Pioneer

Gardening Notes. I If any reader who is in a difficulty with refer- ence to his garden will write directly to the address given beneath, his questions will all oe answered free of charge, in full detail, and JV return of post.—Editor. PLANTS FOR SHADY PLACES. I The question as to what flowers to grow in shady places in the garden is one that often causes much trouble to gardeners, so that it may be well to briefly consider the best of them. Anemone japonica, a fine and tall autumn- flowering sort, admirable for cut flowers, and obtainable in several excellent white and rose- coloured varieties. This simply needs to be planted in rich, deep soil, and then left to take care of itself. Anemone sylvestris, better known as the Snowdrop Woodflower, grows 15 inches high, and produces beautiful buds and large white flowers. Anemone appenina and anemone nemorosa. Aquilagia vulgaris, the common columbine, or which there are many pretty hybrids. Arabis albida, the rock cress, forming in early spring sheets of white blossom, and grow- ing anywhere. There are variegated and double-flowered forms of this. Aquilegia alpina, the mountain snow. Asperula odorata, the sweet woodruff, which is toe familiar to need description. Dianthus deltoides, the pretty maiden pink, which grows almost anywhere, and makes a charming rockery plant or edging. There are several varieties. Doronicum caucasicum, bearing large, daisy- like yellow blossoms in spring, and growing where many other plants fail to thrive. The Harper Crewe variety is by far the best. Erant-his hvemalis, winter aconite. This has a pretty little yellow flower, valuable for its early blooming, and contrasting well with the snowdrop, with which it appears. It grows only three inches high, but increases rapidly, and requires very little attention when once planted. Gentiana acaulis, most lovely of the Gentians, makes a beautiful edging or subject for the rock-garden. The colours vary from blue to white. It grows freely in any good, moist soil. Lily of the Valley is also too well known to require more than mention. Orobus vernus. bearing in April beautiful blue and purple blossoms.. This is a beautiful border plant. Paeonies grow luxuriantly in places that are so shaded that few plants will do more than live in them, and are also amongst the most beautiful of hardy perennial plants. Phloxes also do well in shady spots; and oil them there is an immense variety of beautiful hybrids. Phlox reptans is very. suitable for borders and for the rock-garden, the woolly foliage making nice tufts. Polygonatum or Solomon's seal, which grows well in any shady position in rich, sandy soil. Polyanthus and Primroses, which yield very charming effects in spring and love a moist, rich soil. Saxifraga hyponoides, the mossy Saxifrage, forming tufts of the freshest green, making perfect carpeting plant for the winter. Saxi- fraga Cotyledon, which has silvery rosettes of foliage and pyramids of white blossom. Saxi- fraga sarmentosa, the common mother of thou- sands. Many other Saxifrages will do nicely in shaded spots. I Sedum Sieboldit, a well-known kind with; glaucous leaves, growing about 12 to 15 inches high in the garden. It is often cultivated in potJB, but does nicely in the open air. There is a variegated variety but it is not perfectly hardy. Some other sedums will grow in the s h ade. Scillas, which are amongst the prettiest of spring and early summer-flowering bulbs. Their flowers resemble those of the hyacinth, but are smaller and more intense in colour. The best suited for shady places are S. nutans and S. hispanica. Silene schafta. a spreading plant, covered with large purplish rose flowers from July to September. Tiarella cordifolia. the foam flower, a hardy plant of very great beauty, and requiring only to be occasionally divided. The vincas or periwinkles, which are useful for many positions round the roots of trees, &c. Violets of various kinds. PROTECTING FRUITS FROM BIRDS. One of the best preventives of birds taking small fruits is to spread second-hand herring