United labor bulletin., 1910-11-24
WITH JOHN BURNS.
Great Briti-h Labor Leader Has Become
Conservative.

In his younger days John Burns had
fiery revolutionary temper. Today, un-
der the responsibilities of high office, he
has laid aside his Socialism, and goes in
for next steps" and progressive social
reform. "The ultimate vision is well
enough" he says; Il want to get some
thing done while I'm still alive" His
years of residence in Battersea, a work
ing mans section of London, have made
the entire district cleaner and more
prosperous He has reduced the number
of public houses" obtained wise hous-
ing enactments. built good sidewalks,
and installed white tiling in place of
gloomy cement His speech abounds in
superlatives and overstatements. His
mind omits qualifying considerations.
He has been embittered by opposition,
particularly by the distrust of some ele-
ments in the working classes and by the
animosity of his old friends, the Social
lists He is honest and strong, and his
life has radically altered one great dis
trict of the largest city in the world. In
spite of salary of $4,000 a year, he
lives as simply as a clerk. His work
room is piled to the ceiling on four sides
with books on the Social Movement
Three other rooms are well filed with
more general books, as Slows 'Miscel-
lanies." second edition of the Shakes
peare folio. and unusual volumes on the
historical side of London.
A trip through Battersea with him
showed clean sidewalks, cutters and
streets, the library and municipal build
ings on Lavender hill, the four large
swimming pools, the wash-houses in the
Battersea free baths, the eight-shilling
a-week neat two-story houses of the ar
tisans. the two-family dwellings Of the
laboring men, and the more pretentious
$30O-a-year houses of the clerks. There
were wee gardens in front of some of the
houses, and bits of ivy climbing up the
outer walls. Nothing. in this long
street." he said, ito be seen except a
man coming to arrange a gas-meter,
grocer's delivery wagon, and boy with
a parcel. That is as it should be. 1t
means the community is at work" Near
ly every passer-by knew him-the bob
bies," the park attendants, the school
children. the storekeepers.
How old are you, Daddy" he said to
a sad-faced veteran ON a bench.
"Eighty-seven," replied the man, "and
I've been a navy, sir
Whats ailing your"
THE rheumatism"
Good luck to you!" Burns darted
away and stopped another white-haired
man, who said he was sixty-seven.
The next encounter was with child
who had toy motor-car about eight
inches long.
Il shall arrest you for hard and furi-
Gus driving. son." said he.
A ten-year-old boy stood in ragged
clothes, with dirty face and granulated
eyelids.
Wash your face, lad" said Burns If
find you in the park another morning
with dirty face. III shut you out 1t
will MAKE your eyes better If you keep
your face clean. Here's a copper. Now
go and buy a cake of soap and wash
your face. Don't you dare to spend 1t
on sweets. Run along"
"a bit late with the sweeping this
morning. Miss" he observed to girl in
blue dress who was at work with
broom on her sidewalk.
"Of course Battersea park is empty.
he said. "The men at work. the children
at school. the women busy-that's the
way community should look."-Col-
lier's Weekly.