River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1894-12-06
JOHN BURNS.
Englend's Distinguished Labor
Leader Visits America.
De VIII Study the Condition OF Our Work
ing Clssses-Also Our National Poll
tics Trade Unionism-so,l al-
ism In England.

NEW YORK, Dec John Burns, NJ.
a., and representative of amalgamated
labor in England. arrived here sun
day on the Cunard steamer Etruria
On reaching the pier Mr.. Burns re-
ceived a hearty welcome from large
delegation composed of MEM
bers of the different trades
organizations brief address
of welcome was delivered by Samuel
Gompers, president of the American
Federation of Labor, to which Mr..
Burns responded appropriately. Mr.
Burns comes to this country as the
representative of the trades union
congress parliamentary committee of
England to attend the annual con- ress
of the American Federation of Labor
in Denver, which begins on December
10.
a,r. Burns Makes "a Speech.
In the afternoon Mr.. Burns visited
the Central Labor union and was en-
Enthusiastically greeted. In his remarks
he said he hoped to stay in America
long enough to make a careful study
of the condition of the working classes.
The labor movement in Great Britain.
he said. was passing through the in
ternational phase. and this was caus-
ing alarm to the politicians who
seemed to be frightened at its develop
ments. He continues:
You believe. with us IN England that frock
coats and high hats have had their day and
that the time h rs come when fustlan and cor
duTOy should have their innings. II so, we
have got TO fight for labor along the lines Of
the least resiStan e.
An Interview.
Mr.. Burns. during the day, gave an
audience to a number of newspaper
men. He said of his visit here that he
came first to observe the condition of
the labor movement in America and
learn in what respects it differed from
that in England; and second, as a mem
Der of parliament to visit congress and
get grasp of American political af-
fairs. He continues:
81 have been watching the labor movement
in America as closely l could from dis
lance, and have concluded that there must be
a little more Of the milk of human kindness
injected int1 labor affairs II they to prog
ress as would like to see them progress"
10 Hold the Wealthy in Check.
Mr.. Burns is inclined to believe that
among the cosmopolitan American
people it is possible to bring about
concerted action for holding the
wealthy in check, to prevent them
from increasing their holdings as rap
idly as heretofore, and he will devote
particular attention to the study of
that problem.
But above all, he declared, it was
for trade unionism thai he was to
work. He believed that ultimately
the principles of the trade union would
be universally regarded as necessary
for carrying out any movement for
human progress.
Was Misunderstood.
Mr.. Burns attention was called to a
recently published statement that he
had said American workmen were mo
better than African slaves" That
statement" he replied sis a super
structure of misconstruction based on
mis- understanding of what | said. :"
Then he explained that his remarks
had concerned the condition of the
Hungarians and Italians of the coke
region as depicted in our blue books,
"and which, if true" he added, sis a
disgrace to any civilized country on
the face of the globe"
Politics and Trade Unionism,
In regard to the differences arising
in the English labor movement, Mr.
Burns said OF course they prevailed at
times, but the unions were generally
ali together, and had been singularly
successful in separating politics and
trade unionism. He was for fusion
against faction in affairs of this kind,
as applied to international affairs. II
is one of the efforts of socialism in
England. he declared, TO lift unskilled
labor out of the industrial hell below.
Socialism I'm England.
AS for the socialist movement in
England, he said it had come to stay.
1t will grow as it adapts itself to cir
cumstances and as long as it conforms
to the conventions which have for SO
long made the upper and middle
classes the ruling power. Socialism
as it affects municipal matters is not
mixed up with other issues.