The Washington times., 1894-12-31
FROM THE WORKSHOP
INTO PARLIAMENT
Rapid Advancement Of John Burns
in the World of Politics.
MORE KICKS THAN cAREssEs
As Determinedly He Climbed the Lad
der of Fame and Fortune.

Interesting Sketch Of the Life, Political
Creed and Methods Of the Great English
Labor Lsade.-some of Els Maxims and
Their Applications-Briti Propaganda
for American Culture Seeing the Sights.
Mr.. John Burns, M. P. who spoke so
brilliantly at Convention Hall Saturday
night on labor and the future of the wor3-
ingmen of the world, spent yesterday morn
called upon by the committee OF reception,
and in company with those gentlemen saw a
good deal of the city and its suburbs. His
intention was to leave the city yesterday
afternoon Tor Philadelphia. but he will not go
there until to-day, the hour OF his leaving
being not yet fixed
A TIMES reporter had talk with him for
awhile vest erday morning, in the course of
which he said some things which will inter-
est 6, cry ytody. AIr. Burns is self-made
man. and also self-educated. He has had a
hard time in his day. He reyeis in hard
work because he was born tt il. AMI possi-
bly, for the reason assigned by LongieIlow,
that genius is only the infinite power of
taking trouble. Speaking about himself, he
said:
MY father was born in Ayrshire. Scotland,
the county of the poet Burns. My mother
was born IN Aberdeen, the Granite City. My
father was an engineer and my mother
Spartan Scotchwoman, who came 10 London
shortly before l was born, and there l was
hrrr L wan nrIy II 70 nd aRu
tnued in the workshop until was elected to
the London county couDcii-and after my
election. Ny trade ID that OF an engineer. L
have travelled all over the European continent
to gather information on social, municipal,
and educational subjects OF interest to the
classes represent and in whose cause have
been
PUBLICLY ENGAGED FOR MANY YEARS.
My life has been very hard one. and
think I can safely say that have had more
kicks than caresses. he character of my
public work you are familiar with.
II received what little education 1 have in
the day schools OF London before was ten
years OF age ana at night school after l had
done my work. My knowledge. such as it is,
| have picked up by reading and study, by
scorning delight. and living laDorIous days.
/ have always been interested in the social.
I economic and industrial problems My per-
( sonal contact with poverty anu my educated
/ belief that it can be removed, have comUeiled
/ me TO harmonic the enthusiasm of fanatic
NOT crank, please-with the faculty Tor,
/ and administration of business Ideas, a COM
/ bination which alone can make a LABOR and
/ socialist movement successful.
Il believe that the day of the agitaror IS
! declining / realize that the era OF and ad-
/ mini>tration is dawning Ny election 70 pub
/ lie office aud the responsibility which pupiic
/ Office imposes Upon NAN compels him often
! to modify his views circumstances must and
! do mould his action in securing his iGeal in
/ practical politics. Responsibility is the only
I educator;
EXPERIENCE Is THE ONLY JUDGE.
! IT attribute what success 1 have had in
I public life to the fact that have had educa-
/ tion enough to be guided by experience and
I experience enough TO desire more education,
i not enlY ior myself. but Tor the community
/ that honors me by electing me TO positions oil
! public trust
.'Wha; are the characteristics OF your con-
stiteuncy?"
! ..The bulk of my constituents are working
men. Among them are great many shop
/ keepers anu people of the middle class who,
1 while they do not always agree with my
! political opinions, yet think that something in
/ the direction OF my main ideas must be done,
| and they have the shreWdness, which char
| acterizes Engiishmen. TO prefer TO throw upon
| the agitator and reformer the responsibility
of the result rather than to think for him OF
/ to pretend to think for him, as is done In
America"
.Who was your opponent for your seat?''
He was banker and his opponent,
| Burns, was natural bankrupt, but Burns
i beat him. The banker appea ed to the work
/ ingnIan as l did, but he appealed in vain.
| There is no aristocracy in my district"
Mr.. Burns was asked how he would pro-
vide against the demands and equal rights oil
the unemployed IN the cases where muni.
| cipalities did their own work with selected
| men.
..Of course he said, ,'.there is danger OF dis.
content in everything that foolish. selfish
and inexperienced men have TO deal with, Lui
l believe that the men who are employed by
the State or Municipality will see the wisdom
of so adopting the reasonab!eness of their de-
mands to the average demand made outside
as to not allenigte the rate payer, or tax.
payer. who in the old world are the majority
OF their fellow citizens. The State and mu
niclpality
OUGHT TO BE A MODEL GOVERNMENT.
when they are such, the good sense of the
employees will prevent log-rolling in the in
terest of special sections of the workingmeI
employed by the State, and the community
can speedily check any such sabuse.
Mr.. Burns had something interesting also
TO say about Labor Commissioner Wright ant
the extension of his powers: I'm word. |
regard him as the official medium that ought
to synchronize. .centraliae, and concentrate ths
policies OF the social and industrial life OF
America His sphere of activity ought to b;
enlarged. his authority and jurisdiction ex
tended, and the work, which he cannot
now do satisfactorily, ought to bt
speedily entered upon. For instance, WI
want a comprehensive Federal summary
OF what each of the States is doing in relation
to that State and to the general government
Federalism and home rule are excellen
things in themselves, but in a nation con
stituted like America there ought to be SOM
medium by which the facts collected in eacl
State shall be conveyed to the central me
dium. which. while not interfering with tn
autonomy of each State, could produce from
heterogeneous sources a harmonious ani
homogeneous document.
Labor to America in the future is NOR
important than its Army or its Navy. Lik
the regular Army, that ofslabor. with its seat
tered elements and inarticulate brigad %
should have prepared its ration lists and pa
rates compiled. Who is going to do it? Car
roll d. Wright is the man. Let him begil
the work at once. Before the municipal sur
geon and the political physician can apply
remedy to the disease
THE DISEASE MUST BE DIAGNOSED"
The following demands of the laborin;
classes in the election, in Mr.. Burns distric
In 1892, will succinctly convey the ideas whic
he develops in his speeches:
81. The extension of the powers of tn
council, so that the city. with all its fund
| and ba lad and ne ad n