The Aberdare Leader

Drink Hera I man's law |p^ H3FT53 Pure T i ea» in Packets only. 1/4 to 3/4 Sold by- Aberdape, T.Lloyd, Grocer, Commercial st Abeeaman, T. Roberts, Grocer, Lewis st. (Wholesale and Retail) T. Maddy, Grocer, Cardiff road Hiley's Cash Stores, Canon street J. Lewis, Tom Evans, Grocer, Whitcombe street W. Lewis, j abilee road Phillips, Grocer, Victoria square Co-operative Society E. E. Evans, Chemist, do. J. W. Evans, Grocer, Cardiff road W. H. Jones, Cwmbach, Co-operative Society D. Phillips, Grocer, Canon street Cwmaman, Co-operativeSociety D. Watkins, Cross street iPenrhiwceibe?1 Morris & Son, The Stores Rees Jones, Ynyslwyd street M. Isaac, Family Grocer D. Evans, Royal Stores, Gadlys road Mountain Ash, CwmbachCo-o eratives-y D. E. Davies, Grocer, J. Long, Grocer p Abercwmboi, Co-operative Society D. Smith Oxford street, Perrott Bros., Grocers N. Thomas ? CWmdare, D. Edwards, Grocer, and at T. Bovlen, Jeffrey street Trecynon. Duffryn Co-operative Society "Pecynon, J. R. & J. Smith, Drug Stores Eynon, Grocer, and at Miskin (Special Wholesale Agent.)

