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PRISONER'S AMAZING I ESUAPADtS,i

I MITCHELL KILLED IN I ACTION.

IN A HAND-CART, !

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-I NEWS OF SWANSEA ! iNURSE.…

.-I JUMPED INTO DOCK. I

THE WOMAN IN THE I CASE. i

I POPULAR -,AT GORSEINON.I

-I I A POUND A WEEK. ]

AMAZING MILITARY FEAT.'

! SWANSEA RAILWAY- ! MEN'…

BETTER NURSES ANDI t DOCTORS.I…

ISERIOUS BRITON FERRYI l-ACCIDENT.

I CHEERING THEM UP AT CIMLA.I

j LIVELY SCENES AT ! ! SWANSEA.

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j LIVELY SCENES AT SWANSEA. !ANTI CONSCRIPTIONISTS j WltET. The out-standing futures of the anti-con- j The of-itst-u.uqLrig featut-t-s ?)f th, aiiti.-con- ;.a: on Sumlay afternoon we1'; th? h'equent? jnterruptions of the l?-a??ng ?p?kers, the j absence of wel!-knowd Iccai leaders on the! ¡¡lat.f0rm, and the fact that numbers voted j sgainst the resolution, many not voting at, aJJ. Councillor T. J. Wilson presided, and amongst tho.-e on the platform were Messrs. J. H, Thomas, M.P. (assistant secretary of the Railwaymen's Union). Mr. F. ta.cldion (who i, an ex-H.P. and is secretary of the international Arbitration Lecgac), Messrs. T. Williams, J.P. (St. Thomas). Callier, Probert, W. Green, J. Sweeney, Warlow, J. r Goodwin, Fielder and Payne. Fhe Chajroiajt said he was pleased to se? ? so large all audience (wbich peeked t.he building, numbers standing). A voice: You would rather see a lot of Germans, wouldn't you? Proceeding, the Chainoan said they were met as Trades liniomsts, and everyone was j invited. The object of the meeting was j voluntaryism v. compulsion; it had been said in the prcra during the week that, the speakers were gonig to champion the cause of the slacker: (Hear, hear.) Well, let me say, here and now. I am not here to champion the cause of any slacker. (Hear, hear.) 1 am here to look after my busines. as a. Trades Unionists. I am a Trades i Unionist first." A Voice What have you done for volun- taryism? (Applause.) The Chairman: Nothing; 15 that suffi- cient? (A voice He belongs to a fighting family.") That is a question of opinion. I have done nothing. (" Shame.") Another question was being put when the Chairman cut the voice short and said que» j tions could be asked later. (Cries of Prder" and Chuck him out.") The Chairman There is no chucking out this afternon. Mr? J. Sweeney moved the following reso- lution :— That this meeting of S?Aruse? (.it'?n? declares' that the great cause for which the Allies are fighting is the overthjow of miU- tarism, snd we &M S3.t"!??d that the unit:!¡' of the people is essential to bring the war to a successful conclusion. We therefore, view with regret the action of the Cabinet in deciding for compulsory recruiting for the army .and navy, and implores the G-o v, eirnment to withdraw this proposal and matntain the unitv of the nation, which can only be done by the Tohmta.ry system. And we farther emphasise the undisputed fact j that, every call that has yet been made has been responded to by the free men of this j country. A Voice: "rried men," and &pp!au?e. Mr. Sweeney said adthough a marrid man he was ready to do his bit. He was bitterly opposed to the action of the Nort-hcliffe preis. "• We have some of the Northoliffe press at Swansea," he declared, amidst dis- order, and urged the conscription of wealth as well as life. (Applause.) Mr. J. Godwin seconded. Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P. Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P., who wae received with cheers, said people were legitimately entitled to disagree with him, and he would be no party to encourage any attempt to stop a free, fair and open expres- sion of opinion from anyone who disagreed with him, and he invited questions at the close. They were face to taoe with the most seriouj, momentous and far-reaching difficulty that this country had ever been faced with. First, they mrst have regard and consideration for the brave fellows who are fighting our battj.es. (Applause.) Secondly, j'lst as those men volunteered as free men to defend us, our homes and chil- dren, wdMtad the gravf