The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1898-12-13
Eighteenth Annual Convention of the
Great Labor Organization at
Kansas City.
The ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT eoMPERs.
Reiterates His Arguments Expressed
1T Chicago Against the Expansion
POlicy-Speaks Encouragingly of
the Growth of Internationally
and the Fraternal Delegate.

eighteenth annual convention OF the
American Federation of Labor was
called to order in Strope's hall at ten
o'clock Monday morning. About $50
delegates from all parts of this country
and two from across the water, namely.
William Thorne and William Inskip of
London, representing the British
Trades Union congress, were present.
Delegate Inskip's mission was to plead
for a closer alliance between the United
States and the mother country along
industrial as we'll as political lines.
The work mapped out for the opening
day included the committee reports.
the seating and rejection of contested
delegates, of whom there are several,
and the annual address of President
Samuel Gompers.
President Evans. of the Kansas City
Commercial club, welcomed the dele
gates, President Gompers responding.
After the usual preliminary matters
of organization, President Gompers de-
livered his annual address.
Opposed to Expansion.
Touching on the war and its results,
President Gompers repeated in sub
stance the views he expressed at the
Chicago jubilee banquet The main
points of the federation's object to
the territorial expansion policy were
stated as follows:
we cannot annex the Philippines with
out large increase in our standing army.
A large standing army is repugnant to re-
publican institutions and menace to the
iliberality of our own people. If we annex
the Philippines we shall have to conquer
the Filipinos by force of arms. and there
by deny to them what we claim for our
selves-the right of government We
shall surrender the present safe and indie
pendent position by which we are guaran-
teed the tranquility and the fruits of peace,
and force ourselves into European and
Asiatic entanglements, Implying war and
the preparation for war. We shall become
q militant instead of peace-loving nation
We shall seek to conquer by the force of
arms instead of by our own industry COM
merce and superior mentality and civiliza-
ton. We shall be compelled to open the
gates and admit the Chinese, Malays and
slave laborers who may come from our
new possessions. since the constitution of
the United States forbids the Introduction
OF the free entry of men and their products
between our states and territories.
THE policy of imperialism is declara-
ton that self-government has failed, and
that the people cannot be trusted: that the
dollar Is of more consequence than man.,
and plutocracy and militarism nobler than
humanity. The attempt to divert the at
tention of our people from the ills from
which we suffer at home to foreign Ques-
lions will fail.
s.The principles Of liberty and justice have
been imbibed by our people too many years
to permit them to be cheated out of their
birthright. The institutions of our repub-
lie have taken root too deeply in the minds
and hearts of our people to permit US to be-
come nation of conquerors or to dominate
by force of arms a people struggling for
liberty and independence"
Growth of Internationally.
Referring to the growth of interna-
Nonality," he 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 has been
maintained, and entered into with num-
Der Of others. We should endeavor by
every means within our power to cultivate
eraternal feeling and interest in the well
fare of the wage-earners of all countries,
to aid and encourage every movement cali
cusated to materially, morally and social
" improve the conditions of the workers,
no matter where they may be located. and
particularly to lend that aid which may
be in our power to those who show a dis
position to stand upon the common poltty
Of our movement.
Well Received Across the Water.
"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 were of a
marked, generous and gratifying charac-
ter. Their report. a most Interesting doc
Nment, will be submitted to you We have
with us to-day the return fraternal dele
yates from the British Trade Union con-
gress to our convention. William Inskip
and William Thorn, men who have given
the best years of their lives to the organi-
cation of the workers and the uplifting Of
the masses of labor
For the first time the convention last
year elected a fraternal delegate to the
Trade and Labor congress of Canada,
Thomas l. Kidd, who, too, reports the
cordiality Of his greeting and his interest
In his mission Our Canadian fellow
Sunionists have honored US by electing
delegate to attend this convention in the
person Of d. A. Carey. 1t should require
no words at my hands that our fraternal
delegates are heartily welcome; that their
stay among us may be full of interest to
them and of advantage to our common
cause."
The strictest attention was accorded
President Gompers in the delivery of
his address, which was received by the
delegates with much enthusiasm. At
Its conclusion a recess till two o'clock
was taken.
Opposition to Gompers.
Although there seems to be no doubt
but that Mr.. Gompers will be reelected
. fight will be made upon him by
small faction headed by Isaac Cowen
and Max Hayes, of Cleveland.
II would fight against Gompers," said
Cowen in an interview Monday. 'if it
were the last thing l had to do on earth.
Gompers is entirely too conservative and
slow. We have nos selected candidate
yet. but shall do SO He will be repre-
tentative of up-to-aAte socialism"
ID. Douglas Wilson, of Chicago, has
caused to be withdrawn his name as
candidate against President Gompers.
Fight ON Women.
A lively and interesting debate is
likely to be precipitated in the conven-
ton when the delegate representing
Federal Labor union No. 1,O1O, Of