Letters to the Editor Attars on any subject of public interest e invited. It should be understood shut we do not neeesaariiy agree with the .1ews expressed therein. Correspond- ents will oblige by writing on one side the paper, and must invariably en- cloae their names and addresses, not ^cesiaarily for publication, but all a ffcarontee of good faith. MESSRS'. POWELL AND BENNETT. Sir,—Allow me to thank A.E:.W. for e courteous manner in which he opens 18 letter in your last issue. It seems that A.E.W. is acquainted both Mr. Powell and myself, and I Will, he had given us the opportunity to Q-o-sv whether we are acquainted with Xl by attaching his full name to his Jitter. He is good enough to say that whatever our notions are, our desires ^re in. the main right." But the great in our system, according to is that we cannot agree 1110tourselves as to any one point In what we advocate." Let us see. We advocate Socialism. Very good. But What do we mean by Socialism? Social- lsm is a scientific form of government under which the means of producing health and distributing it will be owned and controlled by the people, or their representatives. We do not believe that it is right or moral for any individual to Possess the power to enslave his brother. We do not believe in existing conditions, whieh force the many to work for the few or s^arve_ "yye refuse to accept as final & system that perpetuates poverty, immorality, and their attendant evils. We refuse to believe that it was eVer intended that little children should be born into the world to a heritage of starvation, and that humanity should be c°niposed of sharps and flats, rich and Poor, master and slaves. We do not believe in nor worship the British trinity indissolubly bound together, Lalidlordis.,n, Capitalism, and Priest- craft. Possibly, after all these don't be- eves/' my opponent will want to know What we do believe in. We believe in llght conduct. We believe in liberty; tlot the liberty to harm, but to help each other. We believe in Ihe right of living individual to live a free and 44ppy life. I believe that every man ftlld woman and child has the moral llght to share in all that is best and Ablest in life. I believe in the right of individual to an education that rill enable him to understand and en- oy all that is best and noblest in life. believe in the right of every man to Press his honest opinion. hat if So-and-So does disagree with certain of my notions, though he, too, is ft. Q socialist?. All the mechanical in- gelllÜty the earth has ever produced, has never been able to make two watches Uii exactly alike. How, therefore, can ;011 expect millions of men differing in QlPei'ament, education, and environ- eiits to think exactly alike? In our ift°lreSj as you ac^m^ yoursel^ we-"are 1 main right"; we differ in our 1llethods of attaining our desires. he, I.L.P., for instance, works for Women's Suffrage." The S.D.F. calls tl, so-called Women's Suffrage a fraud. say that Adult Suffrage alone .^uld be worked for. I disagree with °^1 Parties. I say that neither adult Suffrage 110r WOmea's suffrage will be of 6 slightest use to the people while they eiriaiix in their present state of ignor- Education alone can save the People. What is the use of a vote to the who uses it to return his master s° P°wer;? The possession of a vote 'ti»IeS 0I1^ ckains more y around him. Educate the Deople, and all other things shall be *>^4 >mto you. -W. admits th«fc one cannot quar- w "with our facts, generally speaking. at are these facts that he cannot li^arxel 'with? Is it the fact that mil- ^ons of 01ir fellow-men are living in con- sTst°nS m*sery as the result of the under which we are governed? These are the facts we challenge you to contradict. "But," says A.E.W., "as to their remedies, were they adopted, our last state would be worse than our first." It will be noted that my opponent does I not attempt to point out these remedies. What are they ? First, restitution. Restore to the people that which is rightly theirs—the land. Secondly, that all the other necessities for man's existence upon the earth should be owned by the people, and not by individuals. Thirdly, we maintain that if every man is given a good education, he will be more fit to discharge the duties of a citizen than if kept in a state of ignorance. Come, then, A.E.W., answer these questions? Will this tend to make our "last state worse than our first?" Will A.E.W. say that individual monopoly of the necessities of life is necessary to cur benefit and happiness? Does the fact that we toil under unspeakably cruel conditions in order to build up huge fortunes for those that crush us tend to our benefit and happiness? Would we be more miserable and poor if we worked for ourselves and not for others? Would these remedies make our "lasl state worst than our first P" Who has the most right to vote ?" asks my opponent, and he answers his own question thus, "Those who pay the taxes." Let me give an answer to your question. Who has the most right to vote," or, in other words, "Who has the most right to say how the wealth pro- duced in this country shall be spent 'Why, they that produce it—the workers. It is the wealth-producers who find the wherewithal to pay taxes. But who do vote? The wealth-grabbers. They prac- tically control—by their game of bluff called politics-the vote of the country. "What we want," says A.E.W., "is not Socialism, but a reform in our land laws." Why, that is what Socialists are fighting for. But our friend goes on to say, "and a system of compulsory pur- chase of the land." I cannot agree w-th such a system. If a burglar stole your watch, would you be in favour of pass- ing a law to force him to sell the watch back to you, probably at an increased price? Stolen property, whether watches or land, should be returned free to the rightful owners Having secured the land for the people -by purchase according to A.E.W.—by free restitution according to ray own plan-the next thing we require is a market, says A.E.W. We have no need to look far for a market. The pro- ducer is also a consumer. If we can produce food, we can also consume it. If we can make clothes, houses, and books, we can also wear, live in, and read them. But you say other countries send their, goods into the country free, and owing to many circumstances they are able to sell them cheaper than we can produce them. If we lived under a state of Socialism that would be im- possible. We would not then have to pay high rents, heavy taxes, or capitalist profits. But you may say, we have to contend with these' matters as they are and not as they would be under a state of Socialism. Exactly. Well, then, the only remedy that can be applied with any benefit under existing conditions is a reform in the tariff. We must have protection. We must do as other countries have done and are doing. We must put a prohibition tariff upon all commodities which we are able to pro- duce for ourselves. I say to you, A.E.W., that it is your duty to apologise to those you call Godless Infidels." For there is not one Godless Infidel" who has ever said that it is.no concern of his as to whether men are workless and starving. Some of the grandest men who have ever blessed this spot of tear and sand we call earth have been a Godless Infidels." Shall I name a few -Voltaire, Thomas Paine, Robert Owen, R. G. Ingersoll, Holyoake, W. Stewart Ross (Saladin), G. W. Foote, and Robert Blatchford. You say that you are supposed to love your neighbours, and you do so by in- sulting and trying to stigmatise them with lies. I do not appeal to you as a Christian, but as a man, to withdraw those words, which spoil what was other- wise the outspoken opinion of a sincere and honest—although mistaken—man.— I am, etc., T. BENNETT.

RE ABERDARE TOWN ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB. Sir,—The Provisional Committee ap- pointed at the general meeting held on the 27th ult. have now adopted a scheme for the formation of a private company to carry on the above club for Season 1907-8, and copies of the same may be had on application to any mem- ber of the committee or to the under- signed. All persons taking up shares must pay 5s. on application, and the balance on or before the 1st July, 1907. xt is desirable that applications should be made as ear- ly as possible, as nominations for seats on the committee must reach me not later than Monday, the 15th April next, and the first general meeting of the club will be held on Monday, the 22nd A.pril, at the Court Room. for the elec- tion of committee and officers, at which only persons who have duly paid their deposits for shares will be admitted and allowed to vote thoreat. Any further information I shall only be too pleased to give to any interested Soccerite.-F,iit]-iftilly yours, TOM. D. JONES (Hon. Sec. pro tem.). 61, Seymour-street, Aberdare.

