The Amman Valley Chronicle and East Carmarthen News

GREAT LIBERAL RALLY AT AMMANFORD. —— 4. —— TOWYN'S CALL TO ARMS." NOTABLE SPEECHES. There was a great Liberal rally at Amman- ford on Tuesday night, when, under the auspices of the local branch of Young Liberals League, a crowded assembly at the lvorites' Hall was addressed by Mr. J. Towyn Jones, the Member of Parliament for the division, and Sir Alfred Mond, BarL, II M.P,. President 01 the League. A high degree of enthusiasm prevailed throughout the proceedings, and both speakers came in for a flattering reception. The platform was prettily decorated with foliage, flags, and bunting, and the names of great Radical statesmen adorned the walls of the hall. Mr. John Lewis, Brynrhug, was the Chairman, and he was supported on the plat- form by a large body of prominent Liberals. Among those present were :—Mrs. Towyn Jones, Miss Elsie Towyn Jones, Airs. Herbert (Brvnmarlais), Mis. Watcyu Wyn, Mr. and Mrs. Phillips, and Miss Olwen Phillips iParcyrynn), Mrs. John Lewis, Miss Watcyn Wyn, Miss Florence Jones, Miss Agnes Parry, the Misses Richards, Revs. E. J. Rosser Evans, D. E. Harries, W. Richards, B. Ellis Jones, B.A. Phillip E. Evans, and J. Morgans; Dr. and Mrs. Dunbar; Alderman W. N. Jones, Councillors B. R. Evans, W. Evans, D. C:, Davies, E. Evans, Evan Lewis, Martin Davies, D. (jeurge. J. L. Williams (Maesqwarre) Messrs. D. Richards, J.P. (Tirydail), T. J. Rees, Lloyd (City and Mid- land Banki D. W. Lewis (colliery manager), W. T. Rees (College-street), John Davies (Commerce House) J. Harries Thomas, M. Levenson, Carruthers, M. Cohen, T. Wil- liams. and Job Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. Parry, and others. At the outset. Mr. John Lewis, in the name of the Branch of Young Liberals, welcomed those present to the meeting, which, he said, was the first of a series they intended holding during the winter. And they were exceed- ingly pleased to have had the Member for the Division present that night, together with Sir Alfred Mond. who took a great deal of interest in the Young Liberal Leagues of South Wales. (Hear, hear.) He added that he did not knew of any better way of beginning a meeting in Wales than by getting a song— (laughter)—and as Mr. W. T. Rees (College- street) had promised a solo, he would call him on. (Cheers.) "Y Marchog" was then rendered by Mr. W. T. Rees, who was warmly applauded. Addressing the meeting, Mr. J. Lewis ex- pressed pleasure that the first meeting of the series should have been so wry well attended. The political atmosphere had been pretty heavily chargnl of late, and the great ques- tion discussed everywhere was Home Rule, and for a few minutes, until their respected Member. Mr. Towyn Jones, arrived, he would direct his remarks to that measure, what it meant, and what it was going to do, and, in- cidentally, to an Act that had made it possible for that Bill to be re-introduced again; and he would say before he would finish, how it affected him as a Welsh Nationalist and what lie expected, and hoped the passing of the Bill might accomplish. (Hear, lieir.) During the last three vears there had been a move- ment which had brought the question of Home Rule very much to the front, and also during that period an Act had been passed by means of which it had been made possible that the Home Rule Bill should be put before the House cf Commons again at the next ses- sion for the third time. The Government introduced the niJI in the session of 1912-13 and the third reading, after a consideration and discussion that had seldom, if ever, been given to any Bill in the House of Commons, was carried bv a majority of 110. The Bill was sent to the House of Lords—that irresponsible oligarchy on behalf of which the members of the other party addressing meetings in the country found it difficult to say anything in its favour—that body threw it out on its second reading. The passing of the Parliament Act, had, however, altered matters, and though there were some people who still clung with pathetic fidelity to the crazy notion that at the last general election. the electors, whilst admittedly willing to agree to the Parliament Act, never contemplated that it would be used to carry Lil)erallegisla- tion. This was a most unconvincing after- thought, in view of the fact that at the general election Unionists were the foremost to insist that Liberal victory meant a time- table of Liberal legislation, which it had since proved to be. It was difficult for them, who had be-.n "cabined, cribbed, and confined" in their action.; in the past, not to feel with some •dadness that the good old days when Tory ministers passed their Bills on "oiled castors and when Liberal ministers were always con- demned to plough the sallds-that