The herald., 1898-12-16
A BIG STANDING ARMY
Is NOT FAVORED BY LEADERS OF
LABOR
PROTEST AGAINST EXPANSION
One, Lonely Printer the Only Fedora
tion Delegate to Speak for the
- New Policy
Associated Press Special Wire

S1SoOCtdtoQ IIcbo SpcCldl WIG
KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Dec, l5.-At its
annual convention today, the American
Federation OF Labor declared, by Almost u
unanimous vote, against standing army In
the United States, which is IN reaiIty recog-
nlzed as protest against expansion, or the
spirit OF imperialism, as it was termed Dy
the delegates.
The issue came to the hands of the con-
vention through resolution which grew out
OF suggestions in President Samuel Com
pers' annual report. The debate opened
when the committee, of which Henry Lloyd
OF Boston is chairman offered this resoiu-
ton:
Whereas, As result of the recent war
with Spain new and far-reaching policy
known as imperialism or expansion is about
to thrust upon us Il large standing army and
an autocratic navy, this convention offers its
protest and calls upon its officers to use all
power to defeat it."
Samuel l.. Donnelly of New York, presi-
dent OF ths international Typographical
union, was the first speaker and practically
the only delegate who in any way defended
the cause OF of-eXpansion.
Expansion has always won," said he, in
the course of his remarks, because il is in
the interest OF higher civilization. Idon't
believe that the 65,000, 600 people who do not
belong to trades unions in this country are
going to bow down to system OF imperial
ism or pay homage to a crown. know am
in the minority here. but If we adopt this
policy against expansion ] want to 90 fur
ther and declare against this peace alliance
with Great Britain
Delegate Lloyd of Boston followed in
strong speech against expansion. He said
that he never had been in favor of an ALI
ance with Great Britain or any other coun-
try and he was not in favor of it now. Such
an alliance would be a sad blow to organized
~ Al f.~.a
Mr.. Lloyd declared I've would have the
Federation of Labor serve notice upon every
politician in the country that any man vot-
ing for expansion would place himself in
deadly enmity to organized labor and that
organized labor would work for his defeat
at the polls. The Federation of Labor, he
went on, should not be drawn away into
political questions; that they should attend
to their own business.
Delegate John w. Kirby likewise spoke
against expansion. The annexation of such
countries as the Philippines would drag
labor to the level of the countries annexed
The Federation of Labor should wash it's
hands of the whole question and not be
drawn into problem which politicians are
using for their own best interests.
S. j. Kent, labor commissioner of Ne
braska, spoke along the same lines as dad
Mr.. Lloyd, arraying himself directly against
EXPANSION.
Andrew Furuseth, representative of the
Scamen's union, characterized the result
that he thought would follow expansion as
similar to the importation. of the negro to
this country. He declared that the en-
croachment of the Chinese in California
was an object lesson for working people to
consider in connection with expansion. He
said the policy of governments possessing
extended colonies was to civilize by force of
arms: He thought the islanders of the
Pacific would enter into direct competition
with American working people very quickly
If the expansion policy were adopted
President Gompers made remarks that
embodied the same IDEAS against expansion
that he set forth in his annual address.
When vote was finally taken the resolu.
tion was adopted with but three or four
dissenting votes
Other work accomplished by the conven
ton was the adoption of a 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 b. the
Gar of Russia.
When measure was brought before the
convention asking congress to grant an an
nual leave of absence of thirty days to the
employees OF the navy yards President Com
pers spoke against it.
He declared that he was in favor CT these
employees, as well as all other employees,
receiving leave of absence from their work.
but he feared the demand at this time would
only serve to burden the eight hour bill now
pending before congress.
=. Inc resolution was referred to the execu.
tive council OF the federation