The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-12
FEDERATION OF LABOR.
Report of President GOmpers De-
nOunces Policy of Imperialism.

Report of President GOmpers De-
nOunces Policy of Imperialism.
DETROIT, Mich, Dec. u.-Nearly zoe
delegates, representing all branches OF
trade unionism, with an estimated total
membership of nearly 100000 were present
at Harmonic hall today, when the nine
teenth annual convention of the American
Federation of Labor was called to order.
The first evidence of contest was ap-
parent when the stationary engineers
sought to prevent the seating of the brew
cry employees representatives.
In the absence of both President Com
pers and Vice President Mcguire, the
gathering was called to order by James
Duncan, of Baltimore, second vice presi-
dent. Mr.. Duncan announced that Mr..
Gompers was still suffering severely from
injuries received in a recent bicycle acct
dent in Washington, and possibly might
not be able to attend the convention.
In compliance with the federation rules
prohibiting speeches by outsiders, no well
comes were rendered by officials of the
city or state. The only address of this
character was by Herbert J. Greville,
president of the Detroit Council of Trades
and Labor Unions.
Vice President Duncan, responding to
the welcome, said that the convention is
the largest of organized labor represent
atives ever held in the United States, be-
sides containing affiliated delegates from
across the sea and from Canada.
When the committee on credentials had
reported, the seating of the brewery
workers was protested against by repre-
sentatives of the stationary steam engi-
neers. The brewery men retorted by pro-
testing against the credentials of the sta
tiOnary engineers and firemSn. All the
other delegates were declared seated.
After adoption of resolution of SYM
pathy for President Gompers the annual
report of President Gompers was read bv
Vice President Duncan. The report con-
tanned the following reference to imperial
ism:
"a marked change within the recent
past has overcome the policy and trend
OF our country in its international rela-
IONS tio "A humane war. undertaken for
the independence of Cuba from Spanish
domination and misrule and the circum-
stances in connection Herewith has been
taken advantage of to ruthlessly trample
under foot every principle upon which our
republic was founded: every tradition
which has made its name sacred to patri-
OTIS, thinkers and humanita rians, and
names of the statesmen heroes and
emancipators have been f1agrantly flung
to the winds. Hawaii is annexed In spite
of the protests of her people. Slave-fike
conditions of labor obtain there The
agents of the slave masters are Turing
workers to Hawaii to continue Indefinite
~ the SiaVe-llke contract conditions of
labor there, where the specific enforce
ment of the conditions of the contract to
labor are enforceable with the whip and
the dungeon. Porto Rico has by armed
force been Conquered and annexed: Cuba
promised her freedom and Independence
is held by the armed military forces of
our country. In Cuba, the workers
sought by united effort to secure some of
the advantages resultant from modern
civilization; that Is, a reduction in the
hours of their daily toll and upon their
hVrD ovD1,0
they exercised their natural and legal
right to cease work
The principle of self-government is be-
ing denied the Filipinos. Some have said