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310 & ll. 25–29 results from it. nI feel the sorriest for Mrs Catt. She was awfully chagrinned with the explosion of three years ago— I do feel to [sideways in margin] provoked that I should be charged with appointing my successor— I am not quite a Czar in my powers—hence could not if I would do that thing— It is too cruel on [me?]p¶3 ll. 10–11 I am not a little nbut amp absolutely ••••••••• 137 • Samuel Gompers1 to SBA [Washington, D.C.] October 31, [1899] Dear Madam: Your favor of the 27th inst., together with enclosed petition, came duly to hand; 2 and I beg to assure you that I fully appreciate your courtesy in asking the co-operation of our organization for the purpose of further agitation and securing equal suffrage for women and men. You say that you propose starting out on new lines of agitation. One is to insist upon the incorporation of a clause in the constitutions which may be adopted for the government of “Hawaiian Islands, for Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines” so as to leave the adjective “male” out of the suffrage clause, and to petition the Federal Government to adopt an amendment to the constitution that shall prohibit the states from “disfranchising citizens on account of sex.” 3 In regard to the latter proposition I would say that the American Federation of Labor some years ago circulated a petition of this character, and that within a few months more than 300,000 signatures were obtained and presented to Congress. Thus, you will see we are with you on this proposition , and have been for a very long time, and I am sure we shall have no hesitation at all in rendering whatever assistance we could to follow in the same lines. 4 But, in regard to your petition to the 56th Congress not to insert the word “male” in the suffrage clause of the constitution for the governments of Hawaii, Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Philippines, and in which the petitions are asked in the name of justice and equality for all citizens of our republic, I think very peculiar, more particularly when it is asked upon the fundamental principle of the “consent of the governed.” I do not believe 23 october 1899 ^ 311 that the American Federation of Labor is likely to concede the right of our Congress to form constitutions for the islands you name. To petition Congress to incorporate such a qualification,or rather,to omit such a qualification for suffrage, is to recognize that the government of the United States has the right to foist itself upon the people of those islands,not only against the “consent of the governed,” but in spite of their protests, the protests that they are manifesting by sacrificing their very lives,if necessary,to make effective. You will not make friends for the cause of woman’s suffrage by following the course to which I refer, I imagine. It should require no assurance of my earnest desire for equal suffrage. So far as it lies within my power, I have been a consistent advocate and defender of that proposition, and am still willing to do all that lies in my power to further that cause; but I can not consent, and I do not think that the organized working people of our country will consent, to a movement which recognizes and practically sanctions a violation of the fundamental principles upon which the institutions of our country are based, and as involved in the wars of conquest. Very respectfully yours, U Saml Gompers President A.F. of L. Y TLS, letterbook copy, American Federation of Labor Papers, DLC. 1. Samuel Gompers (1850–1924) presided over the American Federation of Labor from its founding in 1886 until his death.As reflected in this letter,he was an outspoken critic of taking the United States “into the vortex of imperialism, with all the evils which that term implies,”as he expressed his opposition in a speech to the Chicago Peace Jubilee on 18 October 1898.(ANB; Gompers,Papers,5:20–29.) 2. Film, 40:172. The text was edited by Ida Harper for her biography of SBA. Original recently located in American Federation of Labor Papers, Additions of 2012, Archives Division, WHi, not in Film. 3. In reply, in another letter recently located, SBA reminded Gompers that women, who were “powerless in regard to the policy of the government” with regard...

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