The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1917-03-03
JOHN ARNOLD KEYES.

The death of John Arnold Reyes last week has
taken from this life great soul, friend of Man
who saw his duty and performed it without finch
ing and without regard for personal consequences
Beautiful were the tributes laid upon his bier when
his mortal body awaited burial, and they came, too
from folks in every walk Of life. The daily papers
contained generous editorials dealing with the char
acter and achievements Of this modest unpretensive
and great-hearted man whose every public effort
in behalf Of mankind.
Mr.. Reyes first came into public notice in Min
nesota while member of the legislature in the ses
sons Of 1889 and 1891 when he introduced and
secured the passage of the law providing for the
Australian system of voting. Minnesota the
first state in the Union to adopt this system, and
Mr. Kcyes was widely known as the father of the
Australian system of voting in America
He later identified himself with the Populist
party and became the foremost advocate in the state
of the principle Of direct legislation through the
initiative and referendum. He drafted the first bill
on this subject which presented to the legsla
tre in 1905 through the Minnesota State Federation
OF Labor. He also advocated the return to the old
medium for the popular discussion of public ques-
. tons. He held that the town meeting plan went
hand in hand with the initiative and referendum
and without which the latter would be used against
the people,
Mr.. kelc was twice nominated by the PEOPLES
party as its candidate for attorney general lie was
warm personal friend of Ignatius Donnelly and
other leaders Of the Peoples party. With the passing
OF the POpullsts lie joined the Socialist party and
remained with this organization until his death.
In 1901 he acted as counsel for the Western
Federation OF Miners. During the recent strike of
the industrial Workers of the World on the ranges
ne also served in the capacity. He accepted
this last call at time when his health was impaired
and it is believed by his friends that the rgor of
the many legal contests into which he was forced
served to still further weaken him, and to result
in his death.
Because he dared to defend the leaders of the
L. ". w., who were repeatedly arrested on the
merest pretenses for alleged violations of law Mr..
Reyes suffered many rebukes from erstwhile friends
and he felt them keenly. They were the poisoned
hemlock OF his dying days, but he remained true to
his falth and we'll could he declare with the Amos
tie Paul: p''
death is swallowed up in victory! -:
~ death, where is thy sting? F.:
- grave where is thy >ictorv?'' -
John Arnold Reyes was man of vision He
was patriot not of the kind whose eyes are riveted
only on the flagstaff, but rather one who was more
concerned about the corner stone Of the temple of
hDerty lest ITS dsodgment would destroy the whole
structure Few people saw as he could WHITTIER wa
are drifting. Ills voice from the wilderness
and 1t called out to forward looking people everv
where to beware OF the avalanche to which CAPITAL
ism was driving society. It declared in warm and
the growing disregard for the elementary PRINCIPLES
of human liberty, the chief causes of force and
anarchy.
mo history OF the present day struggle for social
Justice and industrial liberty will be complete with
out liberal reference to the gallant and unse)fsh
part played in it by John Arnold Keyes His do.+h
"opens for him larger life