Pioneer

The Call to Reconsecration THE message of the times to Socialists is un- questionably that so eloquently iterated and re- iterated at all the Hardie Memorial Services an earnest and sincere re-consecration of ourselves to the causes which Hardie himself so vigorously espoused, and so tragically died for. But even had that great looming memory of our dead Master not urged us to the resanctifying of our best selves to the service of the people, the times themselves would have urged us to the task. For this reconsecration is not the mere vehement protestation of our continued loyalty to our ideals; this re-sanetification is something more than an earnest recitation of our humanitarian creed, though that has its value. The new call is a call to self-examination, an examination of our individual knowledge of the principles and philosophy of Soeiftlism; a call to educational en- dsarour, and to the analytical principles that i-nist always underlie sound educational activity. We are demanded by this new baptism to lay side by side the principles of the orthodox par- tie in the state, and in the world and to lay alongside them the principles of Socialism so that we may show the world just why Imperial- ism is a necessary evolutionary phase of economic development inherent in the discredit days of Capitalism, why out of those economic founda- tions of Imperialism the politico-idealogical ap- peal grows; why the finer idealism of the classic political-economists of the Manchester School be- longs to the past, and cannot be resurrected ex- cept as part of the greater philosophy of Social- ism. These tasks are implied in the new call to service and just so far as we face the tasks and master them will we be successful in our administration of the heritage bequeathed to us from our past great leaders. Let us admit frankly that somllch that has satisfied the rank and file Socialist in the past has been unsatis- factory. His heart has been right, but his head has been nebulous. His whole outlook has been, too effeen, limited to a more or less distinct visualisation of a completely" nationalised world, but his theoretic knowledge has only been praiseworthy in so far as it went a little deeper than that uncanny anthropological specimen the Conservative working man and further than that of the plebian Liberal, whose polities hare generally been dictated by his religious view- point, and the expediency of certain solutions of momentary problems. The clash and clamour of serial battle has been joined now as we could not have foreseen a decade ago the turmoil of the future will W heavy and wearying, but if we are to win the day, if the bright sun of Democracy is ever to top the Eastern horizon we must knew the why and the wherefore. In the mill, m the mine, in the factory, in the field, in the I itij,e k e l i:ilie l an d clu e hurek, chap-el, and club, in the theatre, aye in the home, and the pub, wherever two or three are gathered together every wearer of the little I.L.P. button, and of the blood-red flags that are the badge of our contemporary Socialist par- ties, *mst be prepared to become a guerilla in our war, a guerilla not only with the strength to pull the trigger blindly, but with the know- ledge of windage, and distance, of mechanism and speeds, that will turn him into a deadly fighter. Knowledge alone is power, if our Socialism is worth anything we will sacrifice much to get the knowledge of it without which we are ineffective as protagonists; but with which we are invulnerable, and are armed with the mighty weapons which alone make for de- velopment and progression. If we do not know that there is, a class struggle and why there is one, we fan never end that class-struggle in Socialism.

