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AMMANFORD.-I

BRYNAMMAN. I

GWAUN-CAE-GURWEN. I

LLANDILO.

PENYGROES. I

IForthcoming Events.

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THE LABOUR CAMPAIGN.

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THE LABOUR CAMPAIGN. Dr. Williams at Ammanford.1 THURSDAY'S MEETING. I On Thursday evening last, at the Ivontes Hall, Ammanford, a well-attended meeting was held in support of the candidature of Dr. J. H. Williams, the Labour candidate for the Llanelly Division. Councillor J. Evan Jones presided, and said he was pleased to occupy the chair that night in support of such a worthy cause as Labour. (Applause). He was proud of the opportunity of supporting the candidature of Dr. J. H. Williams. (Applause). They would all admit that Labour was not by a long way satisfactorily represented in the House of Commons, and they should see to it that a Labour Government was elected this time. (Applause). He was very pleased to see the ladies present. They were the Chancellors of the workers' Exchequer. (Applause). It was said that Mr. Bonar Law was' the Chancellor of the Exchequer, but in reality the ladies were much more re- sponsible for the prevention of the country go'ng into bankruptcy than anybody. (Loud- applause) Mr. Philip Evans said he had great plea- sure in supporting the candidature of Dr. Williams and moving a vote of confidence and support in him. Though he did not know Dr. J. H. Williams personally, he knew this much: that he would never have been selected to represent Labour if he was not of some worth to the working class- (applause)—and for that reason he had pleasure in moving their support of Dr. Williams. He was glad to see that Labour had already gained some seats. It was thought by some people that a Labour man was a man of an illiterate type, but he wel- comed the fact that others were recognising that the Labour Party was second to none in the country. Mr. T. Gibbon Davies, in supporting the resolution, said that Dr. Williams was a man who represented the programme of the Labour Party. The Coalition Party had no pro- gramme. They had no definite plans for meeting the demands of the country. He wished to impress upon them as workers that they were in honour bound to vote for Labour, and do all in their power to carry out its programme, and thereby make the world a brighter and an infinitely happier place to live in. They would undoubtedly get the Coalition candidate coming along and making a number of promises, but they wanted something more than promises. During the last election they were promised Welsh Dis- establishment and Disendowment. Now the Liberal Party and the Tories had united to- gether, and they were opposing Labour; and there was now a fight between Capitalism and Labour. They as workers should see that It was a fight between those two parties. He had great pleasure in seconding and support- ing the vote before the meeting. Mr. E. R. R. Lewis said that they were there to support the candidature of Dr. J. H. Williams. The Labour Party wa6 not so much concerned about the man as they were about the flag which he carried. The Labour Party was determined to have no- thing to do with the Coalition Government. It was up to them as the working class to see that their flag was the real issue. He called them the working class because there was a class which did not work. He said that the Labour Party would abolish the taxation of incomes of £ 130, and would fix £ 1,000 as the lowest income liable to taxa- tion, and thereby relieve the working man of the imposition made upon him. Those whose incomes amounted to thousands of pounds would be taxed on a graduated scale, and the incomes of 150,000, &c., would be taxed and would be compelled to wipe out the war debt, and the working class allowed to be free. (Loud applause) Mr. James Davies delivered a stirring speech in Welsh, and condemned the Government for rushjng an election upon the country at such a time. What was the inten- tion of the Government in doing such a thing? It was quite obvious. There were hundreds of boys from Ammanford and the district who had gone out at the call of the Government to fight, and they were still out. Were the boys in favour of an election, and did they have an opportunity of voting in the forthcoming election? No; most of them would not have an opportunity of voting. Nobody desired that an election should be thrust on the country at such a time except the Coalition Government. We were told a great deal about peace and that the war had finished. Did it loqk like it? What kind of peace terms would be agreed and signed? Unless peace was based on a different basis to the peace of 1870, it would be of no use. What will be the foundation of the peace terms? Will it be based on the principles of democracy? Where are our soldiers? They were being sent to Russia. With what object? To look after the interests of the capitalists and to safeguard their property and investments, and also to destroy the good work of those who were endeavouring to settle themselves under a democratic state of affairs, and who were working towards the attainment of their hopes of having justice established between man and man. (Shame). County Councillor Dd. 01. Davies then addressed the meeting, and proceeded to blame the Government for having rushed an election on the community at such a time. He would remind them of the time of the Boer War, when the Conservatives were blamed by Mr. Lloyd George for having embarrassed the country at a time when the real facts of the Boer War were not made known to the people. Mr. Lloyd George was guilty of the very same thing. What did they find to- day but an election rushed upon them by the Coalition Government? -He did not know of any other party which desired an election. The Government had promised to give the heroes a chance to' vote, and to make the country fit for them to live in. What was happening? Not a tenth part of the whole number of soldiers would be able to vote in the forthcoming election. That was one of the ways in which the Government was going to make the country fit for heroes to live in-. It was not a Coalition Government, but a Collusion Government.. (Laughter