The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-09
Extension OF
SOyereig nty.
THE CITYS PROTEST
Senator Hoar's Position to
Be Endorsed at Home.

The agitation against the annexation
Of the Filippinos or any other foreign
people without their free consent, has
reached Worcester, and has already
received the endorsement of about Is
Of the educators Of the city
Saturday. Prof. William J. Abbot of
the Classical high school was IN Bos-
ton, and in making call upon Irving
WinsloW secretary of the Anti-Imper-
lalist League, discussed with him the
situation and the attitude of Senator
George r. Hoar upon this much moo
ted question. After long discussion,
in which it came out that the league
was sending petitions all over the
country, Prof. Abbot decided to bring
one to Worcester, and the one which
has been put in circulation by him is
the only one now in the city, although
as Prof. Abbot said last evening, 9th
ers may be sent here later, such action
depending entirely upon the spontan-
city of the Endorsement which the
movement receives in this city, The
home of Senator Hoar, whose remarks
upon the subject are the basis Of the
leagues work.
The Anti-imperialist League was con-
celVed in Boston several weeks ago.
and from the first, after Senator H0ar
had spoken so strongly against imper-
1alism, and then had reiterated his pre-
Vious utterances with so much force
and enthusiasm, prominent men of the
country have voluntarily identified
themselves with the plan. The aim of
the league is to present to congress,
through Senator Hoar whose attitude
the league champions, a gigantic me-
mortal against the annexation of the
Philippines or any other foreign terri
tory without the free consent of the
people thereof To this end already five
hundred petitions have been sent out
to all parts of the country, and thus
far they have received hearty endorse
ment, and requests for additional
blanks have been coming in, so that
the league hopes from present pros
poets TO have a vast number of sigma
| lures by the time the petition is ripe
for the Offering of the monster memoir
! ial to congress at the hands of the Mas
sachusettS senior senator, who is the
ablest and most vigorous opponent Of
the eXpansionist idea. One petition in
particular. which was sent down to
West Virginia, came back in short
time with 500 signatures, with the re-
quest for additional forms from the
league. Through Secretary Winslow's
energetic management the work has
aroused attentionthroughout the coun-
try. Governor Boutwell,, one of
the most honored eX-governors of the
commonwealth, is the president of the
league. and has given it his personal
interest.
Prof. Abbot was seen at his home
last evening, and told how he happened
| to come into possession of the petition
| last Saturday, when he was making
visit in Boston. 1t seemed to him, as
! he expressed it, that as Worcester was
the home of Senator Hoar, whose ut
| terances upon the question had stirred
| the country to quick realization of the
danger that confronts the nation, this
| city should present some tangible en-
| dorsement of his position. He consid-
cred it eminently fitting that there
! should be at least one petition from
/ the senator's home city. Prof. Abbot
/ said that he had not made an active
/ canvass in the matter himself having
| given it scarcely more than As minutes
| of his time He had presented the pc
| tition to the teachers at the classical
| high school. and there had been some
! dozen endorsements. In some in
| stances those who were given the OPP
pOrtunity Of seeing the memorial, re-
fused to sign it, but three-fourths of all
! to whom the subject was preached
We're anxious to sign. The petition was
| left with an instructor of the high
! school. and while no special pains will
! be taken to give it thorough circula-
! ton throughout the city, 1t will be
presented to those who express a. desire
to endorse the position taken
Prof. Abbot has named no definite
! time for calling in the petition, and
/ will probably allow it a free circulation
! for two weeks, before it will be returned
| to Boston, and with the other memo
rails from all over the country, pre-
! scented by Senator Hoar to congress.
| Prof. Abbot himself was the first
| signer of the petition. Several people
We're seen in regard to the scope of the
! petition last evening, and while they
were very urgent not to have their
names used, they thought that Worces-
/ ter should give a hearty endorsement of
the work of the league. One clergyman,
| when questioned, said that he would
| like to sign the paper and he will be
! given an opportunity today, and it will
| probably be circulated among the anti
| eXpansionist clergy of the city.
| The petition as sent out by the league
reads as follows
I ''To the President and Congress of
the United States:
| 1.-THE undersigned citizens of Wor-
cester. Massachusetts, protest
against any extension of the SOW
ereignty of the United States over
! the Philippine islands in any event,
| and over any other foreign territory
without the free consent of the peo-
| pie thereof"
While the sentiment is one of hos
! tility to the annexation of the Philip
pines under any consideration, the
other islands. such as Cuba and Porto
Rico, may come into the possession of
this country if they so wish