Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-10
JOHN BURNS APPEARS
ON PARTY PLATFORM
Abandons His "Fixed Habit, !"
Temporarily, to the De-
light of Manchester.
II Correspondence of The star.

Special Correspondence of The Star
LONDON, April 26. 1913.
Thursday was a red-letter day in the
annals of Manchester liberalism John
Burns spoke in Cottonopolis. and it is
but seldom that the Right Honorable
John Burns, NJ p, Ito give him his
full title forsakes the forum of Batter
sea and Westminster and appears on a
purely party platform, It. was ever thus.
In the days when he was more init
mately associated with the labor party
he rarely ventured outside the me-
tropolis.
In habit and build he is still remi-
niscent of those early days. Father
Time has dealt kindly with him. The
hair and beard are whittier. but the firm,
square figure is as erect as ever, and
the alert eye stirl glances boldly from
underneath the grizzled eyebrows, the
only difference being the change of color
just denoted. A member of the privy
council. he still affects the short coat
familiarized to the public on Tower Hill.
but the straw hat is displaced by the
bowler. These are the only external
differences.
Undergoes Great Change.
But in acts and position. what change
from when l first knew him. when lie
conducted the great dock strike in 1889.
The erstwhile demagogue of Tower Hill
the cabinet. He who coined the phrase.
1.-The chemical parcel post has lived
long enough to be virtually condemned
lutionary change now opposes any
or poor law administration. The theor-
list has been displaced by the man OF
affairs. The precarious and exiguous
character Of his early income as a par
liamentary hand has changed into the
comfortable and stately sa AIRY of 1900
year.
And he earns it all. az he ever did His
energy and attention to detail enor-
nous. In his early days he never ne
elected either the house or spring gar
dens London county counciD.
Although a member of parliament and
county councillor, he also paid close at
tention to the administrative affairs of
the borough council of Battersea. In a
conversation held with the writer many
years ago q chance remark showed that
he knew the numbers and pay of even
the dustmen employed in the streets
Herein lies the explanation of his silence
as we'll as of his success.
tration the old John Burns has been bur-
led. He has become increasingly welded
to his work. Not for one moment, how
ever. should ii be imagined that his es-
sential character has changed. He is
still the same bouyant. self-confident Il
had almost said cocksure, parsonage he
was in the early days.
Born With "Guid Conceit"
He never needed to pray for the endow-
ment of guild conceit." He was born
with it. and it is something too closely
ingrained to ever be shed Is it not told
of him that when Sir Henry Campbell-
Zimmerman offered him his present post
he put out both hands effusively. not sc
much in thanks but with added speech
to assure the premier of the kingdom
that the appointment would be the most
popular of all those which he had made
His hearers at Manchester were cheered
stimulated and amused. He generally
hits off a situation and makes shrewd
forecasts. as. for example. when he re-
minded the passing soldiery at an unem-
ployed meeting that the day after then
discharge might find them among his
hearers.
But. after all, as politician. the right
honorable the member from Battersea
| should not be taken too seriously.