion in a strong sea. in leaky coal barges, with the devil for a. pilot." "My only sympathy," he adds, "would be for the fish," so that it must be assumed that his humanitarianism has overcome his prejud- ices. Conversion. These few notes must not be allowed to accu- mulate into an appreciative biography nor is it my intention to deal psychologically with the phenomena which transformed the boisterous rebel into the self-sacrificing patriot. It is difficult to analyse the light and shade of human experience, but I should like to think that the conversion was somewhat akin to that of Saint Paul, and that a great light dawned upon him and he heard the voice saying, "You were a Britisher before you were a Socialist." But these details will doubtless find a place in the history books. Posterity will wait pa- tiently. For the present I can do no better than call the attention of the eager readers of the Sunday papers to the fact that the new journa- list has had a past as a literary artist, and giye them a glimpse of one of the stepping stones that led to higher things. EMRYS HUGHES. I

I Miners and Motor Ambulances. I I A DELEGATE'S STATEMENT AND EXAM I-I NATION. I By A. J. COOK. I A special conferenoe of the South Wales Miners was held at Cardiff on January 31 to consider the payment of a weekly levy of 6d. for 16 weeks or more towards providing con- jointly with the coalowners a number of motor ambulance cars. Our E.C. unanimously re- commended this levy. Lieutenant Bailey. of the British Red Cross Society, and a friend of his were present art the conference. After the Chairman (Mr. James Winstone) had made a special appeal to the delegates to support the scheme, Lieut. Bailey gave some harrowing sto- ries of the treatment meted out to our wounded soldiers, due almost entirely to the shortage of motor ambulances. Bad as is the condition of the British Army, the French is worse, accord- ing to Lieut. Bailey. He gave one instance which he witnessed of a French soldier having his leg amputated without chloroform, and dying as the result, as tI^.ti<?!ovp.rnTnent could not afford the anaesthetic. So much, I say. for the treat- ment of the conscript army. If Lieut. Bailey's statements were correctand I do not question them. it revealed a, horrible state of affairs in the Army. It revealed to me the callousness and indifference of ouir Government in leaving the succouring and restoration of our wounded comrades to the whims of charity. Is it not the duty of the Government to provide all the re- quisites for our wounded, as well as the provid- ing of munitions, etc., of which they will see there is no shortage? But it is our duty to see that those who join the colours have not to undergo unnecessary suffering and privation by demand ing. that the Government immediate- ly provide all that is necessary. The official report of the Conference in the Press only gives part of the trutJh-that Con- Press only es ference decided by 173 to 91 to ballot the work- men recommending them to support the scheme. Here are the facts:—Vote by show of hands, 128 for. 154 against. Card vote (every vote representing 50: For 1,222. against 1273 51 majority against. Our E.C. were defeated, but they refused to accept their defeat, their honour and reputation being at staker- hence the necessity for a ballot; but not that alone. The Chairman was enthused with our paying weekly a "tanner" that he was sure Lieut. Bay- ley had converted the delegates. Some of our E.C. were super-converts. Hence the diplomacy of our E.C., with a few heart-touching appeals, brought the desired result-a vote of conference recommending a 6d. levy, although the majo- rity had mandates against. The Chairman was sure if only the miners could hear Lieut. Bailey, a coalowner, they would "Pay pay, pay!" What a democratic E.C. we have when it suit. them! What was their attitude over the 2/- monthly contribution? They then denied us a ballot. According to some Government representa- tives the Press and some of our Labour leaders, we are making piles of money, and instead of investing some of this money in the war loan, etc.. we are wasting our fabulous earnings in riotous living. Hence we must economise, pay levies, e-bo. What are the facts relating to our- selves-the miners ? The cost of living has risen practically 50 per cent; wages have risen no more than 171 per event. hence we are really 32 per cent. worse off. The miners are worse off to-day than before the war. The colliers' earnings have been considerably re- duced through shortage of timber, cogs, etc.; and through having to perform many duties for which he does not get paid, allowances are not equated, etc. We contributed an enormous am- ount to the Prince of Wales Fund, and many collieries are supplementing the Government allowances to dependents of soldiers by levy. We are having continual appeals on behalf of the Blind Soldiers, appeal* for the wounded soldiers, reception committees, hospitals, and innumer- alfle flag days. Many of us have near relatives to whom we regularly send "fags" and parcels; many old men who, through old age, ill-health, etc.. are not able to work regularly, who, in fact, should not be working at all, have their sons in the Army. Yet, in face of these facts, we are not to go in for a rise in wages, yet we are a sponge to be squeezed—an orange to be sucked. Our wages are to be taxed; we are to pay, pay, pay! If we refuse, we are called unpatriotic, pro-Germans, etc. Taxing our wages means reducing our living; remember, wages are now below a decent subsistence. It is time we informed those in authority that the limit has been reached; we have already sub- mitted to more than we can bear. Any further taxation upon our class means our degradation: hence I appeal to all lovers of fairplay to show in no iincertain manner your apposition to this levv by voting against it. i