netting over the bushes. The expense is incon- siderable. and the benefit great. Where such fruits as cherries are grown in large numbers, it is a good plan to plant some early and sweet varieties, to which the birds will be found to devote most of their attention. Of course, in the case of large plantations, the injury done by birds is proportionately less than in small ones. Raspberries and blackberries can often be protected by planting elder and mulberry near them. Quite an ingenious method that in some in- stances answers very well is to have several hawks mounted in natmval positions int8.1B trees or bushes. SEEDING GARDENS. There is no greater source of disappointment and loss than the too early sowing of seeds; and a goodly proprotion of the seeds that fail in gardens fail because they are sown under im- possible conditions, and before the ground is warm enough for germination. Seeds must have both a definite temperature and a supply of moistuve for germination; and the different amounts required for different seeds and classes of seeds vary considerably, so that one kind of seed may germinate well under temperature conditions that would destroy another sort. Seeds may be sown in many mediums, such as soil, cocoanut fibre, moes and the like; but soil is generally best, as it supplies food for the nourishment of the seedlings when they ap- pear. Some seeds germinate quicker in eocoa- Rut fibre; and are transplanted thence to soil when the seedlings are big enough. The depths of sowings depends upon different conditions. Out of doors, where the moisture :supply is less easy to control, thev are sowa deeply than is necessary in the green- house or frame. The old rule of twice the depth of the seed is suitable for sowings under glass when proper care is given; but four times this depth is generally necessary in the open ground. The seeds may 'be planted shallowly in proportion as the ground is fine and well prepared. Seed beds are generally desirable for garden crops, as they can be better looked af- ter. Moreover, in the prooess of planting out, the gardener holds the seedlings, and selects for planting only the best of them, thus improving the crop markedly. Where the seed-bed is in the open air, and is to be used late in the season, it is a good plan to cover it with a layer of manure in autumn or early spring, and to allow this covering to stay until it is time to sow the seeds. The ground will then be found in excellent condition for sowing. and well enriched in the nourishment the seed- lings need. The coating of manure must be quite a heavy one to be really effective. Care must Be taken that the seedlings are not too thick and that they do not suffer from a lack of light. Inattention to these matters re- sults in the young plants being drawn up, and so becoming useless. Fresh seeds usually germinate best; and it is advisable to get with every packet of seeds a guarantee that it is new, since some seed- dealers keep seeds in stock year after year, until they have lost the whole of their germina- ting power. E. KEMP TOOGOOD, F.L.S.. F.R.Met.S.. pro Toogood and Sons, The King's Seedsmen, Southampton. I I

Fight for Freedom. By MALDWYN. I If there is anything of value, it is liberty— liberty of body, liberty of mind.Ingersoll. The British democracy to-day exists under a. system of State serfdom of the vilest type. Link after link in the binding chain of legislation is forged to fetter the people's liberty. Hence the bureaucrats and the plutocrats are pleased, and the enemies of the light are delighted. The Government has pushed on the clock to- wards the hour of slavery with great rapidity during the last 19 months. We have on the Statute Book a Munitions Act which is hated and feared, and regarded by the workers as the most hellish menace to their hard-won li- berties. Conscription is also now the law of the land. By this Act the people of the coun- try are compelled to sacrifice their lives. Every intelligent worker has good cause to believe that there are reasons other than military exi- gencies