A GREAT LABOR LEADER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1959, 22 October 1889, Page 3

A GREAT LABOR LEADER.

• r JOHW BUSNS, OF lOMDOK. '■'The distress among the British working classes, which for many years has been chronic, especially among waterside workers on the Thames, in London, has culminated in open war between labor and capital. The strike of the London dock laborers has probably never been equalled either in its proportion or in the importance of the issues involved, it is estimated that upward of a quarter of a million of men have entered into the Btruggle. The central figure and moving spirit in this great struggle Is John Burns, whose came is now so prominently before the world. John Elliott Burns is of Scottish parentage, though born in England. His father was an engineer of some standing in his profession, and is said to have been a descendant of Scotland's immortal bard. He died'in the prime of life, leaving behind him three daughters and four Bons,. only.partially provided for. Like all remarkable, men, John Burns, had a remarkable mother; and he is proud of praising her beauty and .the great efforts sbV made l to rear the members of her young family, , and educate them, She appears, to .have been a woman of con- /" siderable force of character, to w hich she ' added ho small degree of mental culture. John, like;the. rest of his brothers and Bisters, received a, Bound elementary education, and pn leaving Bchool was apprenticed to tha engineering business. He took a deep interest in his trade, and long before he was oat of his time he was regarded as an exceptionally clever workman. Soon after he had completed his indentures he was sent to South, America to superintend the erection/of extensive mills, where he caughtyeliow fever, but his Btrong constitution pulled him through. On his leturo to England to began to interest himself in. the affairs of his trade society, the Amalgamated Engineers ; and about this time he became a member of the Shaftesbury. Working Men's Club, situated on Lavender Hill, between Battersea and Clapham, Londen. He was one of the leaden of the agitation against the attempt of the Metropolitan Beard of Works to prohibit public meetings on Clapham Common. In spite of the repeated attempts of the police to prevent him, he repeatedly addressed large crowds who assembled on the common to hear him. Ha defied the Board of Works and the police to lawfully interfere with orderly public assemblages, and, with two others, was arrested, and charged with having caused an obstruction. The case came before Mr Paget in th« Wadsworth Police Conrt, who discharged the accused on the gt-ound that public meetings on the .common were lawful; and thus the right of public meeting was established. Although an earnest and staunch trades unionist, John Burns soon became dissatisfied with the apathfttic attitude of his own and other unions on the great social problems direotjy affecting the working classes. He denounced the laism-faire

policy of the so-called labor leaders, anil condemned what he termed " truckling to political parties."-JBoldly preaching an independent labor policy, he did not hesitate to identify himself with every phase of genuine labor agitation. Instead of standing aloof from unorganised or non-union labor, he willingly fought its battles, aud spared no "effort to rally the scattered and. disorganised forces of unskilled labor. His bold and independent attitude brought him' into collision with the executive, and members of his own society, and with what may be termed the conservative element of trades unionism. Scorning to make peace with what he termed " degraded sslfishness," he threw himself into the/ ranks of the Socialists, where he speedily sprang t,p the front as the most eloquent, energetic,, and masterful man among his compeers. This is high praise, indeed, to pay to so young a man, when it is borne in mind that among his colleagues are included-H. M. Hyndman, H. H. Champiqn, George Burrowes, William Morris, John William, Professor Belfort-Bax, and other equally capable men. But John Burns is the very embodiment of the popular tribune, possessing physical and. mental qualities' which admirably qualify him to sway and control the multitude. He has a handsome face, a fine physique, a commanding presence, and a phenomenally powerful voice, which, together with rare eloquence and clearness of utterance, enable him to dominate the Jargast openair gatherings ever &ot together in London. Added to these qualifications fof the perilous position of: leader of the people, he has an unsullied reputation for disinterestedness and; sincerity. Although many people differ from him in matters of opinion, arid as to -the line of action he adopts to obtain the amelioration of the condition of his class, no one has ventured to impugn his motives, He figured prominently in the. Trafalgar Square disturbances, and, together with Messrs; Hyndman and Champion, was tried at the Old Bailey on a charge ;of riot, but was acquitted,-it being plainly shown that; Bum's influence had been exercised toj leßtrain the excited mob fr»m farther! excesses. He has, with.other Socialists,! served aterm of imprisonment in H6II6WBV: Gaol for having maintained the right -off public meeting against u the fiat of Siri Charles Warren, the late Chief Oommis-' gioner: for the London Police. While the labor policy promulgated by John Burns ia a desidedly aggressive one, he is an advocate of compromise, and; whenever a disposition is shown by capital, to make concessions he is found willing to temporise. He ia notin anarchist, andi his presence and influence among the rapidly-growing body of British Socialists are regarded as exercising a salutary check on the anarchical projects of the more advanced section of-thai party. 1 During the visit of the Australian labor delegate to Europe, John Burns did much to promote the succbbs of that gentleman'smission by organising meetings in the British metropolis, and otherwise assisting to make known the views of the Australian working classes on State-assisted immigration. Barns contested East Nottinghamshire at the last general Parliamentary election in Britain as a Socialist, but was defeated. He was subsequently elected a member of the recently-created - London County Council for Battersea division, and in that body has added to his reputation us a determined-champion of social reforms, "• There js hardly a doubCthat he will be in the next British Imperial Parliament for one of the East End conatituenciea of London, in which case his influence with, and;"knowledge of, the working classes," cogether' with his undoubted powers as a speaker, would seem to reserve for him a foremost position as the champion of labor in,that august but somewhat exclusive assembly.—Town and Country Journal. ; ; . :