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Burns (JOHN an English labor)

JOHN, an English labor organizer and Socialist leader, born in London in 1858. He was of humble birth and became a factory boy at the age of 10. He was an omnivorous reader and imbibed his Socialistic views from a French fellow employee. By working a year as engineer on the Niger river, he earned enough for a six months' tour of Europe. He constantly addressed audiences of workingmen, and was a persistent labor agitator. He was one of the leaders in the West End riot in London, February, 1887, and was imprisoned the same year for maintaining the right of public meeting in Trafalgar Square. As an arbitrator, he is respected by employers and employed. He has been thrice elected to the London County Council and has sat in the House BURNS of Commons since 1892. He was president of the Local Government Board (1905-1914). In 1914 he became president of the Board of Trade and resigned later in the year because of differences on the conduct of the war.