behind this precious piece of Lloyd- Georgeism. It aims at industrial slavery. There I* also that other highly PI ussian piece of legislation that we call the Defence of the Realm Act. The King's Bench Division has now die- oided that this Act over-rides the Habeas Cor- pus Act. That decision was upheld by a strong Court of Appeal. So now it is agreed by the powers that be that the Government has the power to imprison a British subject without oharge or trial. The position is serious. Under the cover of patriotism the bourgeosie politi- cians are dangerously near rivetting the shac- kles of serfdom on British democracy for generations. The first victim of this Defence of the Realm Act in this district happens to be Comrade Sparkes, of Bcdlinog, an untiring worker in the cause of Socialism in the Merthyr Valleys for many years. His case was heard at Mer- thyr Police Court on Friday last. Our comrade was charged with making statements which were likely to prejudice recruiting. Three of the witnesses, however, admitted that he said nothing in their hearing against recruiting. The personnel of the witnesses for the prosecu- tion was somewhat peculiar. It was quite a curious, if not a comic, combination. It con- sisted of a butcher, a preacher, and two pub- licans. Presumably it was a case of people of different vocations and views sinking their in- dividual differences for the day for the sake of King and Country. So for once in a life the Pharisee and the Publican, the juice of the barleycorn, and the water of everlasting life, the prophet of Christ and the priests of Bacchus were espoused in holv matrimony. The case, however, ended in a fine of £ 3. The defendant said: "I have no money to pay; I am a bank- rupt He was kindly given the alternative of 28 days down under. An honest and respect- able British citizen was put in the cell for the first time in his life. After about half-an- hour's detention the bird was released from the cage. The fine had been paid by the witnesses for the prosecution r Of course, it could have been paid by his friends, but the comrade was unwilling. Being myself a poor, penniless pro- letarian, I have not the least idea about invest- ments, but the payment of the fine by those persons appears to me to be a queer piece of speculation. If anyone labours under the delusion that this incident has lessened our zeal for the great cause one jot or tittle, I can assure him that he makes a profound mistake. No, it has rather deepened and intensified our opposition to ty- ranny. It behoves all frieods of freedom to be more on the alert to-day than ever. The price of the necessaries of life increases daily, so that the Shylocks may profit; capitalists and politi- cians run roughshod over our hard-won liber- ties. The minds of our cliildren an-o poisoned with false religion and false patriotism. And the people don't think; they simply feel. Class- conscious workers must wage a fierce and relent- less fight against these pernicious attempts to deprive British people of their political and in- dustrial liberties. In this fight every force and factor in the proletariat must be utilised. The tactics adopted by the enemy are so keen that we must watch with the eyes of Argus and strike with the arms of Breasans. We must assail this monster of tyranny in a manly and militant manner; to hasten the day when Freedom will .e' rising itself above all govern- ments and empires As some tall cliff that lifts its awful form Swells from the vales, and midway leaves fhe storm— Though round its breast the rolling elouds ar-e spread. Eternal sunshine settles on its head."

'Phone 597. 'Phone 597. WILLIAM TRESEDER, Ltd. THE NURSERIES, CARDIFF. WREATHS, CROSSES, CUT FLOWERS, &c. BEDDING PLANTS. Asters, Stocks, Dahlias, Marguerites, Lobelia, &c. Tels "TKESBBEK, FLORIST, CARDIFF.