and ap- plause). They were complaining of the high prices, and the wages of the workers had been increased, but they would never catch them. (Laughter) When higher wages are granted, what follows? Oh, the prices go up. (Laughter). The Labour Party was opposed by Liberal and Tory capitalists. With regard to making the coun- 'try fit for heroes to live in, the Coalition Government was doing its very best in that direction by disfraiicnisement of the soldiers vote. That was the first step. It was a combination of Liberals and Tories fighting against the working class. They would find thousands out of employment when demobilisa- tion" would take place. What would they get ? Twenty-four shillings a week. That was the way to make the country fit for heores. What about the land question? What provision was being made for the workers? What was the programme of the Government with regard to soldiers? They had gone out to fight for this land. Oh, give them a little allotment, and then they can produce plenty of potatoes." That was another of their ways of making the country fit for heroes to live in. The Labour Party was out for the nationalisation of the land. They should unite together. They could not fight one by one. The mines should also be nationalised, and the workers should have control of the same. They had only to con- sider the moves of the great colliery pro- prietors. What were they doing? Purchasing mines in every direction. The Labour Party was in favour of having the present system of capitalism done away with. There would be some music in Parliament when the nationalisa- tion of mines would take place. (Laughter). It was a hard struggle, as they had to nght the Liberal and Tory capitalists, but if they united together they would be able to defeat them. They ought as workers to vote for Dr. J. H. Williams the Labour candidate, who was representing thfe Labour programme. (Applause). The resolution was carried unanimously. FRIDAY'S MEETING. I A crowded meeting in support of Dr. J. H. Williams' candidature was held in the Ivorites Hall, Ammanford, on Friday even, ing, when the chair was occupied by Mr. T. Dafen Williams, who made a few appropriate remarks at the commencement. Dr. J. H. Williams, in addressing the meeting, criticised the Government for having sought election at such a juncture. The sol- diers were away, and only a very small per- centage of them would be able to vote. Coming to the question of the war, he asked, Why was the Conscription Act adopted? Because it was cheaper. The Coalition Party deliberately passed that Act because it was cheaper than the voluntary system. How did they treat the boys that had gone out to fight? They were allowed a mere pittance of Is. and Is. 6d. a day. They should treat our boys at least as the Aus- tralians and Canadians were treated. They were given 6s. a day. Why should such a distinction exist? With regard to the land question, all communal wealth should be communal property. In all justice and common-sense the land should belong to the community. Land which was valued at a small figure had increased in price to £ 1,000 when an authority decided to purchase it. Then, there was shipping. The high cost of living was attributable to that evil. The Coalition Government were backing up profiteering. They did nothing to prevent it. i he loaf of bread cost double its normal price because of it. The soldier's child was deprived of half his bread. If they supported the Coalition Party, this kind of robbery would be allowed to go on. The Labour Party was determined to have a million houses built for the workers. The houses would be built in order to dispose oi the miserable hovels people were compelled to liv-j in to-day. It would be far better to spend 500 million pounds in that way in- stead of purchasing public-houses, &c. The State Purchase Bill was one that looked after the interests or the brewer. It would put 1500,000,000 in the pockets of the brewers. No wonder Sir George Younger had adopted h:s present attitude. With regard to the question of Lecal Option, the Labour Party was in sympathy with it. Let the people decide for themselves. (Applause). The Liberal Party had not got a programme. After all their promises which they had not ful- filled, they now asked to be trusted with a blank cheque. Did they realise that the money paid as royalty for the coal consumed on the Lusitania was more than was paid to the whole of the crew in wages? They should bear that in mind. Another point was this. they should demand fewer hour* of labour. It should- be observed that recent medical investigation had proved that those who were working in confined areas and those who had to endure mental strain, &c., that eight hours a day was too long. (Applause). Two hours was quite sufficient for them. They should also change the pre- I sent arrangement with regard to schools. The age limit ot leaving school should be raised. Boys were now being put to work before they were fit to do so. They were compelled to work when they should be at school. They should be allowed to remain in school until they attained 20 years of age, and if they shewed any bright talents they should be allowed to attend the County Schools and also the Universities. The child of the work- ing man should be maintained at the expense of the State in such schools. Scholarships could be offered those who could not pay, and an opportunity given for the pupils to enter Oxford or Cambridge. At present, those universities were open only for the rich. No working man could afford to maintain his son at an university. We should also consider the question of the discharged sol- diers. We were indebted to them very much, and they deserved the highest and the best we could give them. We should keep them out of the labour market both for their own and the workers' sakes. They should be given a pension, so that they might live decently, and provision should be made for those who were consumptive. Another in- justice was that women who were under 30 were not granted a vote, whereas the men who were 21 years of age were given a vote. A demand should be made for equal rights to the women-folk. There should be no sex distinction. They should also demand equal pay for