The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-08-20
VOICE OF LABOR UNIONS
Speaks Against Expansion
Through Samuel GOmpers.

Saratoga, Aug. 40.-The following is
an extract from the address OF Samuel
Gompers at the foreign policy confer
ence today:
I have been invited as a wage earn
er and a representative of labor to adj
dress this conference upon the subject
for which il is called, and it is not I'M
fair to assume that the reason which
prompted the invitation was the desire
to learn as nearly as possible the view
which the organized wage earners of
our country hold regarding this, at
present. all absorbing question.
We have annexed Hawaii and ap-
pointed commission to determine the
form of its government. How many of
our people are aware that of less than
100000 inha bitants of Hawaii so. 600 are
contract and practically slave Ia borers:
that of these there are so per cent Chi
nese and japanese and about 20 per
cent Portuguese from the Azores is
lands and South Sea islanders. that the
terms Of these contracts usually run
seven years; that the labOrers have no
right to change their employers or
leave their employment, that the con-
tract to labor is specifically enforce
able by law and that the resolution
adopted by congress specifically de-
clares that the laws of Hawaii shall
govern until the new form of govern
m6nL Shau be adopted that aQy time
a labOrer may serve in prison because
of his desertion from labor is added to
the term of the life Of the contract to
Ia Dor
As to the Philippine Islands. they
nave between seven and eight million
inhabitants of semi arbarfc pOpuIa-
ton, almost primitive in their ha bits
and customs. as unlike the people of
the L nIIed states in thought. Sentime nt,
education, morals, hopes, aspirations or
governmental forms, as night is to day.
" nat advantage then can the posses
SION OF Ihese lslaTlds with such people
Drlng TO our country? The nation
Wnlch dominates the markets of the
world will surely control its destinies
To make the workshop of our manifest
destiny and our duty and thus, side by
side with other nations in industrial
and commercial rivalry. we basing the
consideration of the W 1rkers upon the
highest Intelligence and the most exalt-
ed standard of life, no obstacle can be
placed in our way to the attainment of
the highest pinnacle of national glory
and human progress But. to attain
this end, IS the requirement of the
Philippines. with their sernf-savage pop
uIatlOn necessary Surely not Neither
It's gates nor those of any other of the
globe can long be closed against our
constantly growing industrial supre-
macy.
The most reckless advocate of the
annexation of the Philippines or of any
populous island of the group must ad-
NIT that this programme involves the
government and domination of the
many by the few, to an extent and de-
gree never before known under the
American flag. We have dfspossessed
saNages against their will in the process
OF our uprOOting of Indian tribes but
never where IT was not reasona blv GER
tain that their places would soon be ia
Ken by settled white population many
times as great as that of any wilder
ness occupied only by nomadic hunters
and warriors In the Philippines, with
its seven or eight millions in an area
of less than half that of the state of
Texas, no such change can ever take
place
The whole moral effect Of the ac-
QUESTION Of the Philippines its semi
savage population must be to undo
what has been accomplished by organi-
cation and education upon the lines of
social, economic, political and moral re-
form, particularly in raising the stand
ard Of living for the wage earners of
the United States It Will tend to breed
contempt for the manual toiIer and en-
courage the pernicious notion that the
strong may properly exploit the weak
and be used TO furnish the Iuxuries for
an Oligarchy'