Political Notes. I BY F. W. JOWETT, M.P. I Last February the Get'man Government, al- leging as the reason of its conduct that hospital ships had been used as transport ships in the Mediterranean by the French, announced its in- tention to torpedo .French ships without regard to the limitations imposed by the Hague Con- vention. In order, if possible, to prevent this policy being carried into effect the French Gov- ernment placed German Officers (prisoners) on board their hospital ships. The German Gov- ernment replied by exposing French prisoners to the fire of French guns in France. T'hii is the policy of reprisal*. It is possible that in circumstances of great difficulty men or material may have been impro- perly conveyed in hospital ships without the knowledge or connivance of the responsibl e Gov- ernment concerned in the matter. On the other hand, it is also possible that the allegation that hospital ships have been used for the purpose in question may be unfounded. Only an impartial tribunal could effectively dispose of such an al- legation, one way or the other. The point of importance, however, is that the German Gov- ernment apparently believed the allegation was true and the grim competition in reprisals fol- lowed. The story, so far, is typical of war and the methods of war which is supposed to settle disputes by brute force. Happily, the story of the alleged misuse of French hospital ships and the reprisals that fol- lowed does not end where I have just left it. Negotiations were afterwards suggested, and with the friendly assistance of the Spanish Gov- ernment were actually carried on. The result is that French Hospital Ships in the Mediter- ranean no longer require to be escorted by armed vessels. France has agreed (and Spain has consented) to allow Spanish delegates to be carried on their hospital ships who will guar- antee by their presence that the rules of the Hague Convention are observed. Consequently, German prisoners will no longer be carried as hostages and French prisoners who have been put into the firing line by way of reprisals have been withdrawn. This arrangement took effect on September 10th last, and it proves, as we have always said, that disputes between nations can be settled equitably by negotiation, whereas the alternative policy of competitive killing breeds ferocity, leads from one outrage to another and settles nothing. The "Manchester Guardian in reply to cri- ticism recently passed on its defence of Lord Haldane, who has been persistently attacked be- cause he did not disclose the state of feeling prevailing among the ruling classes in Germany towards this country after the Agidir incident, has called attention to two points that ought not to be allowed to pass without being specially noted. The first of these points is that only those who attack the system of Secret Diplomacy have the right to attack Lord Haldane for not raising the subject of Anglo-German relations opealy iia Parliament in 1912. And, moreover, those who blame Lord iialdaiM f m- -slosei-vM& tke House of Commons in' this matter must also blame Mr. Asquith, Lord Grey and the Asquith Cabinet who conspired with Lord Haldane to de- ceive the House of Commons and the people of Great Britain. The second point mentioned by the II Man- chester Guardian in connection with the con- ti oversy above referred to relates to the analogy frequently drawn between the conduct of the late Lord Roberts and Lord Haldane in this matter of taking the people into confidence and telling the public the truth. The fact is, as the £ < Manchester Guardian has said, that Lord Roberts himself never stated the issues clearly cr, I will add, fairly. He represented the whole question of national service and he based his plea for its necessity on a mere question of defence. We now know that it was not for home defence that he wanted national service. The militaJ'Ý problem Lord Roberts had in mind was that of equipping this country to take part in European quarrels. Considered from the point of view of home defence. Lord Roberts' national service scheme had no reality whatever. s(,Iiciiie had no i- Only in the light of our present knowledge that the so-called national service would have been automatically expanded into compul- sory foreign service can there be seen any con- nection between Lord Roberts and his agitation on the one hand and the issues arising out of this war and the preparations for it on the other. Lord Roberts never declared that he con- templated continental warfare. He must have had Continental warfare in his mind, and, it follows therefore, that he deceived his hearers, because he expressly assured them that the only obligation he wished to impose by his scheme was that of home service. ♦ft Ii: Lord Robert* tried to defend his case on the ground that compulsory service was necessary for home defence. He failed because it was impossible for him to do so. If he had told the public that he had it in his mind that under one pretext or another Great Britain and Germany would struggle for supremacy on the Continent of Europe his arguments would have been sounder, but he would also have shown the real blood-red light. Like Lord Haldane, he did not wish to do that. He must have known, as Lord Haldane must; also have known, that if the real blood-red light had been shown the British public would have refused to march with its eyes open into Hell by way of Armageddon. The policy of the present Government with re- gard to after the war problems seems to b;a to foster trusts as an alternative to Socialism. It is recognised on all hands now that the old