The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-13
.G)MPERS ON EXPANSION.
LABOR LEADER OPPOSES THE AC.
QUESTION OF PHILIPPINES.
Afraid Of the Increase Of the stand
Ing Army, and Processes to See .
Horde 81 EviIs Following Rails
ing Of the Flag over the Islands.

were present, also William Thorne. and
William Inskip, Of London. representing
the British Trades Union congress.
Delegate Insl1ips mission Is TO present
Plans for closer alliance between the
United States and mother country, along
industrial as well as political lines.
After disposing of the usual preliminary
matters OF organization President Comp
ers delivered the annual address. which
was received by the delegates with much
enthusiasm.
Mr. Gompers, referring to 1.-The question
of international comfy said:
with the view of a closer bond OF SYM
pathy and unity among the organized
workers Of the different countries CORE
spondence with many of them had been
maintained and entered into with num-
Der OF others.
From the officers of our affiliated unions
come the satisfactory reports that they are
now in closer touch with their fellow
trade unionists.
with each step taken in the direction.
to cement the bond OF fraternity and the
recognition of the principle Of solidarity
in the national labor movement, We shalt
not only help to bear each others burdens
but continually make those burdens light
er. and be the lever for that international
brotherhood of man, through which the
bonds OF nations shall be a thing of the
past and the song Of the poet, the dream
of the philosopher and the hope OF the
N~~-e>>~~"~~
achieved.
"our fraternal delegates to the British
trade union congress. James Duncan and
Harry Lloyd, report that the greetings
| which they received at the hands of our
fellow trade unionists abroad We're of a
most generous and gratifying character.
We have with us today the fraternai isie-
gates from the British trade union con-
gress 70 our convention, William Inskip
| and VIM. Thorne. men who have given
| the best years of their lives TO the organ
ization of the workers and the uplifting
| OF the masses of labor.
For the first time, the convention last
| year elected fraternal delegate to the
| trade and labor congress of Canada. Thos.
| l. Kidd, who. too. reported the cordially
| of his greeting and the interest in his
| mission.
! Our Canadian fellow unions have hon.
| ored US by eecting a delegate TO attend
this convention in the person of d. a.
| Carey
| Under the head of mo duality-greater
| federation he said:
| las a result Of the engineers strike in
/ Great Britain, amalgamation of union with
| union and closer federation of all is the
| there is at present directed. and duality of
| union in one trade, SO long prevailing in
/ Great Britain, Is fast passing away. Our
l declaration that no two organizations of
one trade, claiming equal jurisdiction, can
| co-exist without conflict and injury, the
| principle long ago recognized and estab-
ished of one union OF one trade. has been
| taken as the slogan of the labor movement
of Great Britain, and We shall soon see a
| soliditied army of labor there upon the most
| perfect lines 10 achieve success.
| And this state of affairs teaches us q
| lesson, too; that in struggling for the up
| building of national and International trade
| unionism. and also for maintaining the in
| teFrity and entity of trades unions. and
| with the development OF industry and she
| concentration of wealth. 1t becomes the
| bounden duty of our trades unions to not
| only morally but financially concentrate
| their efforts in u battle Of offense and de-
fense when any allied organization is en-
| gagged In conflict
Referring to the Pana ana virden strikes,
| Mr.. Gompers said:
| 1.-THE operators sought to break their
| agreement and the strike by importing a
| horde OF ex-eonyicts, negro cheap iaborers
| from Alabama. and placing them under an
| armed guard OF Pinkerton thugs and hire
| angs. That bloodshed would ensue when
| an ignorant mass of men were armed to do
| the bidding Of charaeterless men, could cas-
| lily be foreseen. Gov. Tanner recognized
| that the band Of men armed was contrary
| 10 the laws OF the state. and forbade en-
! trance TO others. and finally, approaching
| the strained condition of affairs. ne declared
| martial law and insisted upon the disarm-
| ament OF all"
He concluded this paragraph with a state
| ment Of matters taking better form there,
with the promise OF a satisfactory settle
| ment.
| Mr.. Gompers stated the objections OF the
| federation to tho policy of imperialism and
| expansion as follows;
| Eve cannot annex the Philippines with
! out a large Increase in our standing army.
| A large standing army Is reT,ugnant to re-
| publican Institutions and a menace TO the
1 liberty OF our Own people.
| 1T We annex the Philippines we shall
| have TO conquer the Filipnos by the force
| of arms ana thereby deny TO them what We
| claim for outselves-the right of self-gov-
| eminent.
| We shall surrender the present safe and
| independent position by which we are guar
| anteed the tranquility and tho fruits of
peace, and forcing ourselves into European
| and AsiatiC entaaglements, implying war
| and preparations for war We snail seek
| 10 conquer by the force OF arms instead Of
| ~ orr own Industry. commerce and supe-
| rior mentality and civilization.
| I'VE shall Re compelled TO open the gates
| - admit the Chinese. Maiays and slave
| lahorers Who may come from our new pos
sessions. since the constitution Of the Unit
! Ell States forhids Introduction Of free entry
| OF men ana their products between our
| strtes and OUR territories.
The policy Of imperialism is a aecIara-
sloD that seif-governrent has failed ard
| that the people cannot be trusted; that the
dollar 5 az more consequence than man,
and plutooracy and miltartsm nob,er than
| humanity. The attempt to divert The at
| ieailon q eur people from the Ills from
| which We soffer ~ homo 10 foreign .oues-
s aeas ~, sla st tSIi - -, 1 has a,ways
| - water. the wealth producers, whose mis-
| son Il h1s been not onlp 70 struggle fer
| fTeCtow hut ~ be ever vigiiaut To main
| tain the liberty CT freedom achieved and
| = b.ho1VeS the representatives, OF the
, grand army ~ labor In convention a.
| se10b!e4. 30 give Tenf 10 the alarm We feel
Prom the dangers threatening us ami our
! entire Veoile. 70 erter our solemn and en-
! nhAt3e protest against what We alraafy
! Zeal. thar with the succsSs ef the poitcy Of
| {npf rsa'jsu the aeca&eure u aur republic
| WI have sir@A$y seq tr
Mr. GomqeTs reported that $50 local un'ors
! %ern chartered during the year. and there
arr E0% At .e8 NifA enc American E'a4I-
| ~rstion * Labor eixty-soven natinna! ard
{Hief7ta .l9D@l UGt9'fs. with fe.5@8 lccs,
( unions attac1es, TO STATE fadsratso9s
es%ntY-t~e city central }ab1r unfnus ard
/ trade assemblies, 3i5 iaeal trade llnlaas
I a9FnT to nationals, and Ia fcdsratloas
on TIE subject 81 an eiGht-h0nr work
/ 4ay. M. Campers said:
'Shoui8 Industrial conditions warrant Il
( S suggested that every se1rs De made Nv
/ TIE incoming officers. n eo-7cetatscs with
I fh@ 5FA1. union movement q the country
I 20 inaaB3r8fe a general agitation ara
/ movement for tae rn0Te universal Entrosu~-
/ wc~k DAY 20