Evolution in its Human Aspect. I INTERESTING W.E.A. LECTURE AT ABER- AMAN. Last Tuesday evening Mr. W. Davies, Aber- anxan, was the speaking at a meeting of the Aberdare Branch of the W.E.A. in the Boys' County School. Mr. E. W. Davies. on the motion of Miss Mary Thomas, seconded by Miss M. A. Edwards, B.A., took the chair. M. The Theory of Evolution in its Human Aspect" was Mr. Davies' topic, and he dealt with it in a scientific and very fascinating way. He began by giving Spencer's definition of ev- olution. Nothing was more wonderful than the discovery by man of the laws by which the world was governed, One of the most import- ant was the law of growth. A list was then given of the names of men who had studied evo- lution. with a brief epitome of their views. How human beings acquired certain chaxacieristict was then explained. There were three great proofs of man's animal origin drawn from the similarity in bodily structure between men and animals, the study of embryology. and of the rudimentary organs of human beings and ani- mals. There were many organs in the human bodv which had fallen into disuse, but their presence proved they were possessed by our re- mote ancestors. The Chairman invited discussion, and Mr. Rogers asked for the reason why animals obev man. Mr. E. W. Davies believed there was more hope in the theory of a gradual rise from a lower state than in the story that man had fallen. Mr. F. Rich spoke of the fear of death, and its absence in the case animals and savages. That evolution may be retrogressive was pointed out by B. Mills Thomas. Mr. F. Davies saw the matter in its bearing to religion. Mr. J. Davies spoke in praise of the Old Tes- tament as poetry. It s' owed that order reign- ed supreme. Mr. Jones also took part in the discussion. A vote of thanks to Mr. W. Davies was pro- prosed by Mr. J. Davies, and seconded by Mr. F. Davies.

Bargoed Soldier to be Honoured.^ lp & .v T C 0 M 0 ATI 0 N FOR D.C.M. Sergeant A. Taylor, B Battery, R.F.A., writes from hospital in Rouen on February 4: — There is a chap out here who has been wounded doing a little more than his bit. We were under heavy shell fire when our telegraph wires got broken, and we could not get any message through from O.P. to guns. Our wiremen were away in another direc- tion, so Ivor Jones, gunnery, of B Battery, R.F.A., went out to find and repair the damaged wire. He succeeded in doing this under heavy fire, and got back to his gun wounded slightly in two places. He had a good reception when he got back. and his captain has recommended him for the D.C.M. Before enlisting Gunner Jones was a ifre- man at Bargoed Colliery, P.D., and his wife and family live at 9 Tredegar Terrace, Aber- bargoed. Seen by a Pressman this week, Mrs. Jones said:—"We are so proud we hardly know what to do, What an anniversary to our wedding it will be on the 25th of this month We were married 15 years ago." Mrs. Jones said her husband's full name is Godfrey Ivor Jones, but he is generally known as Ivor Jones. He is a native of Abertillery, and enlisted in September, 1914. He was wound- ed on January 22, and has been in hospital at Rouen ever since. Gunner Jones has lived ten years in the Bar- goed district, where he is well known and res- pected. For three years he was a fireman at the P.D. Colliery, Bargoed'.

The Palace. An exceptionally fine programme is to be sub- mitted on Monday next at this popular house. Manager Hall-Jones has secured a magnificent subject in "The Queen Mother," J. A. Camp- bell's great stage drama, which has been pro- duced by the well-known All-British firm, the Clarendon Co. The story is staged in the most elaborate manner, and acted in scenes of un- precedented splendour. The caste includes the famous West End artistes, Miss Gladys Mason and Mr. Owen Roughwood. It is a fine play, swift in action, full of life and colour. A picture no one should fail to see. and a charm- ing story of court life in four parts. A further episode of the popular Lucille Love" Serial will be shown, being the fourth of "The Broken Coin." The special war picture will be Ele- roes of Hill 00," and special pictures in the Gazette. The remainder of the programme is a selection of comedy and comic pictures. On Thursday next week the greatest and most thrilling railway drama ever produced, and one that took America by storm, will be shown. This Colossus of modern railway dramas is The. Juggernaut," by the Vita graph Co. "The Juggernaut" far transcends all other previous efforts in thrill and sheer realism. It is a rare picture, and like the picture on Monday, is one that should be seen by all picture-goers. Fol- lowing this in the programme is a fine drama, "The Barrier of Prejudice." At the present moment, when Zeppelin raids are in the public mind, the interesting little picture, "The Men- ace of the Air," will give some idea of these destructive monsters and the way they are mani- pulated. The rest of the programme is of an amusing character, and the whole supported by special and appropriate music by the Palace Orchestra.

Or HELP THOSE WHO HELP low YOUR PAPER.