The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-01-05
The Agitator Who Has Recently Made the Heart Of
the Earth's Greatest City Quake with Fear Lest
He Order General Strike Thinks
the Word Is Divided Between
Thieves and Slaves"
Thieves and Slaves.

/ hungry mouths about them waiting to
be fed.
Then Mr.. TIlett spoke bitterly. "Th.
world Is divided between thieves and
slaves" he said. They are amusing.
these people who want TO institute re-
forms for the poor. reforms for all things
but the main one. What do they know
or care really? Just now II is the white
slave traffic they are agitating about.
yet they let young factory girls waste
body and soul. doing arduous work in
terrible surroundings. Why. for the
matter of that" he burst out suddenly.
waving his arm with vehemence. I'D
far rather be a well fed prostitute than
a half starved factory girl!'
This seemed a propitious moment for
changing the conversation, so said. IN
terestedly and because I had been think
ing 1t for some time.
DO you know. Mr.. Tillett. that you
speak with something of our American
accent?"
DO IT. and he smiled little.
Yes. really; have you ever been
there?"
WAS ONCE IN AMERICA.
-Once, years ago. ulun stay lOhS
enough to get the accent, though I
rather think It Is because I'm from Bris-
toI and we don't speak quite as Lon
doners do. and you notice a difference"
That may be It," I agreed. How did
you happen to leave Bristol?'
Mr.. Tillett leaned back in his chair and
smiled again. this time reminiscently.
'Oh, i left there when I was a kiddie.
My mother died and my father married
again. A stepmother was a bit too much
for me. SO on I ran and Joined a circus.
went in and trained as an acrobat"
Pretty hard life. wasn't it?'' 1 asked.
sympatheticaIly.
Little Ben nodded. Il should rather
think so. 1 don't care to remember much
about those days even now. Well, I got
out OF that when could. I can tell you"
And what them
i was visioning this lonely wisp OF a
boy making his way in a hard word.
ENLISTED IN THE NAVY.
"oh. then I went into the navy and did
considerable travelling. That's when
went to America After that I became a
dock worker"
for he speaks like a man who has read
and studied a considerable amount
He seemed TO read my thoughts. for he
gave a careless gesture toward the book
case in the corner. and said. with a Ger
tain wistful. almost boyish. pride:
Bought all my books myself. and
taught myself whatever I happen to
know. I went on one meal q day to get
lot to me-"
They were a set OF encyclopedias.
two fat volumes OF Carlyle's French
Revolution" and many other books. all
bearing on questions of labor, wages and
socialism
Men were coming in and put downstairs.
and the business of the day was evident
ly in full swing at the Dockers' Union.
II must not keep you any longer" I
said. TT was nice Of you to let me have
talk with you"
Not at ALL" murmured Mr.. TiIlett.
vaguely.
"rd like to hear you speak some time"
said !, for I remembered those bursts OF
enthusiasm
Would your" he asked. in some sur
prise, and he summoned the pale. wrath
like young socialist.
Where am speaking this next week.
he demanded.
And the youth read out CamberwelI and
East Ham and all sorts of places I've
never been to. and am sure I'll never be
able to reach. and l am afraid my in
terest waned, but I thanked them both
for their Information. Then Mr.. Tillett
gave me a fraternal handshake and
wished me all sorts of good luck. and the
wrath led me back through the Passages
and the yard, deserted now even by the
Persian kitten. and past a front room
where typewriters were clicking and
groups OF men were talking. with an in
terest too intense to allow them to notice
any one passing In or out.
The market was still in full swing. The
crowd was very great. and over and
around tina scene was the heavy gray pail
Of London
Copyright 1918, Sew-York TrIbuneb