ABERAMAN POST OFFICE. Sir,—Clumsy and unscrupulous are the remarks of "Cardiff Road" in his defence of the notorious "Village Pump." He holds that the post office shorli h' a centre for private tnd 3U'>t business };"1¡f,8b, and that business houses should .p a stock :.f stamps and instal private telephones, etc., in fact, run a little post office of their own to avoid the inconvenience of the wonderful establishment that we call Post Office" in Aberalllan. In one sentence he says, "for position and com pactness you cannot beat it," in another "Let him advocate for remodelling it.' There are more stables and alleys in Lewis-street (which is the business cen- tre of Aberaman) than premises suitable for a P.O." he remarks, and still he is against its improvement by adorning' it with a substantial Post Office. He pompously states that the hall and library will be built practically next door to the P.O.. Now, the distance between the site for the library and the Post Office is 60 yards, the whole length of the Plough Pit Colliery Yard. From the same site to corner of Lewis- street is 30 yards. There is only a few yards between the Post Office and the pit mouth, with a grimy pit stack over- hanging between, and an offensive urinal is but three yards from our newly painted government establishment. should like to ask a question as to the position of the Post Office. Who is re- sponsible ? What is the rent paid for that little bwthyn? The man who built it never dreamt that it would fetch over ten shillings a month, nor did he think that a town of 20,000 would have hon- oured its business side with a Aberaman Post Office" twice over to assure the public that it was a "Post Office," look you.—I am, A CITIZEN.

BE PROPOSED ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB. Sir,—With your permission I would like to make a few remarks concerning the proposed new Association football club. The proposal of five shilling shares instead of tan shilling shares to entitle holder to ground season ticket is absurd. I hope the persons who are making a great cry of having a share in the management of affairs (if they pur- chase a season ticket) will see from the following figures, the necessity of paying for a share without the advantage of a season ticket. The predominant feature of the Aber- dare supporters is, that if the team is a successful one, all is well; but let it have a bit of bad luck and lose a few matches, then they are such sports that they keep their money and support in their pockets, and turn to running down the officials and players. I have only averaged figures necessary for carrying through the Western League fixtures under the proposed scheme that a ten shilling share entitles one to a sea- son ticket. Receipts.-300 shareholders at 10s.. d £ 150; 400 supporters at 6d. (for 10 home matches), J§100 Total, X250. This making an average of X25 per match, which I consider a good average. Expenditure. Wages of players, £ 200; train: ares, X42 Outfit-boots, I jerseys, &c., X12 insurance of players, i £ 20: ground rent, half season, Cl3 10s.; printing and advertising, X7 trainer, XIO. Total X303 10s. This leaves a deficiency of E53 10s. in the working of Western League fixtures, so where does the proposal of five shil- ling shares come in ? As regards cup ties, the South Wales cup competition is bound to result in financial loss under the present rules that the S.W.A. take the whole proceeds of final gate. Again, take the Welsh Cup Competition. Aber- dare, having disbanded for a period, will be required to fight the first round (with some small team perhaps), and after losing money for two rounds, may be knocked out in the third so that it is no good to build castles as to receipts from cup ties. I hope these remarks will prove to those intending shareholders the neces- sity of paying their ten shillings into a working fund, and then buy a season ticket to help the funds. In my opinion the person who shouts for value for his ten shilling investment in the shape of a, season ticket, is not thinking of the future welfare of the club, but is only making sure that he gets his football matches free. and yet these persons who risk nothing are the ones who shout for a share in the management of affairs. To make things go successfully the club sadly needs the person of a secretary- manager, to devote his time wholly to the club.—I am, MAC SEER.

THE OPEN DOOR AT PENRHIW- CEIBER. Sir,—I expected in your last issue to see a letter from at least one of the tradesmen, either defending their late hours, or stating that a meeting would be called to see if they could come to some arrangement amongst themselves to close their shops a little earlier, if only for their own benefit. Of course I was disappointed. As I said in my previous letter, the tradesmen of Penrhiwceiber cannot agree among themselves; or is it that they find it impossible in these en- lightened days to defend a system of sweating ? I have seen tradesmen's carts delivering goods after one o'clock on Sunday morning in Penrhiwceiber; surely they have no defence to offer for such a system, which keeps young lads working to such an hour, even for only one day in the week. These lads are kept until a late hour every other night also. Napoleon wrote in 1807: "The more my people work, the less vices will they have I am #he ruler, and I am disposed to order that on Sundays, after the hour of worship, shops may be opened, and the workers return to their work." Is this also the feeling the Pen- rhiwceiber tradesmen entertain towards their workers, after a century of the teaching of brotherly love, and Do unto others as you would be done by I am sure if they tried to make their workers lead a little happier life, whatever task they gave them would be clone in a more cheerful manner. One of our tradesmen is now a District Councillor. He has promised to do all the good he can for all classes of workers in the district. Can- not the assistants appeal to him as one of the largest tradesmen of the town to take the matter up and do something for them. Helpless Onlooker in your last issue considers the late hours a shame. Whoever he or she may be, let them consider they are not so helpless. Do your shopping, and try and get your friends to do theirs at a reasonable hour, and thus do away with a part of the cause of late shop hours.—Yours truly, INSIDER.

