New-York tribune., 1907-04-16
JOHN BURNS UNDERFIRE
Sooialist abuse of a True Represen-
tatiue of Labor.
London, April 3.

Democratic EeueEGAtOn anu llc AAiucpc1A~
ssnt Labor Conference. have proclaimed him
coIlous reactionary. a Right Hon. Renegade and
- enemy OF working interests. Labor members
"a .gitators have described his career as a
ming against the degradation Of socialistic
,,.o,s through acceptance OF high office. Reck-
,... defamation does not cloud his title to pre-
,,inence as the best representative of working !
S-D,land. Factory hand. apprentice, engineer,
a. has risen from the bottom by virtue of strong
ab,o Of character: and whether in the London
county Council, Parliament or the Local Gov
lament Board, he has shown political ability
- administrative capacity of a high order.
-. has proved that the humblest mechanic can
..,ire to distinction in public life and secure a
,-obnet position OF the first rank This is
oord Of which workingmen ought to be
-.,d for It is a complete vindicatiOn OF their
s,0.ss for a fun share OF the responsibilities Of
,olitical government. Instead Of being stimu-
,,.sa bv this example of what can be accom-
,i.bas fv persistent industry. habits Of read
a. self-development and high character, so
.islists turn against him and revile him because
5. thinks for himself, carries out his convic-
,Ions and refuses 10 pauperize and demoralize
N. unemployed. They reproach him for dis
,0,,.ltv 10 the red flag which he unfurled in
trafalgar Square. hut they cannot deny that he
a, . leader who has high ideals and never loses
,igft Of them.
~ Furns has lost the confidence OF socialists
L..ause he takes practical view Of pauperism
ana lack Of employment. They are agitatlng
o. larger use OF Mr.. Balfour's legislation for
she unemployed for a national scheme or relet
,,or7ss. and for a compulsory requirement that
local authorities shall supply work whenever II
q needed by registered applicants He is con-
,irned that any borough or rural district can
sor. ss many unemployed as it may be willing
,ln mig a
,,rov.ide a local endowment fund for those out
:, work. They affirm that the state owes every
-,,D q llvipg-liouse II he lacks shelter food
ana rlothing il he be poverty stricken, work II
s. cannot ind occupation himself. pension
,rben old age overwhelms him with ailments
and burdens He retains the oldtime belef IN
,olf-respecting labor and the virtues OF THRIFT
ana independence. They magnify the evils OF
,.cL, NJ employment so as TO have preteAt TOT
advocating naturalization Of land ana lhuuS-
- .n5 work for all, and they are not
ashamed &c advise less efficient lapor ana
sborter hours so that there may be something
g. everybody 10 do. He fayors emigration
-,,on there Is a surplus OF labor in community
,u,. west Ham. and he IS unwilling TO recruit
=, ,,nn,anapeable army Of the unemployed ny
,Dv form of relief works or endowment OF 10
rrsate industries for IL. The socialists are
long WAY in advance Of an old fashoheo lIa"eS
,,niongst like sturdy John Burns ana they Aho"
how strong is his grip upon the Enehsh "orA-
sng world. They stand in dread OF MS common
s.Dsa and resources OF influence, ana ne Is d
hard hitter who does not wait for them 10 at
tack him. ,,,-.,- A.
The Liberal government is under ophgalloh 10
sake nm social questions without tainting itself
.I,,, socialism Mr. Burns's cooperation from
she front bench is of the highest political value
NJ is in svmpathy with poverty and toll WIN
ou. bping the dupe Of professional agitators'
Wis mint Of view is that Of the intellgent
Grades uuionist, who considers it duty 10
work and TO lay by money for rainy day ana
n prvilege TO remain independent or puDhc OF
nrivate charity Mr.. KeIr Hardie looks at the
working world through colored spectacles ana
seAe countless grievances against society. Is
ANYBODY out Of job, starving. shelterless' de-
epairing? It is not through his unhtness or
misfortune. but because the state is in debt to
him and owes him everything he needs or
Graves! n he be q poor workman, II IS not
through faults Of his own, but because thefe
has not been the right kind OF practical training
IN industrial schools, II he be a weakling, win
an Inherited faint OF alcoholism, the state Is re-
sponsible for his early environment OF poverty
and disease, and owes him reparation for ITS
neglect easy work and short hours. ana 1000
shelter and a retirement pension when ne Is
oleanlPQ[
cialist chatter about the workman's grievances
against society and his natural right to have
work provided for him by the municipality and
q penslon from the state without regard for
his own improvidence or inefieiency, IL is a
great gain 20 have an honest toiler i'm the Cab
met who can brush aside these sophistries and
appeal to the true instincts OF self-respecting
labor.
Whatever may be the real causes OF lack OF
employment in England-and American on
locker naturally looks upon the system OF free
imports as the most potent among them-it can
net be a good thing TO have the working people
nursing grievances against society, clamorlns
FOR a redistribution OF land and capital and
assuming that they are entitled to old age PEN
siOns without having earned them by thrift and
steady habits. Il cannot be doubted that politi-
cal trafickng in the miseries Of the unemployed
has become as dangerous and as senseless as
the alarming growth OF pauperism in what are
generally admitted 10 be highly prosperous
times. The Germans are wiser than the English
in their treatment OF social questions. They
conduct their warehouses on business princi-
pies 80 as 10 diminish pauperism: they compel
Fagrants and beggars TO work for living;
fhey have shelters and relief agencies for gen.
nine workers. and assist them in finding employ
ment; they provide safeguards against acei-
leHt' sickness and permanent disability, and
Old age pensions for the encouragement Of
Thrift and by the most practical system Of
technical education IN che world they increase
ne efficiency OF working power Horace Greeley
used to say that the best product OF labor was
me well trained. high minded. self-respecting
workman. That Is truth for which John Burns
stands, while the socialist intTiguers who are
fsFiling him have lost sight Of it, Inf