The Hawaiian gazette., 1891-11-03
POLITICAL MEETING.

i meeting of the Mechanics Union
was held yesterday evening at Robin
son hall, at 7:45, between 40 and SO
persons being present. The meeting
was called to order by President Phillips.
The minutes OF the last meeting were
and approved.
The following persons were proposed
for membership: Alex. Lyons, G. W.
Ashley, E. H. H. Wolters, Matt Nc
Cam, P. Cronin, Alex. Lyle, and Hon.
J. E. Bush as an honorary member.
Under suspension of rules all were voted
in. A recess OF five minutes was taken,
during which the members elect signed
the rules.
For the Executive Committee K. More
reported that the committee had filed
up the vacancies in its membership.
| The committee had conferred with the
Executive Committee OF the Hui Kalai-
alma, but nothing OF Importance had
transpired.
Mr.. More wished the names OF the EX-
ecutive Committee read, but the presi-
dent stated they had been read 1T the
last meeting.
The president stated that the question
Tor discussion was Plantation Labor.
The labor question was burning one.
The Planters Labor and Supply Co. had
called Tor cheap labor, but a gentleman
well posted had told him that such labor
was not absolutely necessary that cheap
labor was not really the cheapest, and
that with skilled labor the work could be
more economically done. He would call
on Captain Ross. (ApplauSe.)
Captain Ross supposed that allreason-
able men would admit that the prosper
itv OF the country was due to the sugar
and also TO the rice industry. The sugar
planter thought only OF his own interest
and overlooked rice. Rice industry was
suffering for labor such as does not con-
iict with native and foreign. Others must
be considered besides the sugar planter.
The sugar planters owed their present
trouble TO themselves. Four years
ago, when they were prosperous
they forgot TO provide for the day
OF trouble. He had warned them. At
the present time they ought not to look
to cheap labor alone, but reduce their
extravaganza. Reduce cost OF flsshy car !
riages and large salaries, extraordinary !
ireights, large commissions to agents, !
and not take it all out OF the bone and |
sinew OF the laborers. He wished to see |
the plantations flourish, and there was
plenty of room for more. There is room !
tor other industries. Only one-tenth of |
all the arabic land is in use. Ii |
these men (the planters) were
earnestly interested IN the welfare OF |
this country they would invest some
Of the wealth they had gained, here. and
not abroad. Thousands of acres on Ha-
wall were available for families to engage
IN cultivation of coffee, etc. Had they
taken any risk to open up these in the
last few years? No: they take their
money and do Europe, etc. They might
20 to Bagdad, if they would only show
disposition to spend some OF it here. A
planter who had been living with his
family in Europe three years, complain
ed that he wanted 200 more men. He
5000 tons and had 1900 men en-
gagged. | said You must have some
very cheap men. You have three-eighths
more now than the average plantation. "
he admitted there had been a waste of
abor. l was talking then TO a man who
had only been two years in the country |
md had come out OF a glass factory. The
Jlantation was run by cheap lunas, but
! foreigner or native asking for So ad-
'ance on his wages would be refused. |
such plantations certainly needed labor
RS for nothing and board themselves. All
plantations were not like that. He
wanted plantations and more of them,
)ut there must be some understanding |
between the plantation owner and others
Who wanted to live in this country. The |
hawaiian was the son OF the soil in this
ountry; the only true aristocrat, and
hese others one saw were imitation, the :
esult Of shoddy-and pretty poor mate
ial, too, some OF it. Planters might have
Il the cheap labor they wanted, pro-
ided there was guarantee the country
Inside of them did not suffer. Zap
lause.)
Mr.. Quinn said there was no doubt it
as critical time. The plantations
lust have more labor, but the me-
hanics and workingmen must be pro-
ected. 1t would be easy to settle
ne matter if both sides would
ield little. The constitution
lust be amended. The proposed
mendment printed in the Bulletin Z
ould enable licenses to be cancelled :
hen they ran out. If that were done :
le restriction act might be repealed.
Ir. Baldwin favored the amendment,as
e was glad to see. Ii an extra session of
le Legislature had been held when Mr..
inney brought up the Chinese agita-
on, there would be no National Re-
rm Party to-day. The Japanese were | ?,
st as bad as the Chinese. Nobody -
,uld compete with either of them. All
e workingmen wanted was that
nendment. That one thing and they
ould be satisfied. They did not want 4
run the country. They should NOM 4
ate men of honor and principle who IL
i'll stand by their platform, a very 70
1all platform would do. When the ei
eciion came he intended TO vote for the
an who would do the best by the
lrty. whether he was in it or not ZAP
ause.
The meeting adjourned at s 80 P NJ; 10
bjeet to call of the Chair. "a