Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1883-12-01
rnn INpIGNirIoN unrrfNa.
Ge,man. Denounce ne fiction or,he Ko,o,
TaJorers.


German Benevolent Society held on the pre-.
vious Thursday, meeting Of all Germans was
called OF the German Club. a gcodly num-
Der OF men from " Falhcrland had assembled
there to exchange views as to what should be
done in regard to the women and children OF
Those eight obstinate laborcrs e 'oa planta.
ton. Mt Schmidt ocet1 e chair It will
be remembered that some time ago these same
| eight men after having been ordered to 90
back to their work on Koloa plantation, 10y
ono court Of Kauai and two courts Of Hon
olulu stubbornly held on to government Jobs
Of oad-repairng and free lodging, poi, fish,
hammocks, etc. at Buckles Hotel, until two
weeks ago last Tuesday, when they went back
to koloa to amicably settle their affairs with
the Koloa manager. Arrived At Koloa al
about noon on Wednesday, they did not re.
port themselves as ready to work but waited
| until o'clock in the afternoon. the hour set
apart on that plantation for any expression Of
wishes or for complaints. They then requested
the manager, the first thing, to pay them
| 81 days wages that were due them. The
manager, whose ability and skill is well known
on these islands, told them in his quiet, unas-
suming way that more than their 81 days
wages was due the plantation for their ocean
| trip, lawyers fees and costs OF court; but he
| failed to convince the men and they prepared
to go back TO their government jobs, taking
their wives and children with them to the
capital. The men were lodged again at the
Jail and the women and children were left to
find other boarding places. Our newly organ.
lied Workingmcn's Union very kindly quar-.
tered the women and children on Judd stree,
and provided them with the first means Of a
| livelihood, but they, being young association
and not having large funds at their disposal,
had to call upon public benevolence for further
support TO the innocent sufferers Of their hus-
bands and fathers contumaciousness. A
prominent member, probably thinking of glory
and renown for the union, had distributed
hand bills all over town that contained an in.
disputable falsehood, for which few days later
he apologized, stating that in his hurry he did
not think Of the difference between ''landed''
and "arrved." The German Benevolent
Society, although not asked by either the
women or the Workingmen's Union to do any.
thing. held the above mentioned meeting and
appointed Messrs. Bruins, Eckart and Adler
committee to look into the affairs of the
destitute.
The committee reported at the general
meeting that they had not been able to find GU,
clearly and distinctly the condition of the
women and children, as the latter obeyed
orders to talk only through the Workingmen's
Union, but they could see that they were des-
titute and the committee recommended tina,
the German Benevolent Society give $50 to.
ward their support. The report was accepted
and Mr.. Schaefer moved that the $50 be
granted. Before vote was taken on this
motion, an interchange Of opinions occurred.
Mr.. Mueller said, in effect, that the destitute
were not at all entitled to any support, as they
had been offered light work, pay, board and
lodgings on the plantation, but the husbands
maliciously deprived them of their chances, SO
he would move that they be not assisted at all.
After Mr. Baumcister had said that even the
wives and children of criminals were helped
along, and these destitute must be supported
under all circumstances by the society or the
Germans in general, however right or wrong
the cases of their husbands might be, the first
speaker backed down and said that he had no
objection to support by all Germans. Mr..
Schmidt stated that the German Benevolen,
Society is at present paying weekly rates &c
five poor and feeble people and that it has
done quietly great deal of charity since its
existence. He deemed it very wrong that
these women had asked for accepted assist
ance of others, because the German residents
here have always been ready to help people Of
their own country that were in need. As these
women had become destitute by their own OF
entitled 10 any benefits Of the society, but h,
would recommend subscriptions amongst the
Germans in general and he himself would head
the list
Mr.. Baumeister thought the best support
for these women would be to find work foi
them and he had heard that some of them had
found positions already.
NJ. Danielwitz president of the Working.
mems Union) stated that all but four of the
women had employment, these remaining foul
had babies and were unable to work. The
Workingmen's Union had taken the affairs o.
these women in hand, and to keep full control
over them, had not allowed the women to talk
TO every one. lie hoped that something
would be done to support them.
Mr.. Glade said the men had to abide by the
laws Of this government as had any other men
but they refused to do so, not one of their
complaints had been sustained by the courts,
in which they had been tried patiently I; il
seemed to him that these men were acting like
social democrats, trying to upset the laws and
get liberated from their contracts without the
slightest right on their side. The men hao
perfectly understood their contracts wher
they signed them in Germany, they knew
what kind OF work they would have to do oil
the plantations and what wages they were ,C
receive; when they were shipped in German,
much larger number Of men had applied fol
contracts then were desired, SO no one could
speak Of Misrepresentation or persuasion.
Other German laborers on plantations are per.
fcctly satisfied with their situations, are saving
more money than they ever could think o.
doing at home and are glad Of the change the,
made. Their passage money in steamer
from Germany had been only $40 for an adult.
To make things as cheap as possible for them
not one cent OF commission had been charged
on this passage money and the governmenl
had paid half the fares OF women and children
lie though. il mus, have been talked into
these men that they could make much more
money here in town and so they ,ried every