The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-27
Gompers on Aunexa ton.

The G. b recently called atten-
ton editorially to the action of the
New York Central Labor union in re-
questing the referendum of unions to
investigate the probable effect of an
nexation upon American labor. 1t was
pointed out that, while a number of
labor organizations were for time
! fascinated by the visions of IMPERIAL
ism, they have now run up against the
angular reality OF the facts, and are
| confronting the question like men of
sense. They have asked the referendum
or unions to find out the facts. and
these are being doled out to the con-
sternation Of the money grabbers and
Jobbers who know well what the con-
certed action of the labor unions
means
On the heels of the action of the
Central Labor union, and the author
itative statement that the average
wage of the West Indian negro is
20 cents a day, and that of the
East Indian Malay 10 cents, the sign
ed statement of Samuel Gompers, pres
ident of the American Federation of
Labor. is significant. Mr. Gompers rep
resents the honest, law-abiding, respec-
table working men of America. There
is nothing in him of the demagogue OF
the anarchist, and his words, published
and signed by himself in the New York
World, carry the thought of the organ
| ization over which he presides.
Mr.. Gompers denounces in scathing
terms the dishonorable action of the
administration in pretending to wage a
war for humanity and ending it in a
shameless land grabbing scramble. He
says:
Hawaii we have annexed irrespec.
tive Of the wishes of her people, who
We're not asked whether the constitu-
ton under which they have recently
lived meets with their approval. Nor
was annexation ever given to them, il,
direct or indirect form, for decision.
In the case of the Philippines we have
the question repeated, only in a more
aggravated form. 1t will not be amiss
to call attention to some Of the condi-
lions prevailing in the islands which
the thoughtless enthusiast and the
| grab-all monopolist commercial spirit
urge US to annex. We should know the
dangers which are involved in the silly
or wicked policy Of Imperialism or~ex
pansion"
Then he reviews among other things
the conditions of slave labor in the Ha-
Waiian islands, a test case concerning
which is to be made in the supreme
court Of the United States. These are
the closing words Of the labor repre-
sentative:
I'VE do not oppose the development
of our industry, the expansion of our
commerce, nor the power and influence.
which the United States may exert
upon the destinies of the nations OF
the earth. On the contrary, we realizt
that the higher intelligence and stand
ard of life Of the American workers
will largely contribute toward attain
ing the highest pinnacle of industrial
and commercial greatness; and these
achievements in the paths of peace will
glorify the institutions of our republic
to which the grateful eyes and yearn-
ing hearts Of the people of the earth
will turn for courage and inspiration
to struggle onward and upward, so that
the principles of human liberty and
human justice may be implanted in
their own lands.
THE flag Of our republic should float
over a free people and must never cloak
slavery, barbarism, despotism or
TYRANNY"