The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-16
Resolution Adopted by GOmpers's Or
ganizatiOn Opposing the SO-CaIIed
Policy of Imperialism.
FEW NEGATIVE VOTES CAST
AND ONLY ONE DELEGATE SPOKE
FOR THE EXPANSION CAUSE.
Officers OF the Federation Instructed
to Oppose a Large Standing Army
and an "AutOcratic Navy"

KANSAS CITY, No., Dec. 15-At it's an
nual convent m to-day the American Fed
Grafton of Labor declared, by almost a
unanimous vote, against a standing army
in the United States which is in reality
recognized as a protest against expansion
or the spirit of Imperialism, as it 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 ut
terances and received unstinted applause
from the delegates. The issue came to the
convention through a resolution which
grew out of suggestions in President Sam
uel Gompers's annual report The debate
opened when the committee of which Mr..
Henry Lloyd, of Boston, is chairman Of
fered this resolution:
Whereas, AS a 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 standing
army, an autocratic navy, this convention
offers it's protest and calls on its officers to
Use all power to defeat it,
Samuel B. Donnelly, of New York, pres
ident of the International Typographical
Union, was the first speaker, and practi-
cally the only delegate who in any way de-
Tended the cause of expansion. "EXpan-
sionists have always won" said he, in the
course of his remarks, because it is the in
terest of a higher civilization. Don't be-
lieve that the sixty-fve million people who
do not belong to trades unions in this coun-
try are going to bow down to system of
imperialism or pay homage to a crown. 1
know 1 am in the minority here, but if we
adopt this policy against expansion 1 want
to go further and declare against this peace
alliance with Great Britain" Mr.. Donnely
was frequently interrupted by applause
but the delegates were not in sympathy
with his argument.
Delegate Lloyd, of Boston, followed in a
strong speech against expansion. He said
that he never had been in favor of an ALI
ance with Great Britain or any other gov
eminent. and he was not in favor of it now.
Such an alliance of governments would be
a sad blow TO organized labor of the United
States. An alliance of the workers of the
world was what was wanted, not an alli-
ance of the governments OF the world. Con-
tinuing, Mr.. Lloyd declared that he would
have the Federation of Labor serve notice
on every politician in the country that any
man voting for expansion would place him
self in deadly enmlty to organized labor,
and that organized labor would work for
his defeat at the polls, The Federation of
Labor, he went on, should not be drawn
away into political questions; they should
tend to their own business.
Delegate John Kirby likewise spoke
against expansion The annexation of such
countries as the Philippines would drag Ia
Dor to the level of the countries annexed.
he asserted.
Max Hayes of Cleveland, declared the
wage workers of the United States could
not afford to trifle with the question of
expansion. The Federation of Labor should
wash its hands of the whole question and
not be drawn into problem which politi-
clans would and are using for their own best
S. J. Kent, labor commissioner of Ne
braska, spoke along the same lines as did
Mr. Lloyd, arraying himself directly
Isaac Cohen, of Cleveland, said it was the
business OF trades unions to protest against
and fight colonial policy that would injure
the cause OF labor to such an extent as
the Importation Of contract labor would.
Andrew Funuseth, representative of the
Seamans Union, characterized the result
that he thought would follow expansion as
similar to the importation of the negro to
this country
President Gompers made a remark that
embodied the same ideas against expansion
that he set forth in his annual address.
George r. McNiel. of Massachusetts,, said:
IF the trades unionists had sent up a con-
certed protest against expansion at its very
inception it would have been defeated"
Stewart Reed. of the machinists, of Chi
cago, declared that his union was opposed
to an increase of the army or the navy. He
SdlQ the I1dcDlHlSIS wanted J0G United
States to have it's war ships built by union
labor. but they did not want an increased
navy. When a vote finally taken the
resolution was adopted with but three or
four dissenting votes. The convention then
adopted resolution to send an organizer
into the Southern States during the coming
year
resolution was adopted placing the
federation on record in favor of sending q
representative of the government to the
peace congress Of nations proposed by the
Car Of Russia.
When a measure was brought before the
convention asking Congress to grant an an
nual leave of absence of thirty days to the
employees of the navy yards President
Gompers spoke against it. He declared
that he was in favor of these employees, as
we'll as all other employees, receiving a
leave of absence from their work, but he
feared the demand at this time would only
serve to burden the eight hour bill now
pending before Congress The resolution
was referred to the executive council of
tho federation.
A resolution condemning the Allen law of
Illinois and complimenting the people of
Chicago on their fight against the street.
railway companies was adopted.
Before adjournment President Gompers
read a telegram from Atlanta, Ga, stating
that the trade unonists there bad refused
to take part in peace jubilee parade from
which colored trade unionists had been eX-
GUIDED and concluding with these words
The color line is not drawn in labor unions
in the South"