Bargoed Journal. — 1904-09-17 (Gelligaer, Mid Glamorgan, Wales)

THE" PROBLEM' OF THE DAY.  In the last article under the above heading I dealt with the causes of the poverty which exists in the England and Wales of to-day. It is the state of affairs as they exist to-day that have to be fought and altered. I say this because we are constantly being told that the working man is better off to-day than he has ever been; this, however, in view of the natural query, " Cannot he7be better off than he is now ?" is a mere waste of words. This latter query bythe-way, is one that I will endeavour to answer in the affirmative when I write my paper on " Municipal Management and a people-owned State." But to return to the question of the causes and nature of the poverty our country holds. This question, as we are all aware, is by no means a new one. It was an old one in the far-away days of the Bible, and in spite of philanthropits and charitable institutions which have blossomed and died along the ages, it is with us to-day. Now I am far from a pessimist When modern civilisation is under discussion, . but nobody who has heard of the " shirk-makers" in the great. cities, or has seen the ends of the roads which lead from those hells of .torture, the chrome dye-works, to quOte only two instances, can belive that the sufferings which prompted the French Revolution are in any way minimised for the people of to-day, in spite of what science, factor 3, acts, and sanitation have done for them.  And what shall we say of our great cities, with their silent armies of the unemployed and gaunt hawkers and touts And gamblers, and loitering failures with tragic eyes and wilted garments, and prostitutes plying for hire ? And what shall we say of the awful over-crowded slums, the dingy blatant taverns and hordes of ragged half-starved children being " reared " in misery and vice? The following paragraph is from a non-Socialist London weekly,. and was headed " The Ranks of Despair" : " While the fashionable world is slowly creeping back to town preparing for ti-e winter's junketings, the bitter cry of the unemployed is already making itself heard. Privation appeals to us more forcibly in the winter, when the elements conspire in favour of a perfection of woe. StTh, hunger and misery have no seasons, and a famishing stomach in the dog-days must be as torturing as in the depths of December. Human nature is apt to be impatient of the unsuccessful, and the sight of a man not at work often creates the impression that he will not work. This is unjust. Want and hunger become such things of custom that we ,become hardened to them—in others. Whatever our philosophy may be in the abstract, very few of us, retiring to rest at night, ever give a thought to the homeless, the hopeless, the wanderers in the streets—the ranks of despair, the Pariahs of our civilisatiou, the people whom nobody wants." The following was then quoted from the " Daily News " for August 26th : Mr. R. H. Wellington held an inquest at Westminster on Charles Henry Thomas, a general labourer, who committed suicide. The deceased had tramped miles in search of work, and came back with his feet blistered and bleeding as a result. In the morning he complained of pains in the head, adding that he had been walking about all day and all night. He left a note saying, " I cannot face walking about all night. I dread the streets." Some verses, of which I should like to quote the lot, then followed, but space being precious , the first must suffice. " I dread the streets, the dark, the cold, The chilling frowns of hustling mobs; The ribald young, the withered old, The cur that whines, the thief that robs. Where strident Hunger holds his sway, And Sin dull Sorrow careless meets; The goal of life's despairing day— I dread the streets." Poverty! The pity of it all. And then there is ignorance; ignorance is a greater curse than poverty. Indeed, but for ignorance poverty and wealth could not exist side by side. It is only ignorance which allows the rich to uphold and the poor to endure the injustices and criminal follies of which the present social and industrial conditions are productive. Next week I will deal with the surplus Labour Fallacy, and in the meantime I want you to think " How long shall these things be '?" How long. How long. F.B.  The public examination of the debtor w:11 late place at Merthyr on the 3rd of Oct fibet. GmLywcti Carpenter's Family Responsibilities. Tie first meeting of the creditors of jancs. N 1 illiams, carpenter, of 7, Heath Crceeent, Graigwen, Pontypridd, was held on Tuesday. Herein the gross liabilities were entered at £99 I Is. 6d. duc to 17 unsecured creditors. The assets c onsisted of £lO cash deposited for costs of petition. deficiency £B9 I Is. 6d. I)ebtor ascribed his failure to having , (To the Editor.) Ito suport a heavy family, seven out Sir,—Each citizen who feels an interest. cif e..ght ehildren baying had typhoid in the welfare and progress of Bargoed :'ei.er live years ago. must lament the practice amongst some lie. blic oriromation of the debtor lof our business people of throwing in s ii-xed fi.r October 18th at Pontypridd. I our chief thoroughfares papers, straw.. Ilophiustoun Painter. ! sticks, and other innumerable waste,. V, ALL ni Edmund John, painter, 107, which makes them in appearance (vide hx.r.stcwn Road, Pontypridd. a Councillor at the Parish meeting) 't he debtor's summary presented to " more like unto a market entrance than lis creditors on Wednesday showed the main streets of a progressive town, liabilities of £lO4 19s. id. owing to 10 Others again place their advertiseraent unsecured creditors. Assets, £5 deposi boards across the pavement, and the ted tor costs of pat.:titan stock-in-tr last but,t. the least place their vehicles £1 ..s., f,twn,kture I's. total Ell ss. Dt m the sii& walks and back lane& This ti ciit . jr,„: £914 4 a.. Id. i must soOtter or later be stopped, It is . a causas of ,failere. Na alleged by, to the crprlit of the men employed to keep iu 4:eu:. vele, wani ot capital, .keen, our main • reads clean that the work is l• ori i.et.vcri; and having a wet season. done so well by them, notwithstanding this antique practice. Thanking you li.e 1 ullic examination takes place Mr. Editor, in anticipation of insertion) at eu.....ypidd 61-i tin; !Bth of October. 1 ara. etc.,