Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-09-24

sesses. and which has induced his fell
low employees to turn confidently to
him as a leader when serious q1es-
tons are to be discussed and threat
ening situations handled.
Mr.. Norton is at present employed as
pattern-maker for the Deere " Mansur
Go. He came to the United States as
Il resident in 1880, landing at New
Orleans. He came to Illinois in 1886.
and has since been n citizen of this
state and almost the whole of that
time a resident of Moline. On COM
ing To this country he almost imme-
diately took up pattern-making. and
very soon became proficient in that
art. Being thus in the ranks of the
industrial class. it is natural that he
should be deeply interested in those
organizations by which the practical
education of labor is sought to be adj
vanced and its rights defended
During the labor trouble of last year
in Moline probably no other man
welded the influence which he did in
shaping and directing that remarka-
BILE uprising To = successful issue.
and in the restoration of friendly re-
lations between the employers and
the employees concerned. He was
for MANY years member of the
Swedish Baptist church of Moline,
and has been identified as n Woodmen
during almost his entire residence in
this country.
He is charter member of the Pat
ternmakers' union, of Moline, and
from the time of the organization of
the Federal Labor union he has been
one of the most active and ardent sup
porters; and both as a member and
official he has been untiring in his
loyalty to federation principles and
aims To meet him for the first time.
the interviewer finds himself in the
presence of man of thoughtful de-
meanOr, but yet man who. notwith-
standing his gentleness, holds to the
broadcast. progressive principles with
splendid fearlsssHess.
In the field of labor organizations
he maintains that unionism is not
only wise and eNpedient, but that it is
necessary As means of
preserving both employer and the
employee from financial disaster.
Leaves Republican Party.
In common with most of his coun-
trymen Mr.. Norton affiliated with the
republican party on coming To this
country, in the belief that that was
the party of progress and of popular
rights. But in 1896. when democracy
adopted the Chicago platform, Mr..
Norton fonnd himself ut home in
the democratic party. CONVEX
sation with him soon shows that there
are two things which he desires with
almost religious earnestness. One is
that labor organization shall become
universal, and that wage earners
shall. through organization. learn the
art of thinking for themselves. and
being thus strong in numbers and in
telligence. Danish from the arena of
labor the wasteful and dangerous eN-
pedients of strikes and bovcotts, and
for these violent methods
the contract of employment. the shop |
organization. and the annual ware
scale The other one of his special |
desires is. that the people of his own
nationality in this country shall re-
their political affiliations.
The surprising strength Mr.. Norton |
showed in the convention which nom |
mated him. without his having made |
any organized effort in his own behalf. |
and without having in anv sense |
sought the nomination. originally |
caused much questioning among |
those who did not know him. as to |
the secret of his political strength;
md TO answer those questions in a |
manner has been the OBJ |
iect in collecting the facts for this
sketch His is plainly case where
he natural gift to see clearly what
s Just and what is unjust in hnman
affairs has given him deep and strong
and purposes; and these
lobler qualities of his nature have
lifted him up from humble life to he
he unmistakable leader which he is
among those who know him hest