The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1895-07-26
Agreement to Furnish Two Hundred
a Month from Honolulu.
make EXCELLEsr FRUIT PICkERs.
Two Letters Received by Commissioners
FitZgerald-Entry into States by Way
of VictOria-MemOriAl to Congress
Against Japanese Immigration, Etc.

Startling confirmation has been
received in this city of an attempt
to land hundreds of Japanese con-
tract laborers on these shores.
Commissioner Fitzgerald yesterday
received two letters which are con-
sidered by him to be the opening
wedge for the exposure of some fur
ther details of the plot.
The letters were received by a
gentleman of this city who for busi-
ness reasons does not want his
name mentioned. The name of
the party in Honolulu, who wrote
the letters is also known, but as to
his business and ability to carry
out his proposition further infor-
nation is expected today.
The first letter is as follows:
HONOLULU (Hawaiian IsIands),
January 80, 1S95.-DEAR SIR: L
would be very pleased to hear from
you as to the labor market in San
Francisco, and also if you could Sc
cure work for japanese whose terms of
service have ded at the different
sugar plantations here.
The Japanese who are desirous of
coming to the Coast would make eX-
cellent fruit pickers, and a contract
could be made after they landed to
work for their employers by the sea-
son, job, etc., thereby preventing
strikes at the busiest time.
The Japanese plantation laborer
only gets $3.50 per month and find
his own food, therefore he would be
quite willing to work on the Coast for
that amount, with his board added,
leaving him say $l2 cash.
If you see your way clear to handle
these men, / will secure all who wish
to come to the Coast.
If you should see an opening to use
these men, let me know as early as
possible, and L will fill your orders.
Sincerely yours,
A letter was sent in reply to this,
explaining the status of affairs on
the Coast and the condition Of the
labor market. The writer in Ho-
nolulu was not entirely satisfied
and wrote again to the following
effect
Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) Feb
ruary 16, 1S95.-DEAR SIR: Yours of
February Sth to hand today. AS the
steamer Oceanic leaves tomorrow /
reply at once.
The men L spoke to you of in q
former letter will all pay their own
passage up and have balance on hand
TO keep them until you can place
them.
AS to the number I could get de-
pends on the success which the first
lot meets with. If yOI can place them
with men who will treat them kindly
and start them as fruit pickers at SIS
per month and board | can send about
200 per month.
1t would not do for me to send any
more than you would place quickly,
because their countrymen who have
been in California before them would
try and influence them to get higher
pay.
Another thing. By shipping them
up in small numbers it's not likely to
create notice, but big number by
steamer might do so.
In the event of your sending me q
favorable answer it would be neces-
SaIy 10 mo japanese IOQSlDg mouse
or hotel where they could stay until
you needed them.
Pease be good enough to drop me a
line by next mail. Yours very truly,
When this letter was received all
negotiations between the parties
were stopped. The party who re-
ceived the letters here has since
been informed that this party is
sending these japanese by way of
Victoria, and many of them are
making their way here.
Mr.. Fitzgerald is getting ready
his memorial to Congress asking
that japanese immigration to the
United States be stopped in the
same manner as Chinese exclusion
was accom- plished. These letters,
the originals of which are on file
in the Commissioners office, Will
be printed and used as parts of the
arguments to be submitted to Con-
CL~...F- I,