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.I AMONG THE ZULUS.I

THOSE WHO LABOUR.

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THOSE WHO LABOUR. [GEORGE H. WOOD.] 1 Conferences seem to have been the chief events of last week. We have had the shop assistants at Hull; the I.L.P. in London the National Union of Teachers at Swansea: and numerous smaller con- ferences of one serfc and another. About the whole proceedings of the three chief gatherings of the week, there seemed to prevail the sense of a hope- ful, bright and cheery optimism. At Hull, the shop assistants reported a growth in the strength and prospects of their Union. They also shed gladness over all by the rejoicings in the Truck Act, and its beneficial effects upon their class. And what shall we say of their discussion of the minimum wage for shop assistants? The suggestion as to what this wage should be were anything between d225 and S40 per annum for assistants living indoors, and 24s. to 30s. per week for assistants living out-doors. When electing their new officers, they did honour to a Cardiff man, and made Mr. A. Parr their president. He deserves it, for there are few worthier in the labour movement. Of the I.L.P. Conference much may be said. Whether we like it or no, the 1. L.P. is now an established political party, and its programme and policy has to be taken into consideration when summing up political positions. According to the leaders of the I.L.P., never was its position better established, and never were its prospects more rosy. The general public does not view the I.L.P. through the same spectacles as those used by that party's leaders. In my opinion, we have to acknowledge the I.L.P., but we have scarcely to make overtures to it at election times—at least in South Wales. Arrangements are to be made, in pursuance of the original policy of the I.L.P., to fight 100 seats at the next general election. Of these, it is not probable that more, than two will be in South Wales. Cardiff and Merthyr are, probaoly, the only South Wales consituencies in which the Socialist vote would be large enough to justify the payment of the Returning Officers' fees. But is it not time the leaders of the I.L. P. saw the folly of an uncompromising independence ? It can never be successfully maintained. We are not here, as they are on the Continent, so discontented with our rate of progress as to lose our heads, and, willy-nilly, to rush after any mad scheme of action which bears on its face a seeming promise of immediate success. Our economic growth must be gradual, and though the Socialists are the only observers of economic development who are able to thoroughly understand the present, and in a measure forecast the inevitable future, we have no need to rush headlong for the realisation of our ideal. In these days of political compromise, tact must be used, as well as reasoning and preaching a new gospel. As to the new programme, I expect that hundreds of Radicals would assent to every article in the I.L.P. creed, and yet deny that they are Socialists. The programme is short, and its demands are mild. It is only when we come to review the name and policy of the I.L.P. that we find ourselves in opposition. Let the name be altered to Independent Socialist Society (as proposed by Mr. Tom Mann), and the objections might not be so I valid, though their removal would scarcely bring I more into the ranks of the society. Theae axe the days of startling rumours, and the latest is, undoubtedly, a very surprising one. •• The rumour, which must be taken for what it is worth, is that, with the view of vindicating the position taken up by the Penrhyn quarrymen, the combined Trades Unions of Great Britain are prepared to vote £6,000 weekly to the quarrymen of Llanberis and Festiniog, should they be prepared to come out and stay out until the Bethesda dispute is settled on terms satisfactory to the men." So says a contemporary. Of the existence of the rumour there can be no doubt, but of its truth there can be great doubt. Personally, I am for the action of the English Unions. The money is not much to give the principle is the one dearest principle to labour. For the right to combine men have suffered hardship and imprisonment. Surely we can afford to suffer a small pecuniary loss for the same great end Anyone interested in labour matters would have learnt a great deal had they been present at the Socialist meetings held in Swansea last week by delegates to the I.L.P. At this meeting a new organisation (or the complete promise of a new organisation) saw. the light. Its aim is, realisation of the Socialist's Educational plank, and its method, "education of the public." At the next N.U.T. conference, the Socialist Teachers propose to organise a S. T. conference and a large public meeting. We wish them success.

THE FISHING BIGHTS AT LLANELLY.

ALL WHO SUFFER FROM - - RUPTURES

THE CONDITIONS OF LABOUR.…

THE OLD TOWN HALL. I

TO OUR CORRESPONDENTS. I

A RUNAWAY HORSE AT LLAN-IELLY.…

WHAT TO EAT, DRINK, AND AVOID.

ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, SEASIDE.…

BROADOAK COLLIERY EXPLO- .1'..…

i THE LOCAL CUP COMPETITION…

I KID WELLY NATIONAL SCHOOL…

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