The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-08-25
HOW THE M,KINLEY Law WORKS.

Sumatra Tobacco Planters Compelled to Pull
Up Stakes and Come to America
Chicago Special to New York Press.
One of the best arguments Major McKin-
ley will be able TO make during his cam
paign in Ohio IN favor of protection and
his tariff law will be the story that j. Kauf-
mann, of Dell. Sumatra. brings to America.
MI. Hartmann is q several times miui.S<
aire. having made his money in the -
few years on the tobacco plantations OF
Sumatra. He Is at present the owner of
several plantations on the island in the In
dian ocean, sis interested in q company
there that has for years annu-
ally, sent millions of dollars worth
OF the Sumatra leaf to Europe and Amer
lea, and now Mr.. Kaufman comes forward
and declares that since the passage of the
Mckinley bill the planters of Sumatra have
lest So, 600, loo because they conld not afford
to send the leaf to the United States under
the new tariff law, and the only way the
planters can benefit themselves in order to
get even Is to come TO this country and
start the industry here.
Mr. kaufman, who is stopping at the Au-
ditorium Hotel, has Just returned from q
trip to Virginia. Louisiana and Kentucky,
where he has found soil that will produce
the Sumatra leaf just as well rs on the
island, and before long. owing to the tariff
the Mckinley bill places on the leaf, an in
dustry that annually took away millions Of
dollars from the United States will be
started in several of the Southern States.
The Mckinley bill compelled us to
come over here" exclaimed the Sumatra
planter when discussing the subject. I'VE
knew the leaf could be cultivated here be-
lore, but We did not wish 70 come to- this
side of the water, as with our cooley labor
we could affc.d to ship 1t to America
cheaper. But the Mckinley bill killed the
industry for us, and now we must start
Sumatra leaf plantations here. aud we will
have To have American labor TO do our
work, as we are not permitted to import
coolies, who are the best and cheapest
workers in the world
Then Mr.. Kaufman in emphatic tones
denounced the high wages the workmen of
America received. The ~workmen, be said.
owing to the protective system, are able to
make enough money In one day tn remain
idle for four. They are paid altogether
too much" be added. In Sumatra a coolie
Ia com PEELED to work every day in the
year. and he has some respect for q white
man. If he doesn't show respect he is
given twenty-five lashes. and for q
fortnight is not able to work. Whenever
q coolIe meets a white man be shows his
respect by getting down on his knees
and taking on bis hat. The colored man
and the workingman thinks he is as good
AS his employer. The wages here are so
high that a laborer is independent, and he
only works when he feels like it. I'm SUI
matrath tn planters. who are Holland Dutch,
rent the land from the Malay chiefs tor
twenty-five years and hire the coolies for
the period of three years. The planters
give TO each coolie they hire a piece of
land, and he is compelled to do so much
work. The planters feed and clothe them.
Every man is held until he has filled his
contract. They are not paid from 81 to 81
q day. like the laborers in this country,
but they make from $50 co $50 a year, clear
of expenses sometimes. When q man has
bad luck he only makes S. q year, and
sometimes finds himself in debt to the
planter.
"0h. no, they are not slaves. bnt we give
them the lash whenever they deserve il,
and they are not permitted TO leave the ISL
and. All the vessels that leave the island
are searched, SO the coolies are not able TO
get away. If American labor was treated
TO some Sumatra ideas the country would
be more prosperous. and If the Mckinley bill
had not placsd q stiff tariff on Sumatra to-
bacco forty plantations would not ave
had tn shut down. We shall start up forty
plantations. however. in this country next
year. bnt it will go hard with ms TO pay
such high wages. The workingman In this
country wants all the profits.'
Two other wealthy Dutch tobacco plant
ers are with Mr.. Kaufmsnn, and they
agree with everything he saws. They pro-
nounce the soil In some parts of the South
better for the Sumatra leaf than the In
dian ocean island. They are oil their way
home to complete arrangements for remov-
ing their vast interests to America.