Llith Agored i Grefyddwyr Cymru. Fy Nghydgrefyddwyr,-Gellid meddwl ar ol dau-fis-ar-oymtheg o ryfel v dylai yr arteithiau ingol ddioddefir yn nglyn ar frwydr fod wedi eich sobreiddio o'ch meddwdod gwaedlyd, ao wedi dysgu i chwi maent eich cyfrifoldeb yn cefnogi erchylldra mor groes i ddysgeidiaeth Crist, ond yn lie dyfod yn fwy eiddgar eich tym- hor lwyd eich cynddaredd i fwy graddau bob dydd, ac i'r graddau y cwyd eich cynddaredd yr ydych yn myned yn ol ar ogoniant Duw. Ofer i chwi geisio lonyddu cydwybod wrth bleidio hawliau dinasyddiaeth fel cyfiawnhad am eich hanfyddiaeth i Gristionogaeth, oblegid gwyddoch mai amod cadwedigaeth yw teyrn- garwch i .Frenin y Breninoedd, ac nid i frenin- oedS daeat,ol--i ymlyniad i ddysgeidiaeth y Testament Newydd, ac nid i ddysgeidiaeth mil- wriaeth. Yr ydych wedi gwadu eich Ceidwad filwaith yn y rhyfel presenol, ac yr ydych yn Ei fflangellu, a'i groeshoelio bob tro y rhoddwch eich cymeradwyaeth i'r gyflafan Ewropeaidd. Mae eich gwybodaeth o'r Ysgrythyr yn ddigon eang i gydnabod fod Crist wedi llefaru: "Gwyn eu byd y tangnefeddwyr canys hwy a elwir yn blant i Dduw," ond amlwg wrth eich hym- ddygiad nad ydych erioed wedi amgyffred pwy- sigrwydd y geiriau. Bvddai anwybyddu athraw- iaethau Christ trwy bod yn oddefol yn y rhyfel yn bechod dibryd ynoch, ond mae eich canfod yn mhlith erlydwyr tangnefeddwyr ac yn sangu dan draed gorchymynion dwyfolaf yr Iesu yn eich gosod yn mhlith llofruddion Golgotha. Y mae nifer fechan yn eich plith yn ceisio oadw i fyny anrhydedd crefydd trwy weithio i der- fynu y rhyfel, ac yn lie derbyn cefnogaeth can- lynwyr Tywysog Hedd, derbynant eu Hid, eu gwawd, eu cabledd a'u hathrod. Dywedwch, chwi broffeswyr orefydd, pa le yn y Testament Newydd yr ydych yn cael awdurdod i wneyd y pethau hyn? Orochlefwch "Pro-Germans"ar ol y tang- nefeddwyr bloeddiwoh nerth eich genau malais eiriau yh erbyn pawb na chefnogant y rhyfel waedlyd; dygwch yn eu herbyn gyhuddiadiau brwnt, di-sail, a phob tro yr halogwch eich "Wefusau ai- fath gabldraeth yr ydych yn dam- nio eich heneidiau. Nid yr hwn a ddywed, Arglwydd, Arglwydd, a ddaw i mewn i deyrnas Nefoedd, ond yr hwn sydd yn gwneyd ewyllys fy Nhad, yr Hwn sydd yn y Nefoedd." Da chwi gwasgwch wers y geiriau hyn i'ch calonau. Yn sior fod crefydd yn Ngwlad Oleu'r Efengyl wedi colli pob elfen ddyrchafol, fod crefyddwyr wedi darostwng i hydew paganaidd pan yr ys- tyrid yn bechod i gondemnio rhyfel, a phan yr erlidir y saw l a'i condemnia. Beth ddal eich liyawdledd wrth "gorsedd gras?" beth ddal-eich mynychiad o'r cyfarfodydd ar y Sul a'ch di- wydrwydd yn trysori Gair Duw ar eich cof ? beth ddal eich proffes o gwbl pan y mae eich gweith- redoedd bob dydd yn bradychu eich Pharese- aeith P Onid yw Gweddi'r Arglwydd yn dysgu brawdoliaeth a chariad? Gweddiwch, "Gwneler dy Ewyllys ar y ddaear, megys yn y Nef." Beth ydyw Ewyllys y Tad? "Hyn yr wyf yn ei oroh- ymyn i chwi garu o honoch eich gilydd." Ai tybed, felly fod rhyfel yn fynegiad o Ewyllys Duw? Yn ngwyneb y geiriau hyn onid oab- ledd yw gweddio a llid yn y galon? "Gwae chwi Phareseaid!" Yr ydych yn ymfalchio fod Mesur Gorfodol Milwrol wedi dyfod vn ddeddf gwlad. Ni waith i chwi wadu, yr ydych yn lloni wrth feddwl y bydd rhaid i ddynion ieuainc ein gwlad ymuno a'r fyddin er i'r ymuniad fod yn foddion i ddamnio eu heneidiau. A gwaeth na'r cyfan, yr ydych yn ymfalchio, nid am eich bod yn credu fod anghen y gorfedwyr er mwyn enill y frwydr, ond am fod y tangnefeddwyr yn dyfod o dan y ddeddf. Mae each casineb wedi cyr- haedd y fath nod cywylyddus nes i chwi beryglu cadwedigaeth eich heneidiau eieh hunain er mwyn gweled yr unig bobl sydd yn arwyr i ddysgeidiaeth Crist ar gwestiwn rhyfel, yn cael eu cospi am eu geirwiredd. Y mae pregethwyr CymTu wedi bod yn ddiwyd dyhuno cydwybodau eu gwrandawyr i sylweddoli rhagorfreintiau breniniaeth Tywysog Hedd, ao yn awr am fod rhai o'u dysgyblion yn gofyn rhyddhad o weithrediadau y Mesur Gorfodol Milwrol ar dir eydwybbd, mae'r pregethwyr a'r praidd yn cefni arlaynt ac yn eu galw yn bob math o gas-enwau. Y mae eithriadau, wrth gwrs, yn mhlith gwenidogion ac aelodau, ond fel corph o grefyddwyr yr ydych yn erlyd y tangnefeddwyr i gyd. Yn wir, y mae digter rhai o honoch mor anghymodlawn a chynddar- edd gwehelyth Gehenna, ac ni fuasai dim yn fwy dymunol genych na gweled yr yehydig grefyddwyr a chydwybod ganddynt yn dioddef prif gosp y wlad am eu hymddigiad. 