Aberdare CONCERT.—On Sunday evening at the Aberdare Market Hall a sacred concert was given by the Aberdare Town Band conducted by Mr. Jesse Manley. The Band played Tannhauser" and Saffo the test pieces at Mountain Ash and Abergavenny respectively at the Easter Monday contests. Miss Marion Lewis sang Nearer my God to thee and Mr Llew Jones randered "Lend me your aid. Both had a good reception, and they gave further contributions. Prof. Tom Jones, L.R.A.M., A.R.C.O., accompanied.

Phases of the Election. "MUNICIPAL" VANDALISM AT ABERDARE. The people who claim to monopolise the voice of Labour in Aberdare are not very consistent: In theory their policy is not a wrecking one, but in practice is outrageously destructive. Last Mon- day morning, under the covert of semi- darkness a number of them took to dis- figuring the pavements, walls, and win- j dews of their neighbours. And they were not content with advertising the virtues of their policies and their candi- dates in an illegitimate manner, but they also took to tearing up the posters of ail opponent who advertised in a legitimate way. Surely the actions of those who prostitute the name of "Labouill, in Aberdare are worthy of the most ag- gressive and destructive form of Anarchy. When haranguing at street corners in the evening they indignantly disclaim the division of property theory, but when wandering about the streets in the small hours of the morning, they play fast and loose with people's proper- ty. If their work was honourable and honest why not perform it in broad day- light without an attempt to evade the vigil of the officers of the law ? THE HANDWRITING ON THE WALL. Just on the eve of the election the op- ponents of Mr. Sam Hawkins, the Guardian whose name will be handed down to posterity as the one who defied the autocratic rule of the Aberdare Trades and Labour Council, circulated a scarlet leaflet which gave a series of Sam's unforgivable sins of omission and commission. The terrible indictment wound up with the solemn words, Haw- kins has been balanced, but found want- ing!" But there is a comic phase to this solemn picture. It was in the spring balance of the Trades Council alone that Sam had been found wanting. The ver- I dict of the electors of Blaengwawr Ward was different. Therefore instead of his kingdom being divided and given to the Medes and Persians of the Trades Coun- cil the old monarch was re-instated on his throne. To exchange the metaphor of the blood-colored circular for a home- ly election phrase, the popular guardian of Cwmbach was returned at the top of the poll. And second to him came the other free and independent candidate, Mr. ReesRees. our esteemed High Con- stable. Mr. Meth Davies came in as a good third. In him the electors have appointed a labour member whose views are moderate, and' who will, I believe, advocate the sensible side of the labour movement," as the Rev. J. M. Jones puts it. ——— A TOO STRAIGHTFORWARD ELECTIONEER. The Rev. J. M. Jones is not a good electioneer. He is not diplomatic enough. It is the tactful tactician that wins at the poll. In his election speeches the rev. gentleman was disastrously can- did_ and outspoken. He said things which, at election times, would have been better left unsaid. For in the heat of a contest the worst interpretation is placed on a man's words. For instance, it was alleged that Mr. Jones had said that the majority of the school children in the district were imbeciles and that the fathers were idiots. As a matter of fact he said nothing of the kind, but it shows how important it is that an elec- tion candidate should guard his words. If he wishes to win he should say nought that is open to be misconstrued—a rather difficult task, I admit. But Mr. Jones went about it as if he cared not a hang whether he lost or won. Quite character- istic of J.M He is a. splendid one to take a defeat with grace. On the other hand, to his opponent, Mr. T. Lewis, a defeat is mortification. Was it a merci- ful Providence that decreed that things should be as they were to avoid wound- ed feelings and ruffled susceptibilities— perhaps death from shock?