those Itlerry davs were now over. (Cheers.) After the rejection of the measure by the Lords in the session of 1912-13, it was re-introduced in 1913 to the House of Commons. The Bill was considered in a)) its stages, and its third reading was carried by a majority of 109. It was duly sent to the Upper House, which again rejected it, but thi" time by a majority it, but this tilli(? I)N a ]]ill jol-*tN I)v 44. ()\'L'I- two Scores of file rejection in 1912-1913 did not feel like turning up in the 1913 session. (Laughter.) They felt probably as someone said, that the people a-t last would have their way. The Bill pro- vided for tiie establishment of an Irish Parlia- IIWllt at nllhlin for the purpose of managing Irish affairs. That was the key-note of the first Bill that remained so still, and the Government, so far as they outsiders could learn and understand, would not allow that principle to be tampered with in any way. (Hear, hear.) That the Government was ready to listen to amendments was amply shown, for certain alterations and amend- ments made during the progress of the debute were allowed. For example, the Senate was a ltered to a Chamber elected on the principle of proportional representation—a principle indeed also adopted fur the Irish House of Commons elections in the larger constituencies —on a motion that -a;; made by Sir Alfred Mond, the Member for Swansea. (Hear, hear.) The financial clauses were also re- cast in certain particulars, but the essential aspects of the Bill were still the same. He pointed out that though an Irish Parliament was to be established in Ireland, the very first clause provided that, "notwithstanding the establishment of the Irish Parliament, or anything contained in this Act, the supreme power and authority of the Parliament of the United Kingdom shall remain unaffected and undiminished over all persons, matters, and things within His Majesty's Dominions. The Irish Parliament would consist of the King, a Senate of 40 members, and a House of Commons of 104 members. It was to be summoned to meet on the first Tuesday of September, 1914. (Hear, hear, and cheers). The members of the Senate would in the first place be nominated by the Imperial Execu- tive, and would hold office for eight years .and retire by rotation, ten senators to retire every two years, their successors being nominated by the Lord Lieutenant on the advice of the Irish Executive. The House of Commons must hold an annual session and its term of existence was live years. The 104 members were distributed among the existing consti- tuents on a basis of 27,000 population per member. (Cheers.) That allotted 59 mem- bers to Ulster, 41 to Leinster, 37 to Minister, and 25 to Connaught. There were two University Members, and Peers were not dis- qualified from sitting in either House. An Irish Memher might sit and speak in either House, but could only vote in that which lie was a member of. (Hear, hear.) Taking up the subject again at a later stage, Mr. Lewis pointed out that no doubt Home Rule for Ire- land would open the door for Home Rule for Scotland, and also Home Rule for Wales. A Bill to the effect that the delegation of Par- liamentary powers to Ireland should be followed by the granting of similar powers to Scotland as part of a general scheme of devolution had already been placed before the House by Mr. McCallum Scott, and it was supported by most of the Members for Wales. He, as a Welshman, did not desire to withhold from Wales that which lie was willing to concede to other countries. Wales would ultimately have to get Home Rule, or they would have to give up their ideas of being a nation, and be merely a country of thirteen counties attached to the west of England. (Hear, hear.) The appearance of Mr. Towyn Jones was the signal for a great outburst of cheering, and the Chairman, in calling upon him to address the gathering, said he had already addiessed a meeting in Llandilo. "We are glad to see him looking so well," he said, "and we are proud that he has been such a faithful member." (Clieers.) An ovation awaited Mr. Towyn Jones on lbmg to speck. He said that if lie might be allowed to use an Irish expression, they could congratulate themselves upon the splen- did gathering, and upon having Mr. John Lewis as Chairman, and Sir Alfred Mond as principal speaker. (Hear, hear.) Sir Alfred Mond was a stranger within their gates, but he had proved himself to be in entire sym- pathy with our Nationalist aspirations, and to be ever ready, at wllatever sacrifice to himself and his family, to lend his valuable support to every movement which aims at the uplift- ing of the people, irrespective of class and creed. He may say that flir Alfred Mond intuitively understood our needs and ideals: that they could