The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-12-03

New York, Dec. 2.-Among the pas
sengers on the Cunard steamer Etruria,
which arrived here this morning, was
John Burns, M. p, the great socialist
and labor leader, of London. A delega-
ton from the labor organizations of
New York city met him at quarantine.
The delegation consisted of Mr.. E. F.
McSweeney, assistant commissioner of
labor; Samuel Gompers, president OF
the Federation of Labor; Chris Evans,
secretary of that organization, and
William O'Brien, the walking dele
gate.
Mr.. Burns is accompanied by two fell
low members of parliament-Mr. David
Holmes, who represents the town of
Burnley, in Lancashire, and who is
president of the Weavers' association
and delegate to the conference Of the
Federation of Labor, and Mr.. John
William Benn, member of the London
county council and M. P. for st.
Georges East Mr.. Benn is deeply in
terested in temperance affairs.
sI cannot talk fairly of American af-
fairs" said Mr.. Burns to the Associ-
ated Press, 'tfor it would take years
for me to become familiar enough
with them to do so. [ have been
watching the labor movement in Amer
lea as closely as I could from dis
lance and have concluded that there
must be a little more of the milk OF
human kindness injected into labor af-
fairs if they are to progress as
would like to see them progress"
On the dock were gathered about
200 members of the local labor unions,
who cheered loudly for John Burns
as he walked down the gang plank.
Then an informal reception was ten
dered him, and Mr.. Dumar, of Typo
graphical Union No. 6, made brief
speech of welcome.
In responding, Mr.. Burns said ii
was an agreeable coincidence that he
who had been so strongly identified
with the docks in England should
make his first speech in America on
dock. with the rattle of trunks and <le
swash of the waters in his ears.
The party proceeded on foot to the
Colonnade hotel along West street. ON
many of the corners were gathered
groups of the dock laborers and cattle
men, who cheered for Burns as he ap-
preached, and many of them, who had
come from London, greeted him with
the old cry of the London dock strike
How are YOU John?" to which inquiry
Mr. Burns responded by stopping and
shaking hands with them.
Later in the day, Mr.. Burns received
number of newspaper men and talked
for an hour After relating how MIR
Holmes and he had been selected by the
labor federation at Norwich to repre-
sent that body in the American con-
ference at Denver, he said their duty
was to convey the Fluctuations of Eng
lish labor to that of America.
OF his own visit, he said he came first
to observe the condition of the labor
movement in America and in what res
poets it differs from that in England
and second as a member of parliament
to visit Congress and get a grasp OF
American political affairs.
The workings of the labor depart
ment under Carroll D. Wright We're OF
great interest to him and as CO.
councillor, he hoped to have the op-
portunity of inspecting the various
municipal departments of the great
cities of America, more particularly OF
New York and Chicago.
But above all, he declared, it was for
trade unionism that he was to work
He believed ultimately the principles OF
the trade union WOulu pe univ SdliS
regarded as necessary for the carrying
out of any movement for human prog
ress.
Mr.. Burns attention was called to q
recently published statement that he
had said American worllmen were INC
better than African slaves"
Chat statement he replied, SIS g
superstructure of misconstruction based
on mfsunders landing of what 1 said. .
Then he explained that his remarks
had concerned the condition of the Hun
garians and Italians at the coke reg.or
as depicted in our blue books and
which if true, he added, is disgrace
TO any civilized country on the face OF
the globe.
Mr.. Burns will leave New York or
Wednesday and will spend six weeks
travelling through the states.