The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1893-05-22

Charles Nordhoff alleges that the
following interview with Mr.. Claus
Spreckels took place, and is pub
lished with the latter gentleman's
permission. 1t may be well for the
public to suspend judgment in the
matter until the facts regarding it
receive Mr.. Spreckels' endorsement
and confirmation.
HONOLULU, MAY >, 1895.
asked Mr.. Claus Spreckels today
whether he would not give 10 the
Herald his views on the island situa-
ton, which he has been carefully
studying since his arrival here. He
readily consented.
81 am opposed to annexation" he
said, because il would ruin the sugar
industry on these islands. This indus
try, the only considerable one here,
has been built up with great expendi-
ture of capital and labor. 1t is the
only great industry possible here; on
which all other business depends, and
what seriously affects that must be n
matter of grave importance to every
man on the islands who intends to
stay here. But sugar depends on la
Dor. For many years the question of
labor and the possibility of securing a
sufficient supply TO meet the require
ments of the planters has been the
subject of many experiments at great
expense.
aIaborers from different parts of
the world have been brought to the
islands; but with the exception of
those of the Asiatic type the expert
ment has always proved n failure;
either from the fact that it was i'm
possible for laboTers Of the Seandi-
navian class to- do field work in this
tropical climate, or by reason OF the
great expense involved in obtaining
iaborers from Portugal and similar
countries. Realizing these cOndi-
tions, the island planters have been
compelled, in order to compete sue
cessfully with other sugar raising
countries, to negotiate for a class of
labor competent to do plantation
work at q rate of wages which would
admit of a profit to the planters.
The Hawaiian legislature realizing
the condition of the sugar culture
here, and its great Importance to the
islands, was induced to amend GER
tain parts of the laws which former
ly restricted Chinese immigration,
and to allow, under certain condi-
tions, the admission of limited
number of Chinese laborers. AS
this, however, was entirely made
auate to meet the demand of the
plantations, a convention was en-
tered into with Japan, by which
labor from that country was assured
in sufficient quantity, and today
about sixty per cent of the labor
employed on plantations is of this
nationality, all of whom came origin
ally on a three years contract. The
Importance of the contract system
is easily seen; for not only does it
secure to the plantation the payment
back Of the heavy advances which are
made to transport the laborers from
their native country, but it also pro-
tects the sugar planter against strikes,
which might occur at any time under
free labor system, and which, from
the peculiar nature of the sugar bust
ness, might prove ruinous to the sugar
industry here. / will add that not
only is the contract protection to
the planters very necessary to them,
but it was one of the conditions under
which the japanese government con-
sented to let its subjects come to these
islands, as the contract assures the
laborer regular employment and the
faithful observance of the contract by
the employer.
sT, and no doubt majority of the
other planters, would prefer free labor
IL there was sufficient on the islands
to guarantee us against strikes and
labor combinations, such as would,
il begun about harvest time, result IN
disastrous loss to the plantations; and |
until the supply of labor is fully up to |
the demand the contract system is |
clearly the only way on which we |
planters can rely on which we plan |
tiers can rely for the safe prosecution |
of our industry. But this system nee
essary to us is contrary to the laws OF |
the United States; it would be broken |
up by annexation. While any one can |
see that there would be some gains to |
US from our be coming a part OF the |
United States, it is clear to me that |
any political change which would an-
null our present labor system would |
only ruin our sugar plantations, and
the United States, instead of acquir-
ing a prosperous and wealthy group OF
islands, would be taking under their /
protection a country whose chief and |
only great industry had been bank
rupted by the change"
/ asked Mr.. Spreckels: "Are the
planters generally of your mind on
this matter?' He replied:
"Oh, yes-they all see plainly that
Asiatic labor Is necessary TO sugar
planting here. We do not prefer it,
but we are dependent on it. Some
planters still hope that the United
States would agree to accept us with
a maintenance of our labor system
and laws. You will find if you ask
them that they are for annexation on
that condition, but not without. They
have been told by some one that the
United States so greatly need and de-
sire 20 possess the islands that they
will submit to any conditions we ISL
and planters choose to impose. l see
no evidence of that"
/ asked Nr. Spreckels: "Is sugar the
only possible important crop of the
islands," He replied:
ayes, say that confidently, other
things have been tried. We now grow
good deal of rice, but you know that
this crop is got only in the fiat region
near the sea-shore, where lands can
be flooded; and even this industry Is
entirely conducted by Chinese and
japanese; no natives are engaged
In 1T. Coffee has not hitherto sue
eeeded here on a large scale; the
blight has been the danger for that,
but it is again being developed, and
If we have labor, that viii decide its
success, as the soil and climate