always rely upon him, both in private and public, to fight valiantly for our rights. Not only was lie one of the most tried and trusted of the Welsh Members, but one of the most far-sighted, sagacious, practical and respected Members of the House of Commons. (Hear, hear.) He (the speaker) was very glad to see Mr. John Lewis' ill the dwir. Happy was the day that Mr. Lewis put his foot inside of Ammanford. (Hear, hear.) Though he had found scores and scores of splendid men who were Liberals in the Valley, lie had never found a better man, that he could always rely upon to do his best, his level best for Liberalism. (Cheers.) Lony may he be spared to them. (Hear, hear.) He noticed that that meeting had been called under the auspices of the Ammanford Branch of the League of Young Liberals, which had already done yeoman service for the party of progress in this dis- trict, thanks to the officers and the members, but, lie supposed, especially to the secretary. (Hear, hear.) When he first heard the name —League of Young Liberals—lie fell in love with it-daughter and clieers)-for it sug- gested to his mind the very greatest asset the world had ever witnessed for the emancipa- tion of man; idealism, youth, unity. (Hear, hear. III the word "Liberals" they had the inspiration of a noble idea: in the word "Young" they had the sinews, the strength. the exuberance of life; and in the word "League," unity, a combination for common interest. (Hear, hear.) Liberalism was true ideal ism. To do everything worth doing at all in this world they must be possessed by the ideals, and, as water could not rise be- yond its own level, so individuals could not rise beyond their respective ideals. They owed everything that was good in this world, everything that made life worth living, to the grand ideals of the great heroes of the past, and should those ideals fail them they should get back again to the old order of things. The great wise man of the East wrote in the Scriptures, "Where there is no vision the people perish," and where that vision was lost people reverted to nakedness, to barbarism, to savagen. Liberalism was a grand idea!. It had no finality. It was the government of the people by the people for the people. (Hear, hear.) As long as there remained any grievances that ought to be redressed, as long as our dream was of the happiest, people, placed in the happiest circumstances, under the happiest environment, Liberalism must be "up and doing," not only in the British Empire, but throughout the wide worl d. But how could the ideal become practical? Liberalism must be equipped with the whole panopoly of youth-Young Liberals. What was youth? A certain writer some time ago defined youth as the "age of a male until he is twenty-one and the age of a female ulItil she is forty." Laughter and cheers.) Youth was not limited by age. They may find a young man of twenty-one in the streets of Ammanford who was much older than many a man there of eighty or ninety. Youth stood for perennial energy, for perennial freshness, for perennial in- tuition, for perennial strength, for perennial optimism, for perennial joy. Then let them hitch the waggon of Liberalism to the star of enthusiastic youth. Was that enough' No. Young Liberals to be ever triumphant in their march must move forward and on- ward foot to foot, shoulder to shoulder, and heart to heart as a great army. Individuals acting independently of one another could not perform the exploits that young men one in aim and one in heart and hand could accom- plish. There was a question asked in Old Japan history, "If one man should chase a thousand, how two should put ten thousand to flight?" They saw the point. Two men acting independently would chase two thou- sand, but two men united in sympathy and effort—they would chase ten thousand. (Hear, hear.) Twice one thousand, two thou- sand—that was the arithmetic of individual- isiti twice one thousand, ten thousand—that was the arithmetic of co-operation. (Hear, hear, and cheers.) Of yore there was an army in Syria known by the name of the "Unconquerable Band of Lovers," who entered into a covenant of love that they would die for one another, and for their country's weal. They had tremendous battles before them. "Ihey had been in battles, but nothing like the battles that were ahead of them, and let the League of Young Liberals enter into a covenant to fight one for another and for their noble ideal in the in- terest of their country, and then they would become known as unconquerable in their struggle for fraternity, equality, and freedom. (Cheers.) "So endeth the first lesson," said Mr. Jones alllirlst laughter on turning to the ver- nacular. Not only was this Government, lie continued, the best Great Britain ever saw, but