responsibility com- mitted to us fif seeiii that. when those men returned to civil life tha.t they stall re- turned a8 free men. (Loud applause.) He had noticed in the local pre&a a suggestion that some one should uk the chairman the question "What haje you. done for the voluntary system?Let them put the ques- tion to h:m (Mr. Thomas). Whcn the war broke out he /(the speaker) was a peaoce man, hated wax. and prayed I for the time when the workers of the world I wClIIln n::n"A mA/ilp l>1' rmn^caikla u. -t'ftJ'I' .,J.Iu.4.1"- offensive Belgium was violated, and the only way to deal with the German bully was to crush her militarism, and the one essential to win this war he realised at the outset was that the unity of the nation should be maintained. And that, he kept in mind in discouraging any likely trade disputes; and it ill became aaiy section of the Press, in Swansea at least, to doal with his claim as -a trades union leader. When the first it- tack was made-upon Lord Kitchener he im- mediately asked the Government to realise that there were some poisonous gases at home a.8 well as those which the Germans were using. "And when the next stage of the quarrel took place between Lord Hal- darie and Mr. Lloyd George, I said. 'Stop your fooling and get on with the war in- stead of quarrelling amongst YO'.lrSC'l\'e. t -'Quite right.") He got tiie War Office to give the men Christmas leav-s and ires passes tiome, and when a. widow was cdiar l's, a mile for the conveyance of her dead soldier home he got the War Office to return the money. (Applause.) "We are agreed," declared Mr. Thomas with emphasis, ''that everything must be -,done firstly to win the war, and, secondly, that the men fighting tho battles should constitute a national oh r 0, and that, when they returned none should have to seek shelter in the work- nouse. (Applause.) As regards single men. Take a widow with two or three sons serv- ing or killed was not the fourth son en- titled to some consideration T The Prime Minister had stated that consideration was ueikig- given to this kind of case, after press- ure bemg applied. And then there were cases where single men were left without father or mother and had younger children dependent. But when you talk about the eingle slacker I view with contempt and disgust any slacker, single or married. I would not stand by for a moment to defend the single slackers as you call them. On the oontrarv, I would treat them with the an.me coiltenvot al'i I treat 11 Come to the Point." (A voice: "(ome to tHe p'jmt," )?nd inter- ruptions.) "But you would not MY a man was a. nail-unionist unless you a&ked him to produce his card. And that is exwtly my .i,t with regard to the Compulsion Bill. (A Voice: It ? not the same eSect). 1 would not defend or excuse the sJ, but wba.t I say is prove your case first before ydu condemn any man. (Some ife.stions which were inaudible were shorweroo). You will bo given a. chance to put questions, and if you can't wait vnU you have the decency to go outside if you can t agree. People bad no right, moral or otherwise, to aay to a man, You are a slac ker," un less they can PrON,c it. Are you 9r' 9 to ca?I slackers all i.? sin?e men on that railway where tbø men were not allowed to attest? J ("No.") Than what ajre you growling about? It hi clear there Ï no difference between us. (Applause a??d disorder). 1 think now we are coming to mutual I ffrounds. The Single Men. A Voice: All the single men. are not on railways. "Now what I want toexpla.il1 is this, continued Mr. Thomas-(A Voice: "Win the war"). Exactly, but we must have equal sacrifice from everyone." (Applause). At this point questions were being asked amidst disorder. (A Voice: "One of the questioners broke up another Swansea meet- ing. If he wants to aay anything let him go on the platform and be a man. (Ap- .i-iause^. Chairman: Now7, lads, leav-e that fellow alone. Real national service, continued Mr. Thomas, maan3 m'eryone shall contribute alike. (A Voice: "Up to the age of 60. ") 1 will make it 70 for my purpo, thougli 1 think 80 shouiu be included. (Laug/hter). VvV aj-e utrretpA rli/m (1) That the war must be