The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1877-08-30
THE LABOR QUESTION.
A Talk With Thomas Curtis,
Leader in the Move
ment."
Interview in st Louis Globe. Democrat.

Interview in st Louis Globe Democrat,
Good evening, sirl Any labor news
or meetings To night2'
No, sir" was the reply, in PECULIAR
ly soft and pleasant tone, almost like that
of n woman.
The inquirer was a Globe DelOocrat re-
porter; the Interrogsted was Mr.. Thomas
Curtis, editor of the worklngmen's paper,
the St. Louis Star, and general dealer in
stationary, newspapers and periodicals,
small cutlery, tinwsre, coal oil and gaso-
line.
Mr.. Curtis announces in his hsnd-bills,
setting forth the claims of the Star upon
wOrklngmen, that be Is "Just out OF jail
He is one of the famous ten and he ls
proud OF the distinction. 1t is somewhat
strange that small shop-keeper like
Mr.. Curtis should be u leader among the
wOrklngmen, or rather among
the class who have been aid who are
now agitating against capitalists To
look NJ him one would not take him to be
of communistiC turn, notwithstanding
that he iulfills Shskespesre's re-
quirements Of a consplrator, where he
says:
lyon, Cassius hath lean and hungry
He thinks too much; such men are dam
gerOus.
Curtis is lean; his fine forehead shows
That be is HI extensive thinker; but Tor
all that he does not look dangerous. On
the contrary, be is one of the most harm
less-looklI men IN the world; such
man rs would attend assiGuouSly TO his
customers during the day, and at
night spend his hours reading with his
family.
Yet Tom Curtis, as he is called, is y
power in this city among the working
men. He is one OF the planners. He
is IN
the Inner Circle
he is with the workingmen, while he
is not OF them. His face is pale and
delicate, ike that of man who has pass
cd through sickness, and his hand vs. soft
ard unst4ined, rs il he had not been &C
customed TO hard, manual labor; and 1t
should be borne III mind that the strikers
nave claimed that u wOrkIngman must
nave hard, horney hands, and must
get his living by the sweat OF his
Orow."
The character of the man and his ply
steal condition stand in the way of Curtis
becoming al haranguer to large crowds
NJ Lucas Market or the Turner's Hall.
His influence is behind the SCIENCES, in
committee rooms, councils, and IN writing
articles and pronuncismentos.
After few everyday observations the
reporter again inquired whether there
WAS any news from the "Workingmen's
party OF the United States" worth chron-
lcling IN the Globe. Democrat, as Of pub
lie interest.
Nothing SPECIAL tonight that | know
Of, except that subscriptions to the Star
are rolling in. However, there might
be 3 few ward meetings going on; but
don't think they are of much conse-
quence."
II presume you would know us well
rs anybody OF any movement among
the worklngmen? asked the reporter.
"Not necessarily. That's just where
YOU and folks generally make the mis-
lake. | am not member OF any OF
these organizations. | Am not even Ell
rolled in the 'Workiugmen's Party OF
the United States
This statement surprised the reporter,
who like every body else, had connected
Mr.. Curtis name with trade Organlza-
tions and the Workingmen's party in the
sense of membership.
In reply to ithe reporters expression
OF surprise, Mr.. Curtis said: "No, am
not an official IN the association OF work
men. | am like child you sometimes
see in tsm,y-living amidst 1t, enJov
ing It's confidence and love, without
having any natural claims upon 1t by
birth"
do not you belong to any organlza'
ton of reform or radical natureF
"Well, yes. | am = member OF the
.sOyereigns Of Industry.
The reporter asked the nature OF this
organization.
Mr.. Curtis said it was to. promote So
cisl intercourse chiefly, although 1t had
other objects-for instance, at. certain
places a member of the "Sovereign of
Industry could obtain goods At Il dis
count
at is u sort OF cooperative or civil serv-
lee ASSOCIATION, AS in England, although
they 90 much further" observed the re-
porter.
Yes" answered Mr.. Curtis; "snd, in
time, we may develop into something
like the English idea in ssso-
cisting together for the production
and sale of goods for our mutual bene-
fit"
Just then little ghl and German
came in for some coal oil, which Mr.,
Curtis went TO supply from a
back room, politely asking to be ex-
| cused from the conversation, meanwhile.
Taking the opportunity TO look
around him the reporter noticed n pile Of
| haudbills or dodgers" on the counter,
which heralded forth that the Star WAS
the "most popular paper ever published
! in st. Louis; thst it was "the champion
of the workingmsn;" and that it was
opposed to capitalists, to thieves in and
out OF office, to railroad robbers, to poll
ticsl knaves and other oppressOrs OF the
poor"
On coming back and getting behind
the counter again, Curtis chuckled- to
himself, and, pointing his finger signif-
csntly at the reporter, with his elbows
! resting on glass show case, said, "Oh,
yes, were gong to make 1t lively for You
! foIks in time The workingmen are dis