the best Government the world had ever seen. (Hear, hear..) Perhaps they were a little slow at times, but nevertheless they were sure, and they knew of some Govern- ments which not only had been slow in ful- filling their out of office promises, but far frollI sure of the ground they were traversing. The Conservatives promised old age pensions, and they had abundant opportunity to fulfil their pledges, but it was the Liberal Government who really took compassion upon the aged and the infirm men and women of the land. Though there was no galaxy of celebrities on their side, still there were brains. (Cheers.) Mr. Asquith, by far, out of every measure, was the greatest man in the House of Com- mons. He could think in continents and the inevitable word always came to him, as lie took in with his master mind a survey of any position, but while Mr. Asquith was easily the greatest man inside the House, it was Mr. Lloyd George who was the greatest man out- side the House. And such a grand, construc- tive statesman was he that his name would be blessed by posterity. He had always his plough in the virgin soil. Mr. Asquith was the captain of the steamer, but Mr. Lloyd George was the chief engineer. (Laughter and cheers.) The speaker dealt comprehen- sively with the Acts passed by the Govern- ment since 1906, and incidentally remarked that unknowingly he voted against the Government when they merely reduced the duty on sugar and did not remove it entirely, as he believed in a free breakfast table. Dis- establishment. Home Rule, and Plural Voting were the questions to which the Government applied itself now. The other things were as yet in the air. That was why he voted aga inst the Snowden Amendment to the Address. Nationalisation of land, of rail- wavs and of mines might become possible in years to come, but now they had not come within the range of practical politics. He thought he had been awfully faithful to his duties in the House. (Laughter and cheers.) It was never his intention to sweep the House by his oratory or anything of the kind, but to apply himself to hard work and lie might tell them that in the Welsh Party lie had fought with his back to the wall against com- promises suggested. He also felt that he had done something to assist the poor children of the country in the matter of education, and thought cn-ei- N- of the Welsh Party would be ready to admit that he himself fought for, and insisted upon, getting the money going to the Universities and the County Councils to the poor children. Ap- plause.) Dealing with the Old Age Pensions Act. he pointed out that not only did it brighten up the gloom of the old people s de- clining days. but the decrease it had effected in the number of paupers was remarkable, and lie produced figures to show that in Car- marthenshire it had relieved the ratepayers of a sum equal to Is. 4d. in the i' on the assessable value. It was a splendid Govern- ment. iCheers.) And then there was the Insurance Act. There were mistakes in it. Oh, yes; but fair play to Lloyd George, for what he said was why didn't they wait until they saw where the shoe pinched? How on earth did they know where the shoe pinched until they put it on tiie foot, iLaughter, and hear, hear.) The Parliament Act was des- tined to prove of great utility to the Govern- ment. but it struck terror into the hearts ot the Lord; and Conservatives of the land. It opened the door for the passage of Liberal legislation, whereas previously the whistling of Mr. Balfour ruled the actions of the Lords. (Hear, hear.) He charaeterised the displays of "General" Carson and "Galloper" Smith in Ulster as farcical and expressed himself strongly in favour of a general seheme of de- volution a stiie present Parliamentary machin- ery was not capable of adequately meeting the needs of the country, and every nation ought to demand her unalienable right to govern herself according to her own ideas. Personally he would prefer being governed badly at the hands of his own nation than to he governed excellently by Englishmen. (Hear. hear.) In regard to religious free- dom the light was on the hills, and as soon as the Spring of 1914 came it would bring in its bosom a measure for the Disestablish- ment and Disendowment of the Church of England in Wales. But it was incumbent upon the Welsh members in the meantime to "sit tight" and let their constituencies not try to induce them to leave the House to attend various functions at home, but let them be faithful to the hour of victory. Cheers.) The deck would then be cleared of those things, and the way prepared for much needed social reforms. Refering to the land question, he stated that what was needed was security of property to the owner, security of tenure to the tenant, and