Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-03-16
John Burns. the Labor Leader

JOnn Burns, the LABOR Leader.
The Idler is an odd magazine to con-
tain a sketch of one of the busiest men
living, yet in that British monthly Mr..
Blaythwait describes visit to the home
of John Burns, the labor leader. Burns
has helped to organize more than 100
trade unions and been connected with
something like 10 strikes" He lives in
a picturesque, rose EMPOWERED cottage
at Battersea on the Thames, a suburb of
London. If he is as Mr.. Blaythwait
represents him, then John Burns, the
labor leader, is one of the greatest as
well as most fascinating personalities of
his time.
! His work as a member of the London
county council requires irksome clerical
tasks, attention to statistics and business
details. 1T is work that 1 hate" said
Burns. Il was made for a fighter; to
lead forlorn hope; to face battalion
of police. However, my greatest victory
in life has been the conquest of myself"
The old story once more and ever. He
who can entirely control himself can
control all mankind and prevail against
the powers of darkness. Burns policy
in the council and everywhere else is "a
standing protest against imperial bu-
reaucracy in foreign and domestic af-
fairs" He wants to give to the British
colonies the civilization that Greece and
Rome gave TO theirs, without the mill.
tarism that accompanied it.
Burns is born enthusiast. He loves
art and poetry and all things beautiful
His ideal government is "a republic
wherein throne and aristocracy, church
and class, will have forever melted into
nothingness." No wonder John Burns
can move a nation. Read how he gained
his knowledge:
These books were bought with scores Of
meals Mallock's us Life Worth Living?" rep
resents a fierce battle in my mind as TO whether
it should DO the book or a pair Of boots, and
the book won the day. Adam Smiths Wealth
Of Nations" dug up in the sand of an African
river. My gracious! what a revelation that
book was to mel There is Carlyle, and there is
Booths Labor and Life of the People"
A great string of visitors poured in
while Mr.. Blaythwait sat by. He seems
scarcely able to find words to express
his admiration of how the labor men,
Der Of the London county council man.
aged them all. 1T was striking and
impressive sight, the perfect confidence
and love of all these people; the CHEEKY,
sympathetic manner; the keen insight of
the judge advocate general himself"
But the wonderful, magnetic personality
Of the man is greatest of all:
He is at home everywhere and with every
one. | have met him In the palace OF the
stately Anglo Roman cardinal, with whom he
was az thoroughly Mt one AS he was on the fol-
lowing day with q number Of young artists in
a studio in Bohemia. He instructed the cardi-
nal, he listened TO him, he deferred to him. he
differed from him, he laughingly triumphed
over him, and on the following day he ex-
pounded the whole gospel Of art to the young
fitians and Leightons by whom he was sur
rounded, and displayed as he talked an init
mate acquaintance with the galleries Of the
continent, the works OF the old masters, the
brilliant achievements OF the new.
have seen him on the top Of bus frater-
nizing with the driver and the conductor,
learning their troubles. dvising them best what
70 do, or seated in the county council of which,
but for his wonderful disinterestedness, have
good reason TO know he might have been the
vice chairman and drawing an income which.
10 his simple ideas. would have been a veritable
fortune. And | have watched him at tennis
with his wife on a sunny afternoon in Batter
yea, OF neatly taking the wicket OF some skilled
batsmsn. OF holding his own with the best in
,lever boxing match. As Lord High Execu-
Homer in The Mikado" he Is a rival Of whom
sven Gee-Gee himself need not be ashamed,
while as q singer Of comic songs he always
brings down the house. Il used TO act at anna
leur entertainments once on a time,- he once
old me. TO get funds for the labor cause.
have other work 10 do now"