Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-04
HEIR HARDlE Ill
GRAVE FEARS FOR THE LIFE or
ONE OF THE MOST NOTED
BRITISH UNION LEADERS.
Poor Boy with "Gift for Cab Rises
to the Rank Of Organizer and Leader
Of independent Labor Party.

LONDON, Sept News OF the Sc
rious illness of Heir Hardie will be
received with interest in organized
labor circles in America, for. by rea-l
son Of his several visits to the United
States, his name is almost as familiar
in that country as on this side of the
water. For several weeks be has lain
at his London lodgings too Ill to be
removed to his home in Scotland. His
death. which is feared may be immi-
nent, would undoubtedly leave gap
in the ranks of British trades unionism
which it would be difficult to fill, how
ever much public opinion may be at
variance regarding the man himself.
For years Mr. Hardie has occupied
9 conspicuous place in the public eye.
His followers speak OF him as the
greatest labor leader England eser
produced. Those whose doctrines DO
not coincide with his term him mere
empty fraud, blatherskite. pure and
simple. 1t is evluent tnat one VINO
draws forth such extremes OF praise
and vituperation must of necessity be
possessed Of qualities out OF ne olul-
mary.
Hardie Is now nearing his fiftieth
year and has been identified with la
Dor unions and socialistlc propaganda
ever since he was able to think for
himself. and he began to think when
he was . mere lad. Born in little
village in the mining region of Ayr.
shire, he got very scanty education,
and then had to 60 to work Like his
father and most Of his relatives, he
began work as driver at the surface
dumps Of the coal mines. When he
got older he went to work under
ground. He early became embued
with the idea that the laborer was
getting anything but justice. From
the teachings Of his fellow-laborers he
became interested In the theory Of
socialism and began an extensive
course Of reading. He had natural
facility in speech, gift Of gab," his
enemies call It. and before he was 81
was one Of the best public speakers
in the region where he lived.
Before he was rs his leadership In
several strikes had made his name
well known In all the border mining
lregions. and from there spreati
Throughout the English laboring
world. But Hardie was not satisfied
with merely speaking Of socialism and
talking of the things that might be
accomplished for and by the laboring
classes. Legislation was the only
means Of bringing about the desired
reform, and to legislation and its at
tendant, practical politics, Mr.. Hardie
turned his attention. After studying
the situation he organized the Inde-
pendent Labor party The Independ-
ent Labor party grew slowly in power,
until in 1892 it was able to elect Har-
die to the house of commons. With
their leader in the commons, the mem
bers of the party hoped to secure
much. Other labor parties also were
hopeful, and politicians generally
awaited with some anxiety Hardie's
next move.
The first surprise came the day he
took his seat 1t is an unwritten law
Of the house Of commons that each
member shall wear a black frock coat
and silk hat. Mr.. Hardie did not
feel bound in any way by this rule, and
when he appeared he had on coster's
cap and greasy sack coat. To say
that he created sensation Is to put
II mildly. The old members were
shocked at what seemed to be q sac
riligeous trampling upon tradition.
But Mr.. Hardie's followers were
p.eased immensely.
I