Pioneer

An Explanation & Apology I WHY THE PIONEER IS REDUCED I IN SIZE. Our readers will remember that last week I had to annonuce that the "Pioneer" had bdjen deprived of much news owing to a breakdown in our plant. At that time I regarded the temporary stoppage of the linotype as an inconvenience which pre- vented me giving you so good a "Pioneer" as I desired. I am sorry that what seemed at that time an ordinary breakdown has proved a much more serious matter than was anticipated, and, despite constant and almost unremitting work on the machine, it was found absolutely impossible to get it running until Wednesday. This is the ex- planation of our decreased size this week. To our readers the smaller paper cannot be half so disappointing as to myself, but "needs must when the devil drives," and I do find consolation in the fact that the re- duction in size is for this week only (acci- dents excepted). The "Pioneer" is nominally too small for my tastes, though I believe that value for value it is the finest pennyworth that the South Walian can secure. My ideal is to give you the biggest and brightest paper in the Principality, and thanks to your hearty co-operation in the past-a co-operation that has never failed us—we are ever nearing the time when we shall be able to move more steadily, yet safely, in the direction of more pages. At the same time we must not overlook the fact that ever assistance is needed if we are to play the role we desire to play-that of your organ, and in this connection I regret that there has been a marked decline in our Shilling Fund receipts again. I hate the begging letter-writter, and I have never been able altogether to shake off the belief that that is what I become when I pen these appeals. I am going to ask you to make a special effort during the next few weeks to enable us to pay for the whole cost of this week's repairs without encroach ing on our precisions and much-needed capital. We shall be lucky if we get off under £ g (180s.), and I would like to think that there was 180 of our newer readers, who so far have given nothing to this fund, who would make a start by getting their hands down right now. I leave it to your- selves. Our cause is your cause, first, last, and all the time, and I should not like to have to go on my knees to beg from com- rades in a movement which is worth infinitely more than any of us will ever possess in s. d.. FOR NAVVY PAT." I There is another appeal which is very near my heart—our Navvy Pat Fund." I The falling off in this fund of recent weeks I has been lamentable. I know that it is hard to make ends meet, because I am in the same boat as yourselves, but if it is hard for us who are young and learning, how much harder for a man like Jas. B. Grant (" Navvy Pat"), who, after a life spent wholly and soley in the service of the workers, finds himself in the sear and. yellow leaf, wtih the shadow of the union hanging like a pall over his grey head ? It is a disgrace upon all of us that we forget those who have served us with all their heart, with all their mind, and with all their strength, when that strength begins to wane and the heart pulses slower with sheer weariness. "Navvy Pat" is grateful for what little we are able to do, but his gratitude hurts me every time I read his letters of thanks. I would never have con- sented to the appeal appearing had I not been firmly convinced that there were ten admirers of his who would willingly sacri- fice is. a week to enable us to make him a weekly allowance of 12s. 6d. I expressed that belief in my first comments on the fund, because I believed them, when the fund has fallen, as it has to 4s. 6d. and 3s. 6d., I have hated myself, for it is im- possible, for "Navvy Pat" had not builded as I have builded on a steady and secure income sufficient to provide the barest necessities of life, and the plunge into the vortex of disillusionment must have been more terrible to him in his urgent need than to myself, who merely suffered in sympathy. Surely, since individual sub- scriptions have failed it is not impossible for us to secure is. a week from ten I.L.P's, miners' lodges, or "Pioneer" com- mittees who have known his work in the past, and appreciate his writing in the present. He was a grand old man, full worthy of more than we can do. Let us do this little at all events. THE EDITOR.

Abertillery Notes. I I E. H. WILSON'S -LOT.I Our comrade, E. H. Wilson, after refusing all orders at the recruiting office at Cardiff was sent to the detention cell, 1 and on Saturday morning, September 16, was taken, with an escort, to Kinmel Park, I North Wales. There he has found himself 1 free till he disobeys orders, the Cardiff offence having been wiped off the slate. He i says My liberty will be short, for the | first order given me I intend refusing." I H. T. GALE STILL HAPPY. i The parents of H. T. Gale, another C.O. 1 from Abertillery, visited him at Cardiff 1 Gaol on Saturday, September 16, and found him in the best of health and spirits I after doing two months out of his sen- i tence of four months. On their arrival at ) the entrance to the prison they found a 1 group of friends who had been to see the C.O.'s, including some from Bristol, and 1 Miss Hughes, from Abercynon. J

