The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-16
AN EXPANSION PROTEST
Delegates Vote Against Increase
of the Army.
FIVE HOURS OF DEBATE
Every Phase OF the Question Discussed
by the Delegates to the Federation
OF Labor Convention-Speak-
ers Were Eloquent

Kansas City. Dec. 15.-At fits annual
convention to-day the American Fed
Grafton of Labor declared. by almost a
unanimous vote. against a standing
army in the United States. which is i'm
reality recognized as a protest against
expansion. or the spirit Of Imperialism.
as IL was termed by the delegates. This
action was taken after five hours Of
debate on every phase of the question.
At times many Of the speakers became
eloquent in their u~tteranccs. and re-
ceived unstinted applause from the
delegates.
The issue came TO the hands of the
CONVENTION through a solutio which
grew out of suggestions in President
Gompers' snnual report. The debate
opened when the committee. Of which
Henry Lloyd of Boston is chairman, Of
fered this resolution:
Whereas. A result OF the recent war
with Spain. n new and far-reaChing poll
Icy known as Imperialism or expansion.
s. about to thrust upon us a larger and
standing army n an a%utocratic navy.
this convention offers its protest and
calls upon its officers TO use all power
TO defeat IT,"
Samuel II. Donnelly Of New York.
president Of the International Typo
graphical union. was the first speaker.
and practically the only delegate who
in any way defended the cause of ex-
pansion.
"Expansionists have always won
said he in the course OF his regarks.
'because IL Is in the interest of a higher
civilization. Dom believe hat the
g.. 900. 900 people who do not belong TO
trades unions in this country are going
90 bow down to a system Of imperial
lew ar M ~ N No FA a aRnNHn EnnNa
j am in the minority here. but IL we
adopt his policy against expansion, !
wan to go farther and declare against
this peace alliance with Great Brit
ain"
Delegate Lloyd Of Boston followed in
a strong speech against expansion. He
said. in the course OF his remarks, That
he never had been in favor of an al
lance with Great Britain or any other
government and he was not in aVO Of
Ct now. Lloyd declared he would nave
the Federation of Labor serve notice
upon every politician In the country
that any American voting for expansion
would place himself I'm deadly enmity
90 organized labor. Delegate Kirby
likewise spoke against annexation. The
annexation Of such countries as the
Philippines would drag labor to the lev
Ell of the countries annexed. he said.
:. j. Kent. labor commissioned II
Nebraska. spoke along the same lines
as did Mr.. Lloyd. arraying himself di-
rectly against expansion.
Isaac Cohen OF Cleveland. a socialist
leader. said il was the business 81
trades unions TO protest against and
fight a colonial policy hat would in
jure the cause OF labor to such an eN-
tent as the importation OF contract la
Dor would.
Andrew Furuseth. representative Of
the Seamen's union. characterized the
result that would follow expansion as
similar 10 the importation of the negro
10 this country. He declared that the
e-ncroachment Of the hines i'm Califor-
mia was an object lesson for working
people TO consider in connection with
expansion. He said the policy Of gov
ernments possessing extended colonies
was to civilize by force of arms. He
thought the islanders Of the Pacific
would enter into direct competition
with American working people very
quickly II the expansion policy were
adopted.
President Gompers made remarks
that embodied the same ideas against
expansion that he set forth i'm his an
nua address.
GEORGE r. Mcneil Of Massachusetts
said: IF the trades unionists had sent
up a concerted protest against expan-
sion at its very inception. IL would have
been defeated
Stewart Read OF the machinists Of
Chicago. declared that his union was
opposed TO an increase of the army or
the navy He said the m%achinlste
wanted the United States to have its
war ships built by union labor, but
they did not want an Increased navy.
When a 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 a resolu-
tion 10 send an organizer into the
Southern states during the coming
year.
A resolution was adopted placing the
federation on record in favor Of sending
a representative OF the government IL
the peace congress OF nations propos-
ed by the car OF Russia.
When a measur was brought before