the women. Labour had to face a great fight. We were told there was going to be a League of Nations. It should be a League of Workers the wide world over. (Applause). They wanted workers who would not shed their blood for the sake of others. Their motto should be All for each and each for aU." (Applause). It was obvious that the Liberals and Conser- vatives were united against Labour. For in- stance, Liberal members of Parliament had Conaervatives presiding at their meetings. The Toij landowners were now backing up Mr. Towyn Jones. If they desired a better state of affairs, they should support the programme of the Labour Party. (Loud applause) The Rev. D. D. Walters (Gwallter Ddu), of Newcastle Emlyn, then addressed the meeting. In "introducing himself, he disclosed his long association with the Labour cause, and said that many years ago he translated Merrie Englud" into Welsh, and that many had gained a knowledge of Socialism through reading it. In dealing with Capitalism, the speaker declared that people who did not work should not live in this world. (Laughter). People said that the Devil was a very hard worker. He did not know, because he was not acquainted with him (Laughter) There were people in this world who were riding on other people s backs. It was a very funny sight to imagine a big stout person riding on the .back of a small man. (Laughter). If he had a stick, he would strike him a blow on the back and say, Get down, you blackguard; you are big enough to walk." (Laughter and ap- plause) Then he would strike the man who had carried the other, and warn him that it he caught him another time he would be made to suffer. Everyone had sufficient work to carry and maintain himself. (Applause). Mr. D. Bowen, Bettws, proposed, and Mr. W. A. Lewis, checker, Ammanford Station, seconded a vote of confidence in Dr. Wil- liams, which was carried. MONDAY'S MEETING. At the Ivorites' Hall, Ammanford, on Monday evening, a meeting was held by the supporters of Dr. J. H. Williams, the Labour candidate. There was a good attendance. Councillor D. George, who presided, said that he was glad he belonged to the only party which was in true sympathy with the workers. When the programme of the Labour Party came into operation, it would give the deathblow to the present system of exploita- tion, which was the curse of the country, and was the cause of all the poverty throughout tht land. (Applause). Councillor John Harries (Irlwyn) referred to the Labour Party programme, of which he gave a brief outline. The present Coalition Government needed a change of air, as their constitution was out of order. He suggested they should take a trip to Russia. (Ap- plause) The Coalition Government had no definite programme. The Labour Party would have to fight hard, but there was a movement being made by the people of this country, and practically by the whole of democracy. He was informed that Dr. Williams, their representative, was a man who not only preached the principles of Labour, but he also carried out those pro- posals. He had much pleasure in proposing a vote of confidence in their candidate, and he hoped that when election day arrived they would return Dr. J. H. Williams with a thumping good majority. (Applause) The speaker also recited an appropriate piece of poetry, which was loudly applauded. Mr. Robert Thomas, speaking in support of the resolution, said that if they desired to avoid strikes and industrial strife, they should support the Labour Party, as it was obvious that unless the workers were granted their demands, the future would see some more industrial struggles. The speaker appealed to them, especially the ladies, to give nf.ir vote for Dr. Williams at the forthcoming election, and he strongly supported the reso- lution. (Applause). Mrs. Jack Thomas gave a lucid discourse on the problems of motherhood. She ex- posed the half-time system which was in operation in Lancashire, and said the present system of education was in need of change, aid the Labour Party had included that iter* in their programme. The mothers in this country were also badly treated. They were not sufficiently educated, and could not en- lighten their children as they should. 'The housing conditions were entirely wrong, and it was proposed by the Labour Party thai housing reform should receive their first attention. Some of the houses in this country were not fit for people to live in. The farmers in many instances kept their cattle in better buildings than were sometimes tenanted by human beings. The mothers were not given a chance to educate and maintain their children, and the result was that the little ones had to suffer as well as their mothers. Boys who were 14 years of age were com- pelled to work just at the time when they needed the greatest care and instruction. There was an evil in South Wales which could be compared with the half-time system in Lancashire. Boys who were of school age had to work before going to school in the morning they had to work during the dinner, and also after leaving school. That should bs altered. The present system was quite wrong. They should all vote for the Labour candidate, Dr. J. H. Williams, if they desired an improvement. (Applause). Mr. James Griffiths said that he had dis- covered a new dodge of the Liberal candi- date for this constituency. He mentioned in h's election address that he is the adopted candidate of the Liberal and Labour Asso- ciation. The speaker described that as being an untruth. It was entirely wrong for Mr. Towyn Jones to say that he was adopted by "the Labour Association as a candidate. Not a single representative of the Labour Asso- ciation was present. (Applause). He (the speaker) was glad to state that the reports which he had received from the various parts of this constituency were all very encouraging, and they felt confident that their candidate would be returned. (Applause). Mr. David Davies rendered a solo, and Mr. T. Gibbon Davies gave a recitation. In response to the appeals of the audience, Mr. David Davies and Mr. Gibbon Davies ren- dered a duet in fine style. Mr. Sam Thomas, Bettws, also gave a speech, in which he introduced some very humorous remarks.

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