The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-25
A SWANSEA BOY" HoNORED.


The Odd Fellows Magazine for last
month contains a portrait and biograp ply
Of p. p. G. NJ. John Lake. of Swansea,
a near relative Of Mr.. Morgan Lake, Of
the West Side, the secretary of the
Cambria lodge. the mother lodge Of the
order in Wales. AS portraits are only
inserted in the magazine after vote
of the whole delegates at the A. M. c.,
this Is an honor Of which Brother Lake
may we'll feel proud. He is a "Swan-
sea boy" born at High street, Dec.
Z, 1885. Left an orphan when years
Of age, he went to the Hafod copper
works, where he cleaned bricks and
ran errands at four shillings per week.
Then passing through the blacksmith
shop he became foreman of the Silver
works, so recently made famous by the
"Sarti" robbery. Soon after the forma-
tion OF the Swansea school board he
was appointed attendance officer, a po-
sition he still holds. For twenty-one
years he has been secretary Of the Cam
brian lodge, which has increased in
membership from $50 to 800. He has
often attended as delegate to the A. NJ.
c., and at the Stafford A. NJ. c. in
1885 he succeeded in getting the leek
inserted In the emblem of the order,
where, until then, only the rose, the
Shamrock, and the thistle appeared.
SELF-GOvERNMENT FOR WALES.
Those Welsh Liberals who favor a
moderate measure Of self-government
for Wales should support the proposal
set forth by Mr. Lloyd George, and
long ago by Mr. Thomas Ellis, for put
ting into operation the provision Of
the local government act which would
enable Wales to set up national coun-
Gil Of its own. Mr.. George had no Diff
ficulty in showing how the devotion Of
business would benefit Wales. but one
must confess that Il was with with some
surprise that one listened to the SYM
pathetic tone in which Mr.. Chaplin re-
ferred to so revolutionary (?) propos-
al. Can 1t be. after all, that the first
practical steps for the solution of the
home rule problem will come from the
front conservative bench?
THE WELSH IN PARLIAMENT.
The writer of the Notes from Wales"
In one of the Liverpool newspaper
who, 1t Is said. is intimately associated
with parliamentary life, complains of
the perfunctory attendance given by
the majority Of the Welsh members to
their parliamentary duties. even when
those duties involve questions Of the
greatest interest to Wales. Within
| the last week or two several subjects Of
| of deep Importance to Wales have been
discussed In the house Of commons,
| but Wales was represented by four, or
at most five, members during almost
the whole Of the debate. The battle
for the Pembroke naval dock yard was
left entirely to two North Wales men,
bers. The same two members again
dealt with the all-important question
extent of eliciting quite q sympa-
thetic reply, from Mr.. Henry Chaplin.
They were Joined by one or two others
In the discussion of the injustice meted
out to certain witnesses who appeared
before the land commission. but the
force Of the Welsh party was never at
any time In evidence. Mr.. Brynmor
Jones. with most commendable self
sacrifice. has undertaken the duties of
party whip. At the present moment
he Is absolutely without n party. for
any practical purpose. If Wales is to
gain anything In the present parlla-
ment 1t must be by a concerted line OF
action. Up to now the Welsh Liberal
party Is without line at all.
SIR JOHN JONES JENKINS ANr
TINPLATE. g.
At recent banquet. Sir John Jones
Jenkins, one of the best authorities or
the tinplate industry Of Wales, deliv.
cred himself of these remarks "Un.
fortunately, the tinplate trade for tht
past few years has been In anything
but q prosperous condition. The Nc
Kinley tariff, possibly, was the begin
ming Of evil days, but. in addition t
that. they had had good many imam.