Dawn Fraser: Echoes From Labor's War

The Hair-Breadth Escape
of Red Malcolm Bruce

(Very thrilling)

The charge was on a certain day
Somewhere 'round the first of May,
One Malcolm Bruce, a dangerous Red,
"Riz up", and someone said he said
As how he hoped to see the day
When the red flag would lead the way,
Proclaiming with its every wave
Emancipation of the slave.
Now, some there were about the hall
Who did not like that talk at all;
And who they were you well may guess—
Reporters for the highbrow press—
Men of the so-called better classes
Who hold themselves above the masses,
And who, like tattle-tales at school,
Are godly as the golden rule.
So these good men indignantly
Reported to the powers that be,
And word was sent throughout creation
To watch at every railway station,
"Inform all police," the powers said,
"We got to get this dangerous Red
Who openly defies the laws
And dares to help the workers' cause."

But strange, this man so hunted down,
Was hanging 'round about the town
From Thursday night 'til some time Monday,
Cool as any walnut sundae;
Nor did he hurry to depart,
Methinks some cops are "red" at heart
And generously could find excuse
To walk away from Malcolm Bruce.
So Bruce departed from the Bay,
Just spoke his piece and went away.
When we heard of him again
He was on a west-bound train.
Later, home, amidst applause,
He was fighting labor's cause,
While papers raved and raised the deuce,
'Twas thus away fled Malcolm Bruce.
To prove he didn't run away,
He's back again now at the Bay—
Walks right into our A.B.
"Were you looking round for me?
By happy chance it reached my ear
That I was being sought for here;
And, keen respecter of the laws,
I hurried back to learn the cause."

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The Hair-Breadth Escape of Red Malcolm Bruce

The Hair-Breadth Escape
of Red Malcolm Bruce