Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-05-03
LABOR IN FRUIT DISTRICTS.

The discussion and consultation on Fri
day between the fruit men and the Labor
Commissioner and the representatives of
the anti-Chinese organizations, had pre-
cisely the result anticipated They parted
as widely divided in opinion as when they
met. The fruit people declared that they
could not now substitute white for Chinese
labor; that the risk was more than they
should be asked to assume, and that their
experience had taught them that available
white labor is not adapted to their needs.
But they resolved" that just as soon as
possible, and as rapidly as they can, they
will displace the Chinese and give en-
ployment 20 white workers. On the other
hand, the anti-Chinese advocates con-
tended that from 5000 to 10000 white la
borers can be furnished within thirty DAYS
If assurance is given of employment for a
reasonable period, and fair treatment as
regards board and lodging, and that the
wages demanded shall not much exceed
those paid to Chinese laborers in VINEYARD
and orchard. Moreover, it was asserted
that these white workers will be of a steady
class, and capable of learning quickly,
while many of them are already skilled in
the business Of fruit gathering and pack
ing. The matter is left with the fruit-
growers, of aourse. They must and will re-
man the Judges of the proposed displace-
mant, when it shall take place and to what
extent There is no power to compel them
10 act summarily, and the boycott. as a
m cans to that end, is confessed to he in
elective. There seems to lie no disposi-
zion to retain the Chinese absolutely. but
the difficulty all resides in the method
OF making a change We can not
furnish the workers. say those of
oae side, until you give assurance Of steady
employment. We cannot dispense with
those We have, say the fruit-growers, until
You assure Us against loss Here the mat
ter rests. and here it will remain until
gradual processes of displacement work
the desired result. This, we believe, will
b. attained. White laborers are in, and
are coming into the State. Those COM
potent will sind their way into the orchards
and vineyards and berry yields, until the
C1lnaman Is no longer estimated as a fac
tor in the fruit business. This is what we
w'nt to see brought about, and we believe
/. will come. But il may Just as well be
accepted now as ever, that there will be
NJ sudden change; that so vast an interest
VIII not be suddenly revolutionized, nor
such important ends hastily attained. It
Is situation in which we must "learn to
watt the anti-Chinese associations can
do great deal toward fastening the de-
red result by presenting skilled and re-
liable workers as fast as they can be
found, and establishing among fruit-grow-
es confidence in them. Every good white
worker thus got into place to the exclusion
OF Chinaman, will make the effort of
pacing the next white laborer less diff
cut. The fear and hesitancy of the fruit
growers are perfectly natural. 1t ought
not occasion surprise that they are mani
fest. 1t may, or it may not be excess of
caution, but from the business standpoint
the action taken is certainly defensible,
and just such as the cultivator ought to be
expected to take, who has a fruit crop at
stake. The friends offree white labor should
continue their exertions to procure the
KIND OF workers needed, to prove the re-
laoiity OF ialthfulness of such labor, and
they will find the Chinese displaced more
rapidly and efiectually than is possible
under policy of threatenings.