won. (3) That, it must be fought to a success- ful conclusi c'n. |o) TTwt our- sacrifices should be equal i-.ii(CTiijC«6. Labour'$capital was its life, a no I "baJJi qaove an amendment in the Kon«-c of Com- moil's ",hic! will for object- eipial I national service that wealth ag well as labour, phall be conscripted. (Loud applause.) An4 -If that is carried, in spite of mv strong op- position. I will support the Bill to tie end. The cry of the conscript single men to-day would be t.he married men to-morrow, and the workshops to follow. Let the men come back fre,) and unfettered Mr. Thomas; dilated upon what be called the game being played by a section of the to divide labour. Some labour leaders were ajigels. and the otliers wfre t.he other people. (A Voice Pretty v,-ell a,]! in tho -anw box, and 'laughter). (Another Voioe A- much differ- ence aa between chalk and cheese with the lot i of you, and laughter.) Well I am sure you I would only add the onion if" you came amongst us. (Loud laughter.) The section of the Pre?? he alluded to said there were certain people a,t the last, Labour conference who ought not M have ln there. ("Quite I right.") W?l!, Mr. Hodge f-?d so. Mr. Hodge, like himself and the others, thought i the best way was to summon a c?ulpr?noe. Mr. Hodge Criticises. Now, if Mr. Hodge objected M the como' position of the confer?n<? why was he a party to making it .? it came with bad grace from any man whether in Labour ranks or outeide ? qua.rrd with the ?&a.e method of voting which when it anablod people to get into 8'11 position they thçugM it v ?s the be?t method in the world. "I would prefer to c-acrifice mv life than be a party by word or action to do anything that would imperil us winning this war. (Applau.) And I say to th. Govern ? ment would it not be hett€i- m?tea?l of I putting on the Statute Book a Bill that they frankly admit may never be necessary to let as all unite again a.nd make oue supreme effort to prove instead of burling charges against anyone. (A Voice How are we going to do it?) He bad worked throughout the whole Derby scheme. Lord Derby pointed out in his report there were large places where for obvious reasons they could neither get the machinery or canvassers. "Let us ) ha.ve an opportunity of visiting and getting I everyone's situation to see if he ia a s lacker. And he would deal with the employer, who was interfering, as well as with the employe. By his method they would get accurate know- ledge as to who were the backers and who were not." (Some disorder, Uld a question evidently directed to the chairman.) The Chairman If oar friends were not in soon enough to hear what 1 &aid they must put. up with it. (An argument between two in the audienoe.) Where a.11 had gone but one in a family, and where a. single man wa^ supporting younger children, should not they be put in the same position as the married men! "I want the war won," declared Mr. Thomas, "and I will continue to direct my efforts wholeheartedly in the direction of national unity, equal sacrifice., and to render all assi stance to the Government. (Ap- plause. ) Mr. Maddlson. Mr. F. Maddison (r>ecib:-ary of the Inter- national Arbitration League, under whose aufipioes the meeting was held) said he "loathed militarism from beginning to end, and Groat Britain had no other course to take than what she did. He HW no future for international arbitration, agreement and democratic reconstruction unless the power of the Ger- man military cast, resting alone upon con- scription, '?as broken. They were told by I some there had been trribte f?adtness on the part oi those atteisting. Yet we lad six million of men, if not actually serving. Dromising to serve, and what conscript ou intr *v- had such a proportion to our 45 mil- liQü; of population. He had great. respect for the Prime Minister, but his pledge was inconsistent with the voluntary system and ought never to have been made. (Interrup- tion.) Had the single men's claims: been in-I j veatigatedThey would not be under the Bill. Large numbers of men had never been canvassed. (A voice: "I was one," and another voice Perhaps he moved his