 Theatre. I The Electric T h eatre. I If you remember the best Jessie-Lasky J or Famous Players that you have seen, with 1 its fine acting and beautiful portraiture, i and magnificence of setting, you have some conception of the beauty of the big liner at 1 the Electric from Monday to Wednesday A this week—" Deep Purple." Throughout j the five parts one was held entranced by the 'I beauty of the work, the simplicity of the story, and the natural developments of the i situations. The film is one that stands hall- marked in every department of the cinema art There are no huge thrills in it, but it was one of the most convincingly real stories that have ever been played before the camera, and if it did not blagon forth itself as a film with a mission, its deep and last influence for moral good is, to my mind, unquestionable. It is a great picture, full worthy of standing at the head of the un- usual programme it tops. The Triangle comedy, "Stolen Magic is the best of the series out, and that is saying a big thing. It is as delightful as Anstey's humorous book, soiiv scenes in which it recalls very forcibly to mind. It is a sparkling comedy, with a touch of the wierd and creepy, and the photography is It with capital j letters. Then there was another rollicking Lubin farce, "The Butler," and a whole host of supporters of unusual brilliance. ,4 From Thursday the high standard of -the first part of the week has been fully main- j taincd, if not eclipsed. Those who look j back with pleasure to Albert Chevalier in i "My Old Dutch," will find him even j[ grester and better in "A Fallen Star," a wonderful Ideal four-part play, in which the great actor plays principle lead. The story of the actors' life is wonderfully told —its ups and downs, triumphs and dis- pairs, rewards, and blank patches are port- rayed in a vigor and skill that effect one, not as a story touches one, but as real life does. It supercedes "My Old Dutch," and the stir that picture created will be as noth- ing compared with this. Then the Triangle is another gallivanting fun story. A Janitor's Wife's Temptation," with the full list of Keystone stars playing big roles with all the ability and gusto, which they • seem to monopolise in comedy works of great magnitude. Greed" runs its exciting course, with a money market panic as the feature of this week's fight in the monopolies. J As a result of the great success that waited upon the appearance of little Watkin Jenkins a few weeks back, the Electric are again next week introducing a promised local singer into the programme. I like this idea of helping along local '■ vocalism and helping to inroduce us to, the talented amateus amongst us. This time it is to be Miss Gwladys Morgan, the well- known Dowlais soprano, who will be well remembered by the success she scored as the leading lady in the amateurs' perfor- mance of the "Mikado" some twelve months ago. She will sing, Abide with Me" and "The Children's Home," illus- trated with slides. The big picture will be The Broken Law," a romantic story of Gypsy life, featuring William Farnum. The Triangle features Syd Chaplin in a screaming farce, "The Submarine Pirate," and a big list of supporting pictures. From Thursday to Saturday the "Battle of the Somme" is to be the big feature (by arrangement with the Theatre Royal. The fame of this great picture has spread over the world. The film is the greatest picture ever shown, and is doing more for the future peace of the world than anything thaL has been said or written. There will be a big supporting list of Electric pick- of-the-basket." By the way, we are shortly to have the first of the Triangle plays—the' most remarkable series of works that even the American studios have done. They are the very cream of the picture world, and offers an entirely new method of presentation to the present one, and I am assured from the comedies we have had, a better one. I PLAYGOER.

PROPAGANDA, NOT PROFIT," is the motto of the Pioneer Press." If you axe alive to the tremendous social improve- ments that the Potyy the Pioneer ropresenta stands for, then it is your duty to all that all your Trades Union, Go-operative, and General Printing comes to Williams' Square, Merthyr. the Home of the Pioneer."

Tonyrefail Notes. Another Tonyrefail Conscientious Objec- tor has been fined C,2 and handed over to the military. Mr. J. Brice, who worked at the coke ovens, Coed Ely, has long been known to his friends as a true disciple of the gospel of love and liberty; he is an ardent Trades Unionist, and a man who possessed a large amount of fellow-feeling, and a believer in the brotherhood of man. To make a soldier of comrade Brice is an utter impossibility, as he could no more handle a sword or rifle against his fellow man than the office cat could play a selec- tion from Wagner or Beethoven on the piano, and the sooner the military authori- ties find this out the better it will be for all parties concerned. COLLECTION AT COED ELY. On Saturday, September 16, a collection was made at the colliery on behalf of Mrs. Watts and her children, and thereby- hangs a tale. Soon after the commencement of the war Mr. Watts' husband, in answer to the call of the various Labour leaders who were so energetic in recruiting for the army, became a soldier. He firmly believed these leaders when they pledged themselves to see that his wife and children should be well provided for if he should be killed or disabled. He went to the front and was killed, and for six months Mrs. Watts received the magnificent sum of 10s. 6d. a week to support herself and children. Now that is stopped, and she gets nothing to "keep the boiiie fires burning," and has to depend on the charity of her friends and neighbours. This is only one case out of many similiar to it, and it is quite time that those who were so energetic with their promises in recruiting time should redeem their pledge and compel the Government to do its duty to these widows and orphans. CLUB OR PUB. The Workmen's Club have now moved to their own premises at Waunrhydd-road. They have cause to be proud in coming to their own and free from the control of the private owner. The general principles of the club are identical with the principles of the Co-operative movement. Those who acquaint themselves with stimulants would do well to hear them through the club, so that they may get the best of manufactured and be able to participate in the educa- tional facilities of their lectures and library; also other social benefit in enter- tainment, suppers, and trips. These faci- lities are so unlike the ordinary publican's charity. Some unknown person placed a copy of a paper called some such name as Citizen of the World" under one publican's door for the benefit of his educa- tion, over which he waxed white hot in rage, and in the height of his indignant feelings he handed it over to the police and went so far as to attribute it to a certain person whom we know had never seen a copy of the paper. This is the noble atti- tude and tolerance of the private beer dis- tributor. He will have no educational stuff within his doors. It is beer drinking, and that alone he wants, so as to fill his pockets with profits. Whatever may be the con- tents of that paper we can assume that there was something in it in the interest of the workers and the masses which the worthy landlord did not like. We would advise propagandists and distributors of education to devote their energies to the development of the co-operative and club principles; the conversion of these can be ignored and they will ultimately be dis- placed.