0! ddil- ynwyr proffesedig yr addfwjTi Iesu, ai dyma'r modd y cedwch yr archiad dwyfol—" Garu o honoch eich gilydd?" A ydyw ymddwyn fel gwaedgwn rheibus tuag at eich cyd-ddynion— eich cyd-frodyr yn Nghrist—yn fynegiad o'r ddysgeidiaeth tangnefeddus, Cerwch eich gelynion, bendithiweh y rhai alch melldith- iant?" Oaru? Nid yw v fath air yn ngeir- iadur eich bywyd. 0 ragrithwyr, da y proph- wydodd Esaias am danoch chwi, gan ddywedyd, Nesau y mae y bobl hyn attaf a'u genau, a'm hanrhydeddu a'u gwefusau, a'u calon sydd bell oddiwrthyf. Dywed rhai o honoch mai fel dinesyddion y oemogwch y rhyfel, ao nid fel crefyddwyr. Gwarchod pawb! Pan ddaw dydd eich prysur bwyso ger bron Brawdle'r lor, a feiddiwch gyf- iawnhau pechod gyda'r fath honiad ? Ai tvbiwoh mi-n foment fod proffes yn unig o gre- fydd yn myned i'ch cadw rhag uffern ? Oni wyddoch fod y cythreiliaid yn credu fel chwy- thau, ond rhagorent arnoch chwi i'r graddau y crynent? Os yw gofynion dinasyddol yn milwrio yn erbyn gorchymynion Cfist, beth yw eich dy- ledswydd? Ffydd heb weithredoedd marw yw," ac y mae eich gweithredoedd chwi yn profi yn ddiamheuol nad oes ynoch ffydd gymaint a gronyn o had mwstard. Nid wyf am eich beio am gefnogi y rhyfel; beiaf chwi am rhagrithio. Da chwi byddwch yn onest, a chauwch ddrysau eioh capeli tra parhao y rhyfel. o herwydd ffug yw eich haddoliad. Ni ellwch wasanaethu Duw a Mamon." Heblaw myned o honoch yn inffideliaid, cyll 11awer o honoch pob rith o foesgarwoh. Yn ddiweddar, oddiar ddechreuad y bygythiad o orfodi pob dyn ieuanc di-oriod i ymuno a'r fyddin, oododd mudiad newydd yn y wlad i wrthweithio y dyla-nwadau erchyll wthieat y pechod hwn ar y trigolion. Gelwid y mudiad hwn yn "No-Cb-nscription .Fellowship"—Cym- deithas Gwrth-Gorfodol. Nid yw'r gymdeithas yn perthyn i unryw Maid wleidycldol, ac nid ei hamoan yw ymyrid a gwleidyddiaeth; amoan ei bodolaeth yw rhoddi cyfleusdra i ddynion ieuainc o dueddiadau tangnefeddus i drefni eu rhengoedd yn erbyn y gelyn milwrol. Wel, I mewn rhai ardaloedd, bu aelodau y mudiad Cristionogol hwn mor feiddgar a gofyn i chwi —aelodau eglwysig-am fenthyg e,ich festris gynal eu cyfarfodydd. Er i'r cais gael ei wneyd yn foneddigaidd, ac yn rheolaidd, aethoch yn wenflam gan gynddaredd, ac nid yn unig y gwrthodoch y festris, ond hebrynoch y gwrth- odiad a phob gwawdiaeth mileinig a chyhudd- iadau anwireddus. a gwnawd hyn holl er i'r vmgeiswyr, y rhan fwyaf o lionynt fod yn aelodau eglwysig acyn haelionus tuag at yr "achos." Cofier nad wyf yn sibrwd gair yn erbyn y bechgyn dewr sydd yn brwydro ar faes y gwaed. Teilynga y rhai hyn goreu eu oyd-ddynion am eu bod yn arthu eu bywydau mewn achos yr ystyrent yn dda. I bob dyn yn ol ei gydwybod; ond y mae mor anheg i orfodi bechgyn ystirient rhyfel yn bechod i ymladd, ag ydyw i atal ereill ystyrient y rhyfel yn beth cysegredig. Y mae y Cyfamod Eglwysig yndysgu fod cwestiwn cyd- wybod yn fwy pwysig na dim. fod yn ofynol i roi mewn i'r mwyafrif ar bob cwestiwn ond y cwestiwn mawr hwn. Ac, yn wir, ychydig amser yn ol, pan oedd cwestiwn addysg gre- fyddol yn ysgolion elfenol ein gwlad yh cael ei ddeddfu yn anfanteisiol i anghydffvrwyr, aeth llawer i'r carchar yn hytrach nag ufuddhau i orchymynion y Senedd, ac yr oeddech chwi y pryd hwnw yn canmol y gwroniaid hyn am eu ffyddlondeb i'w hargyhoedaiadau. Gyda phob gwleidd-dra y dywedaf nad oedd pwysigrwydd addysg grefyddol i blant yr ysgolion i'w gym- haru a phwnc cydwybod yn nglyn a rhyfel. Mae ceisio gorfodi dyn i gymeryd bywyd ei gyd-ddyn pan y mae holl gyneddfau ei enaid yn erbyn y fath weithred yn bechod gwarthus. Gall fod v rhyfel presenol i'w gyfiawnhau gall fod yr Ell- myn yn euog o'r holl gyhuddiadau ddygid yn ei erbyn, ond pe bai ddeng mil gwaeth nag ydyw ni fyddai yn ddigon o reswm i orfodi dyn i ymladd yn erbyn oi gydwybod. Dichon i chwi gredu fod enill y frwydr yn fwy pwysig na chydwybodau tangnefeddwyr, ond yn ngolwg Duw nid yw enill yr holl fyd yn iawn-dal am golli un enaid, a chofiwch mai Duw