Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-10-30
IONDONeS SUCCESSFUL l. LIE ADER
Popularity and Characteristic Traits o.
John Burnes. the Socialist.

LIZ LJFtN - - 1 SSGsSeE L h LIE IL
Popularity and Characteristic Traits of
John Burnes. the Socialist.
John Burnes, the London socialist and
labor leader, stands OUT a prominent figure
among the men who are fighting the
cause of those whom the French novelist
has so aptly styled the 'struegle-for-
lifers." Burnes won his first victory dur
ing the Trafalgar riots. His second
triumph was the occasion of the deck la
borers' strike. On both these occasions he
prevented vast destruction of property
and maybe loss of life.
How did you manage to hold those
thousands at the docks?' The Tribune
CORE spondent asked him.
Il fed them,'' was the reply.
Burnes boasts of an iron constitution,
and he requires it, for, night and day.
whenever called upon to do battle for the
cause to which he is devoting his life,
Jack" as his friends atfectionately call
him, is at his post. For days at time
his wife does not see him. He does not
''agitate' for agitation's sake, nor for the
purpose Of ''corralling' votes for himself
or some one else, but because he has the
welfare of his fellCw-creatures at heart. II
he enters the honse of commons as a mem
Der for Battersta, he will have done so as
a true representative of the wO1 klngmen
arr at their behest, and because he feels
that he will be able to serve them better
at Westminster than at public meetings.
He lives within the limit OF sel00 Il year.
He will not take d penny more. his IN
come is made up of pennies cheerfully con-
tributed by those for whom he tolls. He
fixed the amount himself, it being equiva-
lent to his earnings before he began the
workers fight. He has refused $1,000 to
90 on a lecture tour through the Australian
! colonies. III the London county council
! Of which he is valuable member, he sue
! cessfuliy opposed the councils official ano
| public recognition of Stanley doings IL
| Africa. In walking the streets of London
he meets with friendly recognition from
pnbic officials, and even within the pre-
| cincts of " estminster he receives excep
tional favors and attention from lords as
we'll as commoners. His talent for keep
| ing order over meetings composed of thou
sands has earned for him the graft
tuue of the metropolitan force. A nigh
police official has requested him to veal
| on public occasions the battered straw hal
which he donned during the dock-laborerS
strike. 1--WE do not fear any riot when We
see that hat. 1t is guarantee of order,
explained the official.
| Mental superiority makes itself felt, anc
Burnes' isrec 1gnized in many houses WHERE
a man is not judged by his clothes. Jack
Burnes needs no dress suit. He is a
home in the drawing-roonl or at a O ciocl
tea. He is ready and well-equipped fo
conversation or argument as he is an ON
niyerous reader. His knowledge of thu
labor movement in America is TO be mar
veled at He is IS frank and to the poin
in his utterances as he is modest and IN
| assuming while receiving almost homag,
from the component parts of England
social fabric. He abstains from intoxi