People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1895-04-18
JOHN BURNS DISTRICT.
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BALTI-
MORE LABOR LEAGUE.

The following items are taken from the
last annual report Of the Battersea La
Dor League, OF which John Burns is one
Of the leading members:
For upwards of five years we have kept
steadily in view the necessity for per-
manent organization constituted upon a
democratic basis. and capable Of express
ing in an authoritative manner the wishes
and desires Of the organized workers in
this locality. We have, from time TO
time. assisted in the endeavors to con-
stitute such a body These efforts hav-
ing, however, failed, the League, in No
vember. 1885, appointed a Committee to
formulate draft scheme and draw up
code of rules. AS an outcome Of these eff
forts a local
Trades and Labor Council
has been formed. 1t has already received
the adherence of a considerable number
Of democratic bodies, and several others
have promised their support in the near
future. The Council had principal hand
in organizing the recent electoral VIC
tories. and gives every promise of be-
coming a great and lasting success.
The result of the Vestry fully justified
our axartfopv r,arnharo ha
ing returned on the Labor ticket for the
Vestry against only forty-two returned
by the Moderately and eight for the
Guardians against only four returned by
the Moderately. The foregoing results
are for the whole parish of Battersea. In
wards Two and Three. which practically
constitute the Parliamentary division Of
Battersea, and where most Of our work
has been done, the Labor party ran sixty
five candidates for the two elections and
Secured Sixty-twO Seats
fifty-seven for the Vestry, and five for
the Guardians.
At the suggestion of the League dele
gates, the Local Elections Committee re-
solved
(a) To refuse its support to any nom
unionist, should union exist in his or
her trade or calling.
(b) To refuse its support to any Vestry
man who had recently sought to obtain
any public Office of profit in the district.
(c) To pledge all candidates running I'M
der its auspices that, in the event of
election, they would not seek or accept
any public office of profit in the district
during their term of Office.
It is especially necessary to the success
Of the Labor movement that its public
representatives
Should BE Prevented From Utilizing
Public Office for Private Ends.
We hope and believe that the workers
will, at all times, be fully alive to this
danger, and will, whenever necessary,
take stringent measures to put stop TO
any failure of duty in this direction.
The Unemployed.
In November last the League appointed
Committee 10 inspect the streets and
ascertain what work under the control of
local public bodies called for immediate
execution. The committee presented 4
report, giving a list of $50 streets in Bat
tersea which were unchannelled, the es-
timated cost of this work alone being up
wards of $4,000 The committee also gave
details of numerous other works which
might and should be carried out in the
near future. We also learned that there
was a considerable amount Of work which
needed doing at the Battersea Cemetery,
Morden, in making up paths levelling,
etc. Populations then waited upon the
Vestry and the Burial Board. Both these
bodies promised attention to the represen-
tations made, and the Vestry subsequent
ly provided the Burial Board with funds,
thus enabling it to give constant employ
ment during the present winter to about
thirty extra men. 1t remains for the
Vestry to see that some, at least, Of the
other works referred to are at once pro-
ceeded with.
1t is, however, evident that spasmodic
efforts of this character will do little or
nothing towards the ultimate solution of
the problems arising out Of want of en-
ployment. Nothing short of complete So
! cialism will meet thedifficulty we are told,
and we may accept the statement with
out demur. It must, however, be remem
bered that in many departments of life
Socialism is still little more than a theory.
and in this, as in many other matters, it
remains for us to realize in actual fact
the theories TO which we have given an
intellectual assent.
General Progress Of the Movement.
The passing of the Local Government
Act 1894, marks a new epoch in local
affairs and It will be well at this juncture
briefly to review the progress made in
democratic direction since the estab-
lishment Of the League in December. 1889.
The League has three principal "ob-
jects" the first being
THE securing of direct labor represen-
tation in Parliament, and on the County
Council the School Board. the Board Of
Guardians, the vestry, and other admin
istrative bodies
In 1889 John Burns, on the London
County Council,