yw barnwr cydwybodau. ac nid y ohwi, ac wrth erlyd a gwawdio y bechgyn wrthodant rhyfela, s'ofalwch nad ydych yn erlyd a gwawdio eich Oreawctwr. Yn awr, wrth derfynu, caniatewch i mi bwys- loisio eto fod eich hymddygiad yn hollol groes i ddysgeidiaeth yr Hwn y proffesweh Ei e felychu. "0 chorwch fi, cedwch fv ngorchymynion," sydd archiad y bwriadwyd i'w gadw, ac y mae gorchymynion Orist yn bendant a digamsyniol dros heddweh. Pc bai eich orefydd chwi yn rhywbeth mwy na phroffes chwi fuasech ar eich heithaf yn gweithia am d.rfyn y rhyfel. ond yr ydych chwi wedi gwadu eich Ceidwad, ac wedi plygu mewn gwarogaeth i dduw rhyfel. Yn wir. yn wir, meddaf chwi. chwi a dderbyn- iwch eich gwobr. I ASAPH GLYN NEDD.

I The Military Octopus. I I By THOMAS THOMAS. I Slowly but surely are the tentacles oi the military octopus closing around the last ves- tiges of British tfivic liberty. Already some of the advocates of war are looking aghast at the encroachments of this sinister evil, and are be- ginning tQ) ask what baleful influence is this that recognises no moral law; that prosecutes its fell purpose regardless of cherished ideals, of the claims of conscience, and the soul's we l- fare. Everybody knew of the malignant effect of this evit in Germany, and everybody rushed to arms the moment it was feared that this country was threatened with its abhorrent as- cendancy but in the process of destroying the German evil, behold! the Prussians in our midst have succeeded in as firmly establish- ing the iniquity in Britain as ever it existed om the Continent. How much worse was the ex- pression of military tyranny in the Zabern af- fair of a few years ago (over which there was so much indignation engendered in this coun- try) than the brutal hooliganism of the Anti- German League responsible for breaking up the Brotherhood Meetings of Devonshire House, Bishopsgate? Incidents happen every day tes- tifying to the spread ef military ascendancy— an ascendancy which the civil population will be made to feel and fear with an ever in- creasing apprehension. The people of this country almost en bloc, have acquiesced in the Prussianising of Britain; the Church and the Trade Union movement — all have tacitly agreed to the evil as a "regret- table necessity," and having sown the wind, they will now have to harvest the whirlwind. Military discipline and military law know not sympathy and extenuating circumstances diff- erent to civil rule their powers are almost il- limitable, and to violate their rigid code is to expose the culprit to punishment not publish- ed in the Press. And this is what the Com- pulsory Army Act has done-given to courts- martial the right of dealing with men who, brought up in an environment absolutely an- tithetical to militarism, naturally resent be- coming soldiers. The Labour Party in Parliar- ment following a policy of allowing the fox to run amuck the fowls, but diligently watchful of the inherent right of the fowls to cackle, carefully attended .the progress of the Con- scription Bill through the House of Commons, and duly insisted on amendments when they thought, the clauses of the Act jeopardised the welfare of Traces Unionism, and yet the mea- sure, with all its amendments, is a distinct me- nace to the very existence of organised Labour. Despite the plausible assurances of the Govern- ment, and despite safeguarding amendments, everyone coming within the operations of the Compulsory Service Act will be made to feel that Trades Unionism will prove of little pro- tective value, and that the protests of Trade Union leiaders will be as effective against mili- tarists as the bleating of a lamb before a wolf. The evil was done in allowing such a measure to pass, and its evil influences can only be nullified by the repeal of the Act. The Bill specifies that no employer can take advantage of the Trade Union activities of a starred wor ker by dismissing him. Heaven defend us from our friends! is there not a hundred and one ways of killing a dog besides choking it with butter? Then the Bill further enjoins that