Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-12-16

Kansas City, Mo-. December 15.-At
its annual convention to-day the Amer
lean Federation of Labor, declared by
almost a unanimous vote, against a
standing army in the United States,
which is in reality a recognized protest
against expansion, or the spirit OF i'm
perialism, as it was termed by the del
egates. This action was taken after
five hours of debate on every phase of
the question. At times many of the
speakers became eloquent in their ut
terances I'D received unstinted APP
plause from the delegates.
The issue came to the hands OF the
convention through resolution which
grew out of suggestions in President
Samuel Gompers' annual report. The
debate opened when the committee of
which Mr. Henry Lloyd, OF Boston, is
chairman, offered this resolution
Whereas, AS a result Of the recent
war with Spain, new and far-reaching
poiiCs, huoWH eio iuip0A iaiioiAi' Va "a
pansion, is about to thrust upon us a
large and standing army, an autocratic
navy, this convention offers its protest
and calls upon its officers TO use all
power to defeat it,"
Samuel b. Donnelly, of New York,
president of the American Topographic
cal Union. was practically the only
delegate who in any way defended the
cause of expansion.
Delegate Lloyd, of Boston, followed
in strong speech against expansion.
He said he never had been III favor of
an alliance with Great Britain or any
other government, and he was not in
favor of it now. Such an alliance of
governments would be a sad blow to
organized labor of the United States.
An alliance of the workers of the world
was what was wanted; not an alliance
OF the governments of the world.
Continuing, Mr. Lloyd declared he
would have the Federation of Labor
serve notice upon every politician in
the country that any man voting for
expansion would place himself in dead
ly enmity to organized labor and that
organized labor would work for de-
feat at the polls. The Federation of
Labor he went on, should not be drawn
away into political questions: they
should attend to their own business.
Delegate John Kirby likewise spoke
against expansion. The annexation OF
such countries as the Philippines would
drag labor to the level of the countries
annexed.
Max Hayes, of Cleveland declared
the wage workers of the United States
could not afford to trifie with the ques-
ton of expansion. The Federation of
Labor should wash its hands of the
whole question, and not be drawn into
problem which politicians would and
are using for their own best interests
When vote was taken the resolu-
ton was adopted with but three or
four dissenting votes.
Other work accomplished by the con-
vention was the adoption of a resolu-
ton 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
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 1t, saying he fear
ed the demand at this time would only
serve to burden the eight hour bill now
pending before Congress.
The resolution was referred to the ex-
ecutive council of the Federation