re- sidence.") (Laughter.) After urging for ac- tual numbers, without which he contended it would be a violation of the pledge, Mr. Maddison confessed "I am often wrong, but I would be ashamed if I were a hypo- crite- The genesis of compulsion was not originated by Lori Kitchener. I would not I waste my time in praising him and he would not want it. (A voice Be British." and disorder.) Don't. mifundertand me. (A ?o?ce: "We undertand you pH right.") I am no apologist or n?M?rer of Lord Kit- chener and he would resent it i I did." I (Disorder.) The Chairman (to interrupters): If you have ?ome to ?Toid the meeting, you ad better go out now. Proceeding, Mr. Maddison said he had admixed that great soldier more than he knew, but in all the speeches delivered by I Lord Kitchener there had never been one note struck against the voiuntarv system. (A Voice: Three cheers for Kitchener," which was heartily responded to). I endorse I those cheers to the fuU. (Applause.) We are opposing this Bill in the best interests of the nation. ("No.") The Chairman appealed for order. (A Voice: Three. clioers for Uoyd George." Applause, and some booing.) Several questioners rose to tiheir feet upon the cha'rmw inviting same. A Voice Is it true that Jocade attended all international arbitration mooimg in this country and is now in the trenches? Mr. J. H. Thomas said three years ago, when the conference was at Swansea, Jocad e came to Swaansea at the invitation of the In- ternational Transport. Workers' Federation, No matter how much Jocade was opposed to the German system, he was compelled to go in tbe trenr-liec. Proof Wanted about Slackers." Asked wnat was Ms alternative soheine, Mr. J. H. Thomas said he did not defend the real slacker, but first let us prove he is a slacker. Den't accuse a man without proof. And what would be the petition of the man who was a real slacker? If he was that, he was a eowaa d; and if so; irliat value would he bo as a. fighting unit? Betverxi now and three or four weeks' time, which was the time provided in the Bill, he \Va.:> prepared, as thousands of others would do. to exam- ine things with a view of examining :nto every case. Having investigated every casf. then ve were prepared to say what we will do with the slacker as you call him. Mr. Thomae was questioned upon his con- scription of wealth-producing, and said he advocated the State taking over the entire wealth of the country "and put us aJI on an equal footing." (Applause.) Asked who ha.d responded mckt alreadv, Mr. Thomas pointed to the rush at the out- set, and then what he termed a bhmder in damping down recruiting. He argued there were a la-ngp number of farriers sons who bad not gone but ought tc), but the Bill did not touch them. (A Voice.: What about I the clergy?") A Voice: "J a'1J a single man and am serving, and my mother receives; the same allow-MM* at the wives." (Applause). I Asked if he was prepared to fewe an emo- tion on the iwue, :\1 r. Thomas said he wae I' quite prepared, though uow v as the time for economy and not- to waste mrllusns on election: secondly, he should urge the compulsion of wealth and, thirdlv. it would engender feelings of bitterness, "which would not tend to national unity. Pertinent Query about the Pledge. A Voice: Knowing the pledge why did you sit on Lord Derby's committee if you wanted to break it?" Mr. Thomas I did not sit on the commit- tee. I wes in close touch. ("Ah.") Be- cause 1' went recruiting are vou ashamed of me? ("No. ") Well what <!o vou want to "Ah" for? (Laughter). My action has been perfectly consistent from beginning to end. A Voice: "You got recruits then under false pretenoes." Mr. Thomas: I am not ashamed of getting recruits, and I am going to get many more I hope. At this stage the chairman pat the reso- lution, which he declared earned

[No title]

KING EDWARD VII. I ! MINED.!…

I TINPLATE GROWTH. I

ICASES DISMISSED.I

i BRITON FERRY AiD FOR BELGIANS.!

I crane; bucket kills child.I

AMERICAN ACTOR FINED AT I…

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i«■—warww————————————• FITTERS…

THE CASE OF MATCHES.

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