New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-12-25
THO I1EOH LEADERS.

Seldom have two strangers. coming hih"r TO-
rc,her from the same place and nomlnally on
the same mission. presented more striking and
Instructive contrast than have Mcssrs. John
Burns and David Holmes. thr delegates from
,he trades union. " England 10 the recent con.
vcnrion u the American Federation Of Labor
Al Denver II viii be- remembered that when
they landed here Mr. Burns was regarded ~
by far the more important. He II was VINO WIS
interviewed. whose portrait adorned The public
prints. whose c"ns~ and comings wor" chron
lclcl ~ the chief news Of The day. I'll" two
have now been in this country three weeks
and have DISCHARGED the formal duty on which
they came II is now possible. with some de
cree II business and accuracy, io sum up ih'ir
work in America. ana I" estimate ih'ir worm
A. leaders Of social and industrial affairs
Mr. Burns after enjoying much conspicuous
ness i'm this city and elsewhere. went to me
Denver convention. 10 which he WAS "ccF'dii'h'
and mad" speech or tive" II" had mn" 10
say If trades unioni>m or Of III" practical IN
fcrc,ts Of the WoriinGmar. but mitch ~ p"l'I-
cal agitation and Socialism. He urged upon the
convention the adoption II Sprialisti' ana
revolutionary platform. He made "a speech To
the general public. in which h" rallied against
the American Government ana American inSil-
tutions generally. and grossly nsuli"d the PEG
pie whose guest II" was. Then when the con
yrntion scnsbly rejected the Socialisiic platform
by an overwhelming majority. he shook the dust
Of Denver from HIS feet and went away To dis
cover other "puckrl editions 81 hell to quote
hi. own chastc phrase 80 much for Mr.. Burns.
His real mission here WAS 10 preach Socialism.
and his character ~ disclosed 10y his words
and acts seems f. he that Of Il manncrlcss. con
ccitc,l. shfty political acialor.
Mfr Holmes was less in evidence while In
New York. Chicago and elsewhere Al Denver
he did not indulge in 80 many rhetorical pyro-
Technics IN the convention ar before the general
public He seemed 10 remember that he had
come as n delegate. MT rs Il drImlnajor He
devoted himself to The Legitimate work Of the
convention. modcstly but very effectively III"
opposcd all Socialistic ana voulonary
schemes. and urged the Federation 10 have re-
gard for the interests Of labor in the promo
ton Of true tradcs-lInionism. Ike that Of Eng
land which has don" more 10 improve IN" con
diiion II workingmcn than any other such or
eanizaton In The world He stayed In his place
until the end Of the convention. and just before
the final adjournment made brief speech
which contained more good taste AMI sound
sens. than all the rodomontadc his colleague
has emitted from Sandy Hook 10 The Rocky
Mountains Il hope he said in conclusion,
That since my arrival upon yoIr shores have
said nothing calculated 10 wound the Scnsbili-
tics Of the American people and also hope
..tl,at NAV not be- held responsible for any
thing which may hav" been said ouisid" or
trades unlonism" The answer of The cOnvcn-
ton and of The American public 10 that hope *
not uncertain. Th,y recognize In Mr. Holmes
"A man who came hithcr on 4 Legitimate and
honorable GRAND, and vino discharged that err
rand faithfully ana Well man al sterling
worth whom il j. pleasure and a profit Il"
have entertained and who VIII 90 back 10 Eng
land with The cordial respect 81 cvcrY right
thinking American.
The contrast bcw,cI TN" ;No H. also sharply
drawn by Nj Holmes himself in his comments.
though painfully and reluctantly made upon
the conduct Of his notorious colleague. In the
portion Of his speech already c''"''d he made