New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-03
ALEADER OF LABOR HERE
1O1IN BURNS WILL STUDY AMERICAN
SYSTEMS
DAVID HOLMES AND j. WILLIAMS BENIN AXE
WITH HIM-A TALK WITH TIE LEADER


OF THE LONDON DOCK STRIKES
John Burns. the British labor leader. arrived
here yesterday on the Cunard steamer h'rur'"
from, Iiverpool With him David Holmes
who like Mr.. Burns, is a labor leader ana o. ""'
Jams Benn, who. like Mr. Burns, Is Member VI
Parliament. representing the labor party III '"e
House Mr.. Benn is a member from st. George
East in which place live most OF the DOCK Ia
borers whom Mr.. Burns organized ana leo IN 'ne
great London Dock aborers strikes. Mr. Burns ~
| a Socialist and Mr.. Bonn calls himsei an Au-
yanced Radical" Mir. Holmes does not peheVe III
Socialism and deprccates the Introduction Oh pon-
tics into the organized labor movement MT
BURNS and Mr. Holmes came over as delegates
from the British trades unions to attend the an
nual convention OF the Federation OF Labor at
Denver 1t after 10 O'Clock wheh the DIX
Cunarder got alongside her pier reception
committee OF twenty five men. representing various
trades unions AFFILIATED with the Federation OF
Labor were on the pier, and they had oahd win
them, Samuel Gompers and William J. O'Brien
boarded the ship at Quarantine and came up 70
the pier her. The gangplank had been down
some time when a short man, with a oearu
strcaked with gray. came rapidly down IL. Inc
Reception Committee cheered and the band played
! HAL TO the Chief" for that was Mr. Burns FOL
lowing him was a tall dIgniied-ookng man.
| smooth shaver. except for bunch or white
whisk.rs lust under his chin. He looked ms II ne
| had lust arrived from New England instead OF
| Old England. being perfect type OF the conVeh-
tlonal ew-England Yankee That was Mr.
| Holmes Mr. Bonn came also. young man OF
| M particular individuality In appearance.
| Tho ReccpiIon Committee formed themselves In a
ring about the foreign labor leaders. and the crowd
formed on the outside % the ring. Mr.. Gompera
| made "A speech welcoming Mr. Burns and his com
! panions to America, and then Charles }. Dumar,
| of Tvpographlcal Union No. g. the chairman OF the
Reception Committee. welcomed the labor leaders
| 10 Ney-York TN behalf OF the 10000 members or
| the labor organizations OF the city hr. hurns
made a speech in reply and the ceremonies OF WEI
come were over As Mr.. Burns was driven 10 the
c.olonnade Hotel some Of the longshoremen In West
ST. recognized him and cheered him some OF theh
had worked on London docks at the time OF the
big strike and these called out 10 him. fio" are
vou John the form 81 greeting Mr.. Burns used
10 receive from the London dock laborers when he
appeared among them when ne was conducting tue
/ strik's.
J In the afternoon Mr. Burns talked 10 reporters
at the Co.onnade. lie first made a short speech ana
then answered questions. His style OF speaking
MAS dlsappoint!ng on account OF his incessant use
OF long words woven Into involved ana ora'orl'Ai
sentences For Instance. when asked II II were
| true that he had spoken OF American worhhsm'n
a. HUE better than African slaves. he rephen
THAT statement Is superstructure OF misnierpre-
| taton. basel on msconcepuon OF what s1'd "'
| som. length" Upon the question being pressed
| Mr. Burns said that he had referred to the cohui-
rion 81 the laborers In the coke regions In the
course OF the interview Mr. Burns said that ne
| came 10 America not only 10 attend the convention
AZ Denver but 70 study the methods OF labor or
| parlzatl,u In this country and to try and bring
| about A community OF interest between the orgahi-
! cations In England ana here. He VIII also STUDY
| municipal government the administration OF char
| tiles and penal Institutions. and the methods o'
| procedure IN the House 81 Representatives. h'
Intends 10 stay In This country six weeks Tor these
| ~ Ilttru
| oruoued TO convict contract labor. Repeatedly ne
smoke OF the necessity OF harmony between Labor
organizations In this country. and stated his belief
that mutual concessions would produce unity.
lie advocated parks. and open spaces. ana good
drainage saying. Il believe that democracy win
NOR drains Is not as good as-say democracy viii
good drains In speaking Of the country generally
ne said Il know all the virtues and all the drlect'
Of America for American passengers on the steamer
have poured them into my cars all the way over
I should say tina, until Americans care more ioi
character AMI less FOR cash you Will not have non
In Speaking OF the tenement house question n
his book. How the other Half Live OF the way
the poor housed in Network ana nay, nav
doubt that he does. you have state o, oh,,s
here far than exists In LONDON. IL W. y
thought nat the rendition o Of n not ' be,cp thar
| In this country ana that when the purchasini
INTO confederation the British lnborer got fully a.
good pay the American laborer. re ,tsluSrl I,
| he pullman strike was he rather desired T.
success lie Is going 10 Pullman and learn all ne
-" ans am surprised said he In the course OF III
conversation THAT In your chamber OF Representa-
a fes y yonres"n,atve lie proclaimed himself
Socialist and said II believe IN inc rh %
| ~ land the railroads, the telegraphs ETC. me m
fertilization OF land will have to be effected II
different methods In different countries IN some n,
| I'm some by cumulative taxation In some case,
taxation as a means OF natonalizing the land
think It would work satisfactorily believe IN m
formation OF q Labor party In politics wnich shai
bc independen, OF the other parties and yet no
independent II should not be 80 inncpenii ,h ON.
Of the other parties thing to be desired by them
and WELD political power .or 'h sat c,yzS
lion is COMPROMISE I believe that compromise II
MR. burns said that believed In the introduction
~ machinery wherever II was possible 10 introhuc,
H. but thought It should be made more the srrVa an
| 81 The workingman than. as often IA now NJ
master. He was asked about Mowbray. TIE an
archIst agitaior. and said: y nsagrd dd nn, know
he was in this country He was s a, one er time
Holmes said that he was not soclasi ana a. az,
with many Of Mr burns shout
he kept free from all politics II 1t came IN n
believed it would result in the destruction OF IN
, In the afternoon Mr. Burns and his party went L
vs %fSFh s or tnf the a, the
politan Opera House. To-day they VIII VISIT nmer
9 S anS in 'n the v"nns viii big sb
meeting at Cooper Union To.m3rrow "a, ain nsd VII o
e wednesday they start for Denver.
THE An NATIONS CLUES THIRD DTNyER
g The third fortnightly dinner OF the All Nation
a ct,b was held at the Hotel Espagno No. ia Yves
I Fourteenth-st.. last night and was typical span
} ish feast President oliver Sumner TEAL sat at IN
y head OF the table. and hanked by ex-Governo