when a starred worker voluntarily leaves his employment (which will be a, very re- mote contingency) he does not become subject to military discipline for two months, during which time he is allowed the privilege of seeking work in some other "starred indus- try. Failing to obtain work in a starred industry, the worker automatically becomes a soldier. Needless to say, that the partially exempted worker in a "starred" trade, if un- fortunate enough to lose his employment, will require to be a stained glass angel before he gets employment elsewhere. And it is also evident that the life of a partially exempted worker will, under a degenerate official, be made into a hell if he dare display a spirit of divine discontent against the conditions of his labour. Miners' leaders have assured the, eligible collier that working in a, starred industry like the coal mine, he can safely at- test without fear of victimisation, or being en- forced into the army. Hundreds have attested on the grounds of this belief, and every one of them is labouring under a delusion. No man's work is essential to his employer, and no power of any Trade Union can render a man immune from military duties. Workers in starred" industries who loathe the idea of entering the army will be in a very invidious position, for if possessing an independent spirit with a strain of the agitator, they will either have to eat humble pie or suffer the consequences. The whole tendency of the Compulsory Bill will be to make attested workers servile to their em- ployers, and once that spirit becomes prevalent, Trade Union principles will cease to count. However harsh and unreasonable an employer- may be. the worker will ha"9 to obey him or be prepared for military service. The Trade* Union leader will say: I won't tolerate that," and his righteoils protest will be. as futile as- his protest against Conscription. There were hundreds of victimised men in the coalfields during times of peace—men who, because of their Trade Union activities, could not get a' day's work in any colliery around their homes, I and who had to stoop to subterfuges in order to get work elsewhere. It is on record that men have been victimised by employers simply for attending a Labour College for educational pur- poses, the expenses of which were paid 1Qy their Trade Unions. If the Federation could not pro- teot such men under civil law, it is hardly credible that protection can be extended under- f military rule. No; however emphatic the as- j suranoes of the Government, and however sat- isfactory the safeguard amendments to Compulsory Act may alppear to the snug, self- complacent Trade Union leaders of the patrio-- tic colour, there is enough grease smeared over the measure to slide every eligible Trade Un- ionist into the trenches of the jail. The safe- guards of every Act of Parliament are essential- ly of such a friable nature as to easily break asunder beneath the hammer of legal juris- prudence. The lawyer giveth, and the lawyer taketh away; blessed be the name of the lawyer. Meanwhile, it is interesting to know that while the Government have generously pro- vided for the representation of Labour on the f Local Tribunals, they have also rendered in- valid their generous provision by ensuring a • military representative at every tribunal, who- j will have the right to appeal against the de- cision of the members of the tribunals. The 1 Conscientious Objector claiming exemption be- fore such tribunals, even should he establish his claim to the satisfaction of the civil members, will be subject to the mercy of the military re- presentative. However, nil desperandum! the members of the No-Conscription Fellowship are,, imbued by motives which will carry them through these evil times with clean souls. Un- less those men get total exemption from mili- tary service, then the Government will be placed in a knot which no court-martial will be L, able to untie. The only thing to do is to Vs repeal the Act, and thus obviate the perils which threaten both the workers and the. Gov- ernment.

