The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1906-10-13
LABOR MEMBERS WIVES
ARE TALK Of ENGLAND
Mrs. John Burns Administers
Fitting Rebuke to Lady
Haversham.
Was Presented to King and Car
ried It Off Well-Other
Members Wives.

London. Eng. Oct 11.-(Correspon-
dence to American Labor Press)-While
John Burns, Will Cooks, Keir Hardie,
Will Thorne and other labor leaders in
the English parliament are busy at
Westminster, legislating for an i'm
mense empire, upon which the sun
never SETS" their wives at home are
probably scrubbing, cooking. sewing
and attending to the many details of
housework that usually fall upon the
wives Of workingmen.
About SO members of the present
parliament were elected upon the labor
ticket, and most Of them are actual
workingmen. British lawmakers re-
ceive no salary, and the labor members
must be supported by the various
labor organizations.
This means that their incomes are
limited. AS a rule they live in very
modest homes, in questionable neigh
borhoods. Usually the housework and
the care of the children devolve upon
their devoted wives.
1t Is said that when Mr.. Burns, some
months ago visited the King to receive
his commission as a member Of the
cabinet, Mrs Burns was at home cheer
lily scrubbing the floors. Mrs. Burns
is said to be a simple hearted, unas-
sumlng llltle, although of attractive
sense During all her husbands long
career in parliament-he entered that
body in 1S92-she has been his warm
supporter and efficient helpmeet.
Through all these years the Burnses
OF IN
Patterson. a poor suburb at the south
west of London, where the wife cooked
the meals, scrubbed the floors and kept
her husbands clothing in repair.
After the late political upheavel In
England Mr.. Burns financial condition
improved. He was invited into the
cabinet as president of the local gov
ernment board, position carrying
Salary of $4,000 Year.
AS wife of a cabinet minister Mrs.
Burns has now standing at court
functions, the first woman from the
circles Of labor to enjoy that privilege.
When she was recently presented to
the King and Queen this modest little
woman, who still does her own house,
work, was an objec. Of great curiosity
to the naughty peeresses who surround
the throne. If they expected to litter
over a bizarre or awkward spectacle
they were disappointed. They saw a
rather pretty woman, becomingly and
correctly dressed, whose manner was
above criticism.
She was probably the only woman in
that brilliant throng capable Of cook
ing her husbands dinner or darning
his socks, and yet she did not appear
at all uncomfortable Or out of place.
1t was noticed that their majesties
were unusually gracious to her. She
was somewhat conspicuous in the
throng of stately DANES about her
from the fact that she wore no Jewels
Some time ago. 1t is related with
gusto in London, Lady Haversham, a.
new peeress and known lion hunter"
who aspires to become prominent as
a liberal hostess, undertook to patron
ize the woman whose husband had
been elevated from the ranks of labor
to cabinet position. So she wrote as
follows from her fine home in fash
ionable Grosvenor Square:
Dear Mrs. Burns: I should be glad
if you would come to my at-home.
You would excuse my not calling on
you, but find Battersea is such long
way from Grosvenor Square"
WhereupOn the labor leaders wife
promptly sent the following reply:
Dear Lady Haversham: have been
studying the map and find that Gros-
venor Square is exactly the same dis
tance from Battersea that Battersea
is from Grosvenor Square,"
VIII Thorne, who represents the
South Westham constituency and is Sec
retary of the Gasworkers' and General
Laborers' Union, is especially
Happy in His Home Life,
although Mrs Thorne complains that
his duties keep him away from his
family too much.
will goes out at $40 o'clock every
morning and does not come back until
l or 2 o'clock the next morning" she
remarked recently. On Sundays he is
generally addressing meetings some-
where, so that we see little enough Of
him since he has been elected to Parlia-
ment."
The Thornes occupy a small honse
In the East End Of London, and to the
care of this and her children Mrs.
Thorne devotes herself There are ten
children IN all. Some are grown and
married, while the baby Is still in the
cradle.
Both the father and mother Of Mr.
Thorne were brickmakers. and tho
father was killed when Will WAS seven
years old. He never went to schoo, a
day in his life, but through persistent
effort, he secured a good education.
Mrs. Thorne is very proud of her stal.
wart who has reached the honor OF
seat in parliament, and is perfect,v
willing to contribute her own labor un-
sparingly in order to maintain a COM
Portable home for him. This home
unpretentious enough, Is at linton
Park, another rather poor London SUBJ
urb. In the rear is garden where
Mrs. Thorne raises chickens and hang.
out the family washing.
In an even smaller house in Poplar
also In the East Enu live Mr.. and Mrs
( Will Crooks. The hour between $3.50