Hawaii holomua = Progress. [volume] (Honolulu) 1893-1895, 1894-08-23
THE JAPANESE TROUBLE


with their japanese lsbOrs The
japanese make good working
men for . plantation, and the
PLANTERS cannot get along without
them. OF course we are con-
stantly told that the laborers are
10 blame for all discussions and
never the employers II how
ever. the planters desire to avoid
an open and dangerous outbreak
one of these days IT viii be adj
yisable for them to remember
that both contracting parties to a
labor agreement have their rights
and that tie laborer will insist
in upholdiDg his rights as deter
minedly as does the employer
The planters have the authorities
from Judges to poiice-oficers on
their side. and the laborers can
hope for no redress from the law.
They are not to blame if they,
under such circumstances take
the Law into their own hands and
gain by force what they cannot
obtain by law.
In their feverish anxiety to
make money, the planters over
look the danger which is threat
ening them. and they keep on
squeezing and bullying their
laborers until the cup runs over
and the worm turns to sting.
The trouble in Eva was not
created by the action of police
officer, Lenno1 altogether. There
has for some times been q deep
rooted dissatisfaction among the
japanese lsborers, and it was
bound to come to an issue some
day. There are several reasons
for .heir dissatisfaction and the
management of the plantation is
solely to blame for the ill-fee.ing
among the laborers.
The first complaint is that the
manager has forbidden the lab
orers to have liquor on the pre-
misses of the plantation. The
japanese resent a regulation
which deprives them of their
customary drink and they deny
the managers right to interfere
with their individual liberty.
They are right. There is nothing
in their contracts which author
ICES the manager of a plantation
in regulating the manner of liE-
ing of his employees. He is
assuming power which the laws
do not give him and he is raising
trouble for himself and the stock
holders. The manager of EVA
would not like to have the direct
ors of the company issue an
order prohibiting him from TAX
ing his usual fit of brandy and he
would consider such action a
piece of unwarranted impudence.
The Japanese take the same view.
They are used to drink "saki"
and wine and they insist in get
ting it. If the go to excuses
and some of them are unable to
20 to work the remedy of the
plantation is in the law. And
the law is not preventative. 1t
may cure. it does not prevent
The japanese know enough to
stand up for their rights and they
are at liberty to import as much
liquor to their houses Oh the
plantation as they please.
Shoald the manager or his
seize their liquor
,r otherwise interfere with them
outside of working hours they
ire justified in prosecuting the
bosses, and have them arrested
or larceny. highway robbery or
whatever the case may be. 1t is
rom such a regulation that yes
erday's trouble occurred and the
,olice officer nearly was mobbed.
1t the investigation it was shown
hat the feeling against officer
.ennox simply was caused |
through his efforts to carry out !
danager Lowrie' $ orders to con6s-
ate the liquor belonging to the
aborers.
Another complaint seems to be
qually well founded The labor
rs are compelled to buy their
necessities at the plantation store
there, they claim, prices are
harged them which are % per
3