Omaha daily bee., 1898-12-16
VOTES AGAINST EXPANSION
Imperialism and Its Ills Discussed by Fed.
Grafton Of Labor.
LARGE STANDING ARMY IS A MENACE
samuel II. Donnclly. President OF
typographical Union, Speaks
In Defense of the Im-
perial Policy.

OF LABOR, by almost unanimous vote, de-
clared against a standing army in the United
States, which is in reality recognized as a
protest against expansion, or the spirit OF
imperialism as 1t was determined by the
delegates. This action was taken after five
hours OF debate on every phase Of the ques-
ton. At times many of the speakers be-
came eloquent in their utterances and re-
ceived applause from the delegates.
The issue came to the notice of the con-
vention through a resolution which grew out
of suggestions in President Samuel Com
pers annual report. The debate opened
when the committee, OF which Mr.. Henry
Lloyd of Boston is chairman, offered this
resolution:
Whereas, AS a result of the recent war
with Spain, new and far-reaching policy,
known as Imperialism or expansion, Is about
to thrust upon us a large standing army
and an autocratic navy, this convention Of
fers it's protest and calls upon its officers to
use all their power to defeat the same.
DonnelIy Favors Expansion.
Samuel b. Donnelly Of New York presi-
dent Of the Typographical union, was the
only speaker and practically the only dele
gate who in any way defended the cause Of
expansion. "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 $4,000, 900
people who do not belong to trades unions in
this country are going to bow down to a
system Of Imperialism or pay homage to a
crown. I know I am in the minority here.
but II we adopt this policy against expan-
sion want to go farther and declare against
this peace alliance with Great Britain"
Mr.. Donnelly was frequently interrupted
by applause, but the delegates were not in
sympathy with his argument.
Delegate Lloyd of Boston followed
in strong speech against expan-
sion. He said in the course OF his re-
| marks that he never had been in favor Of
an alliance with Great Britain or any other
government and he was not in favor Of it
now. Such an alliance OF governments
would be sad blow to organized labor in
the United States. An alliance Of the work.
ers OF the world was what was wanted; not
an alliance Of the governments OF the
world Continuing, Mr.. Lloyd declared 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 Federation
OF Labor, he went on. should not be drawn
away into political questions; it should at
tend to its own business.
Delegate John Kirby likewise spoke against
expansion. The annexation of such coun-
tries as the Philippines would drag labor to
the level Of the countries annexed. Max
Hayes Of Cleveland declared the wage work
ers of the United States could not afford to
trihe with the question of expansion. The
Federation of Labor should wash its hands
of the whole question and not be drawn
into a problem which politicians would and
are using for their own best interests. 3,
S. j. Kent, labor commissioner Of Me-
braska, spoke along the same lines as did
Mr.. Lloyd, arraying himself directly against
expansion.
Isaac Cohen Of Cleveland said it was the
business of trades unions to fight against a
colonial policy that would iniure the cause
Of labor to such an extent as the importa-
ton 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 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 e. MacNeaf Of Massachusetts, said:
"If the trades unionists had sent UP a pro-
test against expansion at Its very inception
1t would have been defeated"
Stewart Read OF the machinists OF Chi
cago 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 its war ships built by union
labor. But they did not want an increase
In the navy.
When vote was finally taken the resolu-
tion was adopted with but three or four dis
senting votes.
Other Acts Of the Delegates.
Other work accomplished by the conven-
tion was the adoption OF a resolution to
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 to the peace congress Of ma
tions 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 1t. He declared
that he was in favor of these employees, as
well as all other employees, receiving a
feared the demand at this time would only
serve to burden the eight bill now
pending before congress.
The resolution was referred to the execu-
tive council Of the 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 telegram from Atlanta, Ca, stating
that the trade unionists there had refused
to take part in a peace jubilee parade from
which colored trade unionists had been ex-
cluded and concluding with these words
"The color line is now drawn in labor
unions in the south"