Notes on the Mountain Aah Contests. The contest in the Penrhiweeiber Ward for the seat in the Urban District Coun- cil has turned out to be not only a sur- prise to the supporters of Mr. Williams, but also to the stalwarts who fought on the side of the victor, Mr. Evan Morris. One of the oldest inhabitants in Pen- rhiwceiber declared on the night of the poll that "he had never in his life re- membered so much excitement as this election had produced." The walls were freely placarded with the usual invitation to the voter, and nothing untoward oc- curred during the day. The confidence shown by each side was remarkable, both. declaring their optimistic views as to the ultimate result. To win by one vote or to lose by one vote necessarily means a stern fight, and this much may be said for every voter for Mr. Morris, that" 1fT vote won the election." The result was declared, at about 9.30 p.m. at the Moun- tain Ash Town Mall. Owing to the close- ness of the polling, the votes were counted three times. DARRN LAS: WARD. The excitement in Mountain Ash was intense in the contest for the vacant seat on the Board of Guardians. Mr. D. S. Lewis, who had held the seat for several years, was being opposed bv Mr. Noah Tromans, who came out as the Trades Union—Federation—Temperance Free Church Council nominee. Mr. Lewis re- lied on his past work on the Board, and appealed to the electors as the tried and true" candidate. Both sides fought well, and as the day advanced, it was seen the battle was going to be a tough one. The temperance party brought all their machinery to work, and late in the afternoon displayed two temperance car- toons. The workers on both sides seemed to hit it off quite harmoniously, but' underneath it all there was that grim set purpose of winning". Carriages and con- veyances were at the disposal of both candidates, and pretty evenly distri- buted. One old lady, an octogenarian, was brought to the poll, and one man suffering from a. broken leg. The result came as a shock to Mr. Lewis's workers and supporters. Mr. J. M. Linton, the returning officer, declared the. result quite early, about 9 o'clock, at the Moun- tain Ash Town Hall. MISKIN WARD. Another new member has been added to the Board of Guardians in the per- son of Mr. Tom Richards. This candi- late was opposed by the Rev. George Neighbour, Pastor of Mount Pisgah Chapel, Miskin. As in the other two wards, so here,^the fight was keenly fought throughoiR. Each side was claim- ing the victory, and as the day wore on the disputing parties seemed to gain more confidence. The result evidently justified their views, for only twenty seven votes divided the candidates at the counting. The mural literature was of the usual order, and the photos of the candidates were freely displayed. One amusing incident of the contest was a. little dog, with the photo of Mr Richards tied round his neck, with colours, calm- ly strutting through the constituency with as much confidence as any sup- porter in the election. Several old people were brought to the poll, and one old man on crutches. This result was declared about 10 o'clock at the Mountain Ash Town Hall. The following are the polls: — DARRAN LAS WARD (GUARDIANS). Tromans 430 Lewis M8 62 MISKIN (GUARDIANS). Richards 482 Neighbour 455 27 PENRHIWCEIBER (COUNCIL). Morris 511 Williams SIt 1 ABERCYNON COUNCIL). T. WT. Jones 640 J. Rhys Morgan 410 233 -ON (GUARDIANS). Evans p. 601 Williams 457 144

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THE PUBLIC BENEFIT BOOT CO. Sir,—Some time ago you reported in your columns a resolution of protest which had been carried at a meeting of the Aberdare Trades and Labour Coun- cil against the Public Benefit Boot Co., who enforced what was considered an unjust agreement with their managers. I am pleased to inform your readers that this agreement has now been withdrawn absolutely by the company in question. As was inevitable during the dispute between the Shop Assistants' Union, who are conducting the campaign against these bonds and the Public Benefit Boot Co., a large amount of bitterness was introduced into the struggle, but now that the battle is over, it is to be hoped that all ill-feeling towards the company by Trades' Unionists and others who felt that the conditions were unjust, will be removed, as I can affirm without any hesitation that the conditions of em- ployment with the Public Benefit Boot Co, are of the best in the retail boot trade.—I am, W. U. LEWIS.

Mountain Ash Eisteddfo The above Annual Eisteddfod is draw- ing near and everything is promising to make it one of the best successes in the history of this_ charitable institution.. There are 31 choirs, including the noted Portsmouth Choir, entered for the differ- ent competitions, and 18 bands, including Warrington, Fernda.le, Aberdare, Aber- aman, and last but not least Mountain Ash. The best soloists in Wales have en- tered in all the singing competitions. Over 8,000 tickets have been sold at the local collieries. This in itself assures a successful financial outlook. There are over 40 entries in the different mining competitions, and over 40 for the champ- ion recitation for the chair.