The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-16
OPPOSED 70 EXPANSION.
FEDERATION or LABOR GOES ON
RECORD As AGAINST Foley.
Profess to Fear IN InAux OF Peo-
pie Ffen the New Possessions-
Oniy One Speaker On other Side.

l. H
convention today the American Federation
OF Labor declared. by almost unanimous
vote, against standing army in the United
States. which - in reality recognized as
protest against expansion or the spirit OF
imperialism. ~ Il was termed by the dele
gates. This action was taken after five
hours OF debate on every phase OF the ques-
tfon At times many Of the speakers be-
came eloquent IN their utterances. and re-
ceiyed unstinted applause from the dele
gates.
The issue came to the hands of the CON-
vention through a resolution which grew
out OF suggestions in President Samue.
Gompers' annual report. The debate
opened when the COMMITTEES Of which Mr.
Henry Lloyd, of Boston, is chairman. OF
fered this resolution:
Whereas, as result Of the recent war
with Spain new and far-reaching policy
known as imperialism or expansion IS about
and an aufocratic navy. this convention
oilers its protest and calls upon its officers
to use all power to defsat st."
samuel b. Donnelly, Of New York, pres
ident Of the International Typographical
Union. was the FIST speaker and practically
the only delegate who in any way defended
the cause Of expansion.
"Expansionists have always won." said
ne IN the course OF his remarks, because
Il Is IN the interest OF higher civilization.
Don't believe that the 100000 people who
try are going to bow down 10 a system Of
Imperialism Or ray homage to Gown.
know l am in the minority here. bu, If We
adopt this policy against expansion. want
TO go farther and declare agains, this peace
alliance with Great Britain.
Delegate Lloyd, of Boston, followed in
strong speech against expansion. He said.
In the course Of his remarks, he had never
been in favor of an alliance with Great
Britain or any other government, and he
was not in favor CT 1t now. Lloyd declared
Efsfla NJ la
serve notice upon every politician In the
country that any American voting for ex-
pansion would place. himself in deadly en-
nifty to organized labor.
Delegate Kirby also spoke against ex-
pansion. The annexation of such countries
as. the Philippines would drag labor TO the
level OF the countries annexed, he said.
s. j. Kent. labor commissioner of Ne
braska. spoke along the same lines, as did
Mr.. Lloyd, arraying himself directly against
Isaac Cohen, of Cleveland. Socialist
leader. said 1t was the business of trade
unions 70 protest against and fight Co
lonial policy that would injure the cause OF
labor to such an extent as ting importation
OF contract labor would.
Andrew Furuseth. representative OF the
Seamen's Union, characterized the result
that would follow expansion as similar TO
the importation of the negro to this coun-
try. He declared that the encroachment Of
the Chinese IN California was an object
lesson for working people to consider in
connection with expansion. He said the
policy Of the governments possessing ex-
tended colonies was to c.vflize by. force OF
arms He thought the islanders OF the Pa
citic would enter into direct competition
with American working people very quick
ly IL the expansion policy were adopted.
President Gompers made remarks that
embodied the same IDEAS against expansion
th.' he set forth IN his annual address
George e. Mcneil. OF Massachusetts said:
IF the trades unionists had sent up a
concerted protest against expansion at
its very inception 1t would have been de-
feated."
Stewart Read. Of the Machinists. of Chi
cage, 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 warships built by union
labor. but they did not want an increased
navy.
When vote was finally taken the reso-
luton was adopted with but three or four
dissenting votes
Other work accomplished by the con-
vention was the adoption OF 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 nations proposed by
the car of Russia.
When a measure was brought before the
convention asking congress to grant an
annual leave of absence OF thirty days to
the employees OF the navy yards, President
Gompers spoke against il. He declared he
was in favor OF these employees, as well as
al 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 bin now pending
before congress.
The resolution was referred to the exec
utive council of the federation.