Stanton's Bogey. I o y n STILL OBSESSED WITH THE PRO-GER- MAN I.L.P. MISTAKE. i Mr. O. B. Stanton still finds his chief in- spiration for his addresses in the cowardly lie: ■> that the I.L.P. is pro-German, and liis Mu- nitions Parliamentary Committee address at > Dyllas Collieries, Llwydcoed, on Monday., was- a striking example of the desperate straits to j which his stronge nonomania drives HTm. R ferring to the members of the I.L.P., he said that their loyalty was not above poisoning the minds of the workers %v telling them that they would be better off under German rule- He knew something about the lot of the miner in Germany, where Trade Unionism was a. mere sha'm as contrasted with what it was in this country owing to the iron-like grip with which the Teutonic Government held the masses. It was a pity that means were not available for the transportation of the I.L.Peers- to Kaiserland, for they were not worthy of a. place among the rank and file of the Welsh miners. He was indeed a low specimen of humanity who found fault with him because he visited the pit-tops to convey to the collier the gratitude of those in power for what they were doing in this, the most serious crisis in the history of our country. That was just what the- members of the LL.P. had done in the Aber- dare district. But their mean tactics were well known throughout the land. They talked, in. f their attempt, to blind and gull the masses. about the existence of an international diplom- j acy. They were always inhaling the atmos- phere of diplomacy, as their doctrine was no j other than that of daring intrusion into quar- ters where they hoped to pick up something, capable of being converted against the interests J of the country to which they were supposed pay allegiance as citizens. They were opposed -f to the voluntary system, and yet they were deadly antagonistic to compulsion. Therefore, they had only one motive—that of doing their utmost to let the Germans in. He had, how- ever, every confidence in the loyalty of the" Welsh miners to wash their hands of a motive so cowardly. The I.L.Peers had even insinua- ted that he and other speakers were addressing meetings of the kind with the veiled inten- tion of plumbing the feeling of the miners upon the question of compulsion. The innu- endo was literally on all fours witk I.L.P. slanders, and wauld be regarded as such by the rank and file. t

Always under the Influence of Drink. MERTHYR MOTHER SUMMONED FOR NEGLECT. i SAD ^TORY TOLD TO MAGISTRA rES. ine complaint against this woman is that. she is always under the influence of drink, whether we go to the house morning, noon- or night, said Mr. C. B. James at Merthyr on Friday, in opening a summons against An- nie Rees, 18 Brewery Street, Merthyr, for neg- lecting her three children. Continuing Mr. James said: "She leaves her three children for long stretches absolutely unprotected They are to be found in the house, in front of » big fire, without any guard or anything. The house itself is in the usual squalid state, and unfortunately we find it in this kind of state- The beds consist of rags, and nothing else. We have found this woman drunk at 10.30 in the morning, and even found the children running about absolutely naked at I o'clock mid day. She seemed to spend the whole of her time and the money she received from her husband-a car worker-on drink. He seemed t0' have no control over his wife; indeed, hw i,, seemed to be under her thumb." Ir Inspector Starr, of the N.S.P.C.C., desoribedl his visits to the house, which was in a 41 most' filthy state," and the place smelled most aho-' minaMy. There was always plenty of food 011'1 the table, but always in a filthy state. There" were few changes of clothing for the children, and what they wore was in a filthy state, fairly good. The general filth and want of t protection was what he complained of. The Stipendiary, after the woman had plead- ed for a chance, said: "We have decided tv; give you a chance. We will adjourn the oas.: to see how you behave. "I

This terrible war is kimnl a lot of businesses* r Make it a personal resolve that the Pioneer' shall not be killed. i shall not be killed. i i