The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-01-22
MECHANICS MEET.
LOTS OF SPEEH-MAKING LAST
EVENING.
7. N, S. Williams Gives Work
in6men Some Figures to
Ponder Over.
Paul Neumann Tell the Union Ho"
Very Near He Came to Being
Mechanic.

regular weekly meeting last evening
at RObinson's Hall. The attendance
was very good. Mr.. Phillips, the
chairman, opened the remarks of the
evening by urging the Importance of
the members seeing that they are reg
istered at once He told the Me-
chanics' Union to vote a straight
ticket and not to scratch for anybody
not excepting himself.
Mr.. A. Z. PETERSON was then
called upon and stated that he would
like to make a few remarks regarding
an article that lately appeared in Ka
Leo, to the effect that he had spoken
disparagingly of working men. He
had never made such q staten ent,
and branded it as a campaign lie. In
regard to the charge that the Me-
chanics' Union had gone out of their
sphere to nominate two lawyers, he
thought it was wise move on their
part. The Legislature was to make
laws for the people, and they (the
people, must have men capable of
framing good and sound laws. AT
the last election the National Reform
having any legal representatives.
They realized that error and this
year they have Corrected the error.
When l started in life, continued the
speaker, / desired to learn Il profess
sion and trade also. / made up my
mind that if | was not successful as a
lawyer l would have trade whereby
/ could earn q living. / entered a
printing office and learned the bust
ness thoroughly from the devil to the
editOrship.
After relating the mechanical pOr-
ton of his life, Mr.. Peterson stated
that the Chinese question was the
main factor which originated the
Mechanics Union. Some of the men
elected by the National Reform party
at the last election did not remain
true to their pledges regarding this
all-important subject in the Legisla-
lature. His record was good, as they
all knew. He had nothing personally
against the race, as he numbered
some of his friends among them. A
mention was made of their industry
and thrift; but, with all that they
had certain habits and customs that
were detrimental to any country.
He thought that to exclude them at
the present time would be a severe
blow to the country. He was in favor
of passing laws to protect the white
mechanics against the inroads of
Chinese competition, and then re-
tired in favor of
j. N. S. WILLIAMS, who remarked
that he would call the attention of
the mechanics present to the inn
portance of the sugar industry as re-
garding their prosperity and of the
country at large. Everybody is more
or less dependent on sugar, and he said
that ninety-five per cent. of our eX-
ports was of that article. The
speaker then read the following
figures to show the Importance Of
the industry to working men.
Summary of wages paid in Honolulu
to mechanics and laborers on account
of the sugar industry in single year:
Lumber, 100000 feet, twice
handling "a. S1......... ,.......$ 1900
Sugar, 10000 tons, once
handling "a 25c...............:... $4,000
Coal, $4,000 tons, piling @ 81, $4,000
Wages paid in two Foundries, $40, 900
to Bricklayers,
Carpenters. etc. 100000
Total................ $421, 1000
We must protect mechanics, con-
tinued Mr.. Williams, and the most
feasible way in his opinion was to
make the Chinese wOrkmen pay Ii
cense that would be high enough to
make it impossible for them to enter
any business that would be in COM
petition with white mechanics. II
he was elected he would use his best
endeavors to protect the mechanics
and also to give cheaper labor for the
planters.
j. KANUI went on to say something
about his experience of the past week
at the meetings of the Liberal party.
He said their orators were base falsi-
fiers and could not tell the truth il
they tried. He roasted Wilcox for
misleading the Hawaiians by stating
they needed new constitution, and
for instilling into their minds repub.
lican ideas. The speaker did not
favor new constitution, and thought
the present one was good enough for
him, or anybody in fact. When it
was found oppressive then it was
time for change. 1t took Mr. Kanui
some time to make his remarks, and
when the chairman called halt the
willy old gentleman took advantage
of Paul Neumann's technicality on
AhCSA PASISu SpSSCI1eSjCdItSlLS the alul-
ence to shout with laughter.
Mr.. E. G. MACFARLANE was called
upon but excused himself, and prom
ised to respond before the election
took place.
Mr.. JOHN ENA said that the new
reciprocity treaty was a subject that
interests everybody. 1t would give
us untold advantage and he consid-
cred it the most important question
to be considered at the present time.
If he was elected he would look after
the interests of the sugar planters and
ut the same time protect the me.
chanics. He said the sugar industry
is the most important of all and
should be fOstered by everybody if
they wanted the islands to be pros
porous He thought that the present
constitution required amending and
was in favor of doing so.
The Mechanics Union, said JOHNNy
BoWELR, was organized in the interest
OF capital and labor, and they had been
faithful to their original intentions.
de then eulogized the candidates
for Mobiles one by one amidst great
applause. The present Constitution
needed amending, and the Mechanics
Union had selected two men who
We're capable of doing it; he then
mentioned Messrs. Neumann and
Peterson. He said that the candi-
dates were pledged to back up the
platform and to amend the Constitu-
ton for the benefit of the working
classes Tho JTDiOn woo +Lo,, ,,,o.oSl