The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-12-16
ALMOST UNANIMOUS
IN V0ICING SENTIMENT
FIVE HOURS DEBATE PRECEDED
THE FINAL ADOPTION OF
THE RESOLUTION
LABOR is POTENT
TO PREVENT EXPANSION

Asserted That Had 1t Spoken at the
Outset Colonial ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Would Not Have Been Attemn+ad
MANY of the Speakers Waxed
eloquent and Were Greeted With
Unstinted Applause.
KANSAS CITY, Mo, Dec 15-A IfS
annual convention today, the American
Federation of Labor declared NV al
most unanimous vote against q.
standing army in the United States
which is in reality recognized as a pro-
test against expansion, or the spirit of
imperialism, as 1t was termed bv the
uelegates. This action was taken af-
ter nVe hours Of debate on every phase
VI the question. At times many Of the
speakers became eloquent in their ut
terances, and received unstinted an
plause from the delegates.
The issue came to the hands Of tha
convention through a resolution which
grew out of the suggestions in Presi-
oeht Gompers annual report. The de-
pate opened when the committee, OF
which Mr.. Henry Lloyd, of Boston, is
chairman, offered this resolution:
whereas, AS result of the recent war
with Spain, a new and far-reaching policy.
known as Imperialism or expansion, is about
TO thrust upon us large and standing army
ana autocratic navy, this convention offers its
protest and calls upon It's officers to use all
power to defeat It,
Samuel B. Donnelly, of New York.
president of the American Typograph-
1cal union, was the first speaker. and
practically the only delegate who in
any way defended the cause Of expan-
sion.
"Expansionists have always won"
said he, in the course Of his remarks.
because 1t is in the interest of a.
higher civilization. Don't believe that
the 65,OOO,0O0 people who do not be-
long to the unions in this country are
going to bow down to system of i'm
perialism or pay homage to crown. I
know am In the minority here, but if
we adopt this policy against expan-
sion, want to go farther and de-
clare against this peace alliance with
Great Britain
Mr.. Donnelly was frequently inter-
rupted by applause, but the delegates
were not in sympathy with his argu-
ment.
ALLIANCES OPPOSED.
Delegate Lloyd, Of Boston, followed
in a strong speech against expansion.
He said, in the course of his remarks,
that he had never been in favor of an
alliance with Great Britain or any
other government, and he was not in
favor of 1T now. Such an alliance Of
governments would be sad blow to
organized labor of the United States.
An alliance Of the workers OF the
world was what was wanted, not an
alliance Of the governments Of the
world. Continuing, Mr.. Lloyd declar-
ed he would have the Federation of
Labor serve notice upon every politician
in the country that any man voting
for expansion would place himself in
deadly enmity to organized labor, and
that organized labor would work for
his defeat at the polls. The Fedora
ton of Labor, he added, should not be
drawn away into political questions.
They should tend to their own busi-
ness.
Delegate John Kirby likewise spoke
against expansion. The annexation Of
such countries as the Philippines would
drag us to the level of the countries
annexed.
Delegate Hayes, Of Cleveland, de-
clared that the wage workers of the
United States could not afford to tri-
fie with the question of expansion.
The Federation of Labor should wash
its hands of the whole matter.
1oIOA ie,e-ir Of
Nebraska, spoke along the same lines
as did Mr.. Lloyd, arraying himself di-
rectly against expansion.
Isaac Cowen, of Cleveland, said it
was the business of trades unions to
protest against and fight a colonial
policy that would injure the cause Of
labor to such an extent as the importa-
tfon Of contract labor would.
Andrew Funuseth, representative OF
the Seamen's union, characterized the
result that he thought would follow
expansion as similar to the importa-
tions of negroes to this country.
Mr.. Gompers made a remark that
embodied the same ideas against ex-
pansion that he set forth in his an
nual address.
LABOR's VOICE POTENTIAL.
George E. McNiel, Of Massachusetts,
said:
IF the trades unionists had sent Up
a concerted protest against expansion
at it's very inception, it would have
been defeated"
Stewart Reed, Of the Mechinists OF
Chicago, declared that his union was
opposed to an increase of the army
or the navy. He said the machinists
wanted the United States to have it's
Wa1ships built by union labor, but did
rot want an increased navy.
When vote was finally taken the
resolution was adopted with but three
or four dissenting votes.
Other work accomplished by the con-
vention was the adoption of resolu-
ton to send an organizer into the
Southern states during the coming
year.
A resolution was adopted placing the
federation on record In favor of send
ing a representative of the government
to the peace congress Of nations pro-
posed by the czar of Russia.
When a measure was brought before