hap- hazard method s of industry and commerce that prevailed before the war must be replaced by bettor ones. The motive for the desire to change is not everywhere the name, but change there must be. Some want increased production to enable the country to meet the payment of in- terest on the enormous war debt that IS mount- ing up higher and higher. The far-seeing Capitalists are aiiaong those who have their mind s fixed on an increase in the rate and volume of production. Henoe their ill- concealed delight in the dilution of labour and more extensive use of machinery in the manu- facture of standardised products. Great econo- mies in the cost of distribution are also expected through the destruction of small businesses and the concentration of distributive function. under the control of combines and syndicates. The nation will have to choose between con- centrated cftpitalisni, in league and collusion with the State to exploit Labour and blackmail the consumer, on the one hand, and, Socialism, on the other. The Government his already be- gun to back the former. It has, for instance, facilitated the operations of the Lever combine by giving special priveleges to British capitalists at the expense of native producers of oil-pro- ducing nuts. When Mr. Lever, now Lord Lever- hulme, some years ago was preparing a scheme, to bring the manufacture of soap under a eom- bine, public opinion was then powerful enough to make him drop it. While the war fills the public mind, Lord Leverhulme, with the assist- ance of a favourable Government policy in re- gard to raw materials, is able to consolidate a far more ambitious oombine than the one he pre- viously failed to secure. A further development of this poliey of fos- tering combinea has recently been announced. This time it is the Birmingham Brass Trade that is to be assisted. The Government has de- cided to stimulate the formation of a combine in the brass trade by giving financial assistance in the investigation of foreign markets. Par- liament has not been consulted. It is not sitting. The Government has arranged the matter in consultation with the profiteers concerned. The Lever Soap Combine and all the recently formed combine* are only small beginnings lead- ing to much larger schemes in contemplation. The "Rn spire Resources Committee, ^imported by I La bour Ministers, is a vast scheme for exploit- ing the native races on the Belgian Congo lines. \Vhat thi^ system led to, in the end, in the Bel- gian Congo, was so horrible it made the whole wnrld sick. But the latest scheme, recently pro- pounded at a dmne-r at which Lord Bute fra- ternised with Mr. Ben Tillett and Lord Wil- loughbv de Broke exchanged greeting*! with his friend the Secretary of the Trade Union Con- gress Parliamentary Committee, is the limit, •fe The dinner above referred to was provided with the object of promoting a oompanv called the British Corporation with a capital of £ 1.000.000,000. The objeet of the Companv would be to buy all raw materials for British industry, all food-stuffs for the British people, organise transportation and production and un- dertake the selling of all products. All middle- men would be eliminated. Manufacturers would be guaranteed 7 per cent: profit on the capital invested in their business and labour would also he guaranteed a share of the profits but La- bour's share does not appear to have been stated. With full possession of all raw materials-and full possession of everything there is to sell, the British Corporation would, of course, be well able to take care that its own profits were ample and remunerative. .¡, # That any body of men should have the impu- dence to suggest such a sehemae of capitalist pro-, fiteering is a siffn ef the times. Such a thine would be incredible if the war profiteering of the list three years had not been borne so meeklv and patientlv bv the British people. The authors of thp scheme evidently believe that the common people have stood so much patiently they will stand anything. The British Corpora- tion stunt, however, has overshot the mark. It will never materialise, that is true, but when Labour leaders can actually be found who will sniff nt such a bait under the friendlv patron- age of Lord Bute and Lord Willoiigliv de Broke, there is no reason for surprise if the Govern- ment fostert more plausible object of availing Socialism, -J 111( Lord Northeliffo, iit &a ar;.e1å 4.dc"" fa ealogistic and glowing fcerms, the .deUIT. p.et parations Americans are niaking to take in the fight for freedom in Europe speaks also with enthusiasm of the short way they have If repressing publio opinion. Lord N orthchffe. 1 lates that he had noticed when he first arrived in America that street-corner pû8 were common and frequent. This is how he de- scribes the way they were stopped The gialt (America) paused one day," says Lord North- eliffe, "in his war preparations, issued son's kind of police order, and there was an end to ,?ere was aia end to pacifism. ARMED MEN IN SPECIAL MOTOR CARS ENDED IT." The intense satisfaction expressed by Lord Northcliffe at the effect on street-corner meet- ings when armed motor cars doal with them, instead of hooligans who merely use sticks and stones, makes it clear to us all that he would makes it c l ear to i prefer to see armed men in moter ear,3 uøed for the same purpose here. Thia is the kind of freedom for whith Lord Northcliffe is fighting— by proxy. It would not be wise to take the newspap^ comment in this country on the Germa* reply to the Pope's note at its full faoe value. If we did the conclusion to which we should be driv.n is