security of life to the agricul- tural labourer. (Cheers.) With faith and courage let them plant orchards which would bear their fruit to the future, as others had laboured in the past and they had entered into the results of their labours. To arms To arms (Applause. Subsequently Mr. Tom Williams gave a tine rendition of the solo, "Bwthyn bach inelyn fy nliad," and Mr. Geo. Thomas, Bettws, delighted the large audience with solos on the harp. A great cheer went up as Sir Alfred Mond entered the hall, and the warmth of the greet- ing evidently impressed the lion. Member for Swansea Borough, and to make the reception still more cordial Mr. Tom Williams sang the following pennillion, in accompaniment with Mr. Geo. Thomas on the harp. Ryddfrydwyr ieuaingc a Rhyddfrydwyr hen, W ele ni yn dyrfa ar em gwen, EfIro yw gwyhvyr Dwyrain barth Sir Gaer. Ac mae milwyr arfog ar bob Caer Wele'n cadfridog keno ger ein bron, Ac o weled Towyn mae pawb yn lion. Tow vn Jones yw'r gwron an) gyfarfod Inawr, Cenllif ei kyawdledd lif i lawr, Rkyddfrydwr ieuangc beunydd ydyw ef- Ieuangc fydd ei yspryd byth a'i lef Ni fedd plaid hen Walia er ffyddloned hi Gymro twym fel Towyn, y' ein M.P. Dwg yma heno wr o ddawn a dysg Eilun Abertawe sy'n ein mysg, Gwr giir hen Gymro a'r gwladgarol iiydd Yw ein Syr Alfred, arwr Masnack Uydd. Radical i'r gwaelod heb un os ac ond Yw cydymaitk Towyn—Syr Alfred Mond. Ryddfrydwyr ieuaingc a Rhyddfrydwyr hen, Mae hen Gymru heddyw ar ei gwen, Daw Dadgyssylltiad a chawn Eghvys Rydd; Gwelir Ymreolaetk Cymru Fydcl Prif Weinidog Prydain, dydd sydd wrth y ddor, A fydd mab hen Gymru—Dafydd Llwyd Sior. The Chairman assured Sir Alfred that there was no Member whose speeches, articles, and elucidations on the questions of the day were more eagerly read in any part of the country than were his in the Amman Valley. (Cheers.) Sir Alfred said he had been received in many ways in his time—sometimes with kind- ness, and sometimes with brickbats—(laugh- ter)—but never before with music. (Hear, hear.) He had seen poems, and had written poems in his youthful days, but never before had lie the honour of having a poem ad- dressed to him. (Cheers.) Really he had been overcome by the kindness of the welcome and the sweetness of the music, and the charms of the voice of that most delightful singer. (Hear, hear.) He was delighted to be present, though it was a case of better late than never, for many reasons. First, ro sup- port his friend, Mr. Towyn Jones, if he might call him so, in his own constituency. Mr. Towyn Jones was one of the most active re- cruits of the Welsh Party in Wesminster. (Hear. hear.) His speech in the House of Commons, on the opium traffic was one of the most successful maiden speeches ever made in the House. (Cheers.) Men who had never known him came to him afterwards speaking with deep emotion, and the impression he had made on that somewhat callous assembly was by eloquence, and by more than eloquence. It was a good sign to have sincere men in political life. Their Member was one of those sincere men. (Hear, hear.) He was also glad that he had come there as Presid- ent for the year for the League of Young Liberals, and he would gladly extend the warm hand of friendship to the Young Liberals of Ammanford, and felt proud that they had a nourishing branch in their midst. May it grow and prosper and become a power for Liberalism in the constituency. There were many important questions for the future of Wales which want consideration, discus- sion and propaganda. The old questions would settle themselves now automatically or be settled within a short time. The question of Disestablishment and Disendowment was more a question of the past than of the future. They were at the end of a long road, but they were very near the goal of victory. (Hear, hear.) It was nearer than a good many people imagined. In regard to that matter he knew that a great change had come over their Conservative friends, and they had Mr. Bonar Law, the reputed Leader of the Conservative Party, in a moment of candour stating that he did not think his Party would return to office for some forty years. (Laughter and hear, hear.) He ridiculed the Ulster parades, which were not very dignified nor very sensible, and elwrac- II terised the proposal of Mr. Lloyd George to use some of the investors' reserve fund of the Insurance Act to provide more houses as one of the most businesslike and statesmanlike suggestions of the many the Chancellor had thrown out. (Applause.) A cordia l vote of thanks to Mr. Towyn Jones and Sir Alfred Mond was proposed by Mr. Martin Davies. and seconded by Mr. W. L. Smith, and carried with acclamation. A :imi]ar compliment to the Chairman termin- t-li?il 'lai coiiipllineiit to ttie Cli?iii-iii,,iii tei-iii iii-