Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1885-11-12
THR CHINESE QUESTION IN SAN
FR4NCIsCO.


The following article from the S f.
Call of the goth ult, shows the atti-
tude in that city Of the Chinese in the
trade, and may prove OF
interest to Island readers.
The present indications are that
white and Chinese labor will be closely
antagonized in the pending contest fol
the cigar manufacturing business.
White men and Chinese will not be
employed in the same factories The
Chinese have such control Of the trade
that they claim that they can control
white manufacturers who employ both
kinds of labor. The Chinese, in this
case, have forced the issue. 1t is not
whites who have refused to work will.
Chinese, but Chinese who have refused
to work with whites. The Chinese
companies have declared the law, and.
must abide by it. But while, it may be
in the power Of the Chinese to compel
those white manufacturers who emplo.
Chinese labor to discharge their white
workmep, it is certainly not in their
power to prevent white manufacturer
from conducting his business with
white workmen. White men make
cigars in New York and sell them in
San Francisco in competition with Chi.
nese cigars. Why, then, may not the
same workmen make. cigars in San
Francisco with equal advantage in the
way, Of Jsale7l The action ofthe Chi
nese in demanding the discharge Of the
Iwhite workmen. in the single cigar
factory in which whites were largely
employed should arouse public atten
ton to the danger which threatens oul
industries The Chinese are not con
tent to share an industry, but demand
1.-The whole of it. The stand they have
taken in the cigar business will also bt
taken in other trades when they think
themselves strong enough to succeed
Boot and shoe manufacturers who EN-
ploy both whites and Chinese may soor
be requested to discharge their white
employees The manufacturers Of cloth
ing who have employed girls to do por
tons of their work may soon be com
PEELED to let their girls go. The cigar
makers who employ Chinese are verl
sorry that they cannot employ white
workman at the wages they pay Chi
: nese, but they say they submit to th'
inevitable. SO will our clothing manu-
tacturers feel badly over the necessit.
4 Of sending their white girls adrift, bu
they will say they accept it as a busi
ness necessity. 1t is quite time for tn
white people Of this city and State t
make stand in their own defence
/, They have worked side by side witt
Chinese until the latter have gaine'
strength to declare tor all or nothing
e The sooner we give the coolies to ur
e dcrstand that it IS nothing the bette
q We yet have power to recover the trad
:, that has passed into Chinese hand
y If the Chinese are not willing to liy
y aqd LAT 1iuA, we I'LL GEE TO !. -. III
:. whites are the port, ~ i've. Ii thel
n is, indeed, an irrepressible conflict b
q tween the two races, let us determir
that the fittest shall survive. American
with their usual magnanimity, ha,
given the Chinese chance. We ha,
Il opposed their coming in large number
j. but we have thrown no obstacle in tn
y way Of their making money while her
They contend with whites openly
the labor market, and yet shirk man
Il # the burdens whites take upon then
e selves. They are meek and concilii
q tory while in weakness, but arrogar
n and unyielding in power The strik
:, of the Chinese shows the race in the
true light. 1t has opened up a cleare
0 view Of the Chinese question as
n exists on the Pacific Coast than W
|. have had before. 1t is, in short,
!, notice to the white residents to g
The Chinese think they hold the ke
: to the situation The people that d
: the work Of a community are the basi
e of its being. If whites cannot wor
on the Pacific Coast, they will see
other places, where they are not rule
out on account Of color The whit
people of-this coast, property-owners a
. we'll as laborers, must combine to prS
= tect their threatened industries. W
q cannot afford to lose one industry aftt
mother, as the Chinese find then
selves in positions to demand tn
e vrhoIa nf if