that the Government is less disposed towards peace at present than it has been' for many months back. For, of course, the comment is purposely arranged to meet the wishes of the Government. All governments, however, except the present Russian Govern- ment, use the press in these days to conceal their intentions and views when thty mo desire. Hence we have the remarkable contrast just now bO- tween press comment and the general impression that prevails among responsible people tkat peace is neax. « The virulent attacks in the newspapers on the German reply to the Pepe's note seem to close the door to peace. The worst possible con- struction is put on the German reply because Belgium is not mentioned. This omission is re- presented as showing; that Germany has no .in- tention of giving up Belgium. Of course. It v. ould have been better if the intentions of Ger- many with regard to Belgium had been dis- tinctly stated in the reply. But in avoiding direct reference to the matter Germany is merelr following the usual diplomatic method adopted by all Governments. Germany will avoid making a. definite statement on the subject, if possible) until the position with regard to her African Colonies is known. The Pope is expected, how- ever, to follow up hig note by appealing to Ger- many te state clearly that she will evacuate Bel- gium. Nobody who is well informed doubts that Belgian independence is assured. The majority of nearly two to one in the German Reichstag against annexations by oonquest makes this quite certain. If Germany keep Belgium it caN only be by conquest, therefore, ;t follows that Belgium will be evacuated by Germany if the Reichstag resolution holds good. There are, however, two tafemnit* in Ü. reply to the Pope's Note that are of overwhelm- iiig importance from the point of view of an early peace. To the two statement* in question mane of the newspapers give any prominence- Germany agrees to arbitration and to reduction of armaments by agreement and if this war is, as has been claimed, a war to end militarism* and if the Allies seek, more than for all twngl else, for guarantees that German militarism has licen they liare obtiiine(I through di*- ni mament what they have sought. What i* i f ore, they have secured the defeat of militar- ism afi a policy BOTH IN GERMANY AND HTSS- iR P, wliz. This important principle bi-ing estab- i I:lied it may well be that peace may come soon. If only the Pope, by means of further commu- nications, can secure assurances in set terms with regard to Belgium it would be difficult for th* Allied Government* to keep their peoples In hand if they continue the war. Moreover, there a growing fear on the part of all government M at if peace does not. come soon it will ba brought to the world through the interrention of International Socialism. The Government* do not, want peace to come that way. Thia, lso. ig a factor making for peace.

Tonyrefail Notes. .li Frank Hodges Great Speech. .11 Last Sunday afternoon Mr..Frank Hedge* de- livered an excellent lecture on the Labou*" movement *t the Picture Palace, Tonyrefail- I'ti,. Hodges, who was in a. very studious mood, i, mpressed the large audience very much with his wealth of knowledge. The lecture was un doubtedly, and without any exaggeration, or" of the most educative addresses ever heard in the locality. He requested the workers to eon- -ider and-analyse their present oonditioiii; with that of their pre-war conditions, and compare 1 wth that of the Capitalist class. He gar* abundant evidence to prove that there was ne such thing as equality of sacrifice among th" classes. The poor, he declared, have got and the rich richer. He dealt with all the chief and important questions relating to Labour in the recent past, present, and the near future. A Busy Day. Following the leeture a brief joint meeting of the three lodges was held to consider Clause 10 of the constitution of the Education Committed dealing with finance, which was previously ro- ferred back to the committee for reconsideration. It was ultimately decided to agree to the recom- mendation of the Committee. A third meeting Will held with Coed E!y and Tyica Fach Lodges, to consider the report of t-be Sub-Committee on a. Workmen's Hall and Tnorary. This concluded a very busy afternoon with the workmen. Thi surelŸ is å sign of th -,tirel v is a-, sign of the times. And it is most gratifying to learn thrt the workers are fast becoming alive to their oW& 'nter&$t in the localitv. There is a greater nee for strong labour men every day to cope with the ever-increasing problems of the working- class. It is the duty of every workman to Put Irs shoulder to the wheel to help in the progress towards our emancipation. There ia need for voung reeruits to prepare themselves in the vita1 and essential knowledge of the Labour move- ment for the coming days against Capitalist- An opportunity in the form of classes, it is 0-1' peoted, will be given shortly by the Education Committee to young men to aequire knowled go that will make them strong intellectuals an? en- ?b!e them to hold their own, in the interest of their class, against any of the hired .enant. e the employing elaas. Gwalia Glee Society. The Picture Palace was kept well ocetipied last Sunday. Following the above meeting tr Gwalia Glee Society held their practice in their fine art in preparation for the benefit concer. held during theeek. There i.B no need to em pha?e the merits of the Society. It can 0° aid that in ?pite of the result of their last ?"' petition, that their actions justify their nce, and, e"ially Nm.mherina tkeir hT??" ekarafterisiioB.