The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-01
a SERIOUS CHARGE.

The reasons given by A. T. Hatch, one
OF the most extensive fruit growers in the
State, in yesterdays CALL for preferriug
Chinese and japanese laborers to white
men during harvest are that the yellow
men do their own cooking, thus relieving
him of that trouble, and are more reliable
than white men.
81 have tried white laborers," he de-
clares, land with unsatisfactory results.
One year I used whites exclusively in the
At least one-third of the force was con-
tinually getting locked up in the Jail in
Suisun for petty misdemeanors, and there
was great deal OF trouble to keep full
crew. was advertising and hunting for
help all the time. employ now all the
women and young people I can get, for
they are reliable and cause no trouble, but
the average California laborer is inferior
to either Japanese or Chinese"
Mr.. Hatch explains that this does not
refer to his regular hands, who are excel
lent men. He adds his belief that nearly
all the horticulturists have had this ex-
perience and are pursuing this course.
1t was for the reason that boys and girls
were known to be superior hands for fruit
harvesting that the summer vacations of
the public schools this year have been set
to begin at the end of June instead of at
the end Of May, as was formerly the rule
1t is eminently to the credit of these
youngsters, and to that of women also.
hat the orchardists hold their services in
so high esteem, but as the harvesting of
cherries and berries begins before the
vanafiona inf from, M uotob,. -
marks that sufficient of this labor cannot
be secured, and that recourse must be had
to Chinese and japanese. The danger is
that these will be retained even when the
vacations release sufficient number OF
boys and girls to do the work, that en-
ployment cannot be secured for all of
them who desire and need it, and that
Chinese and Japanese are securing the
money which our own people ought, to
have.
The situation is extremely discouraging.
We may suppose that in experimenting
with white laborers the orchardists take
them as they come, both professional
tramps and earnest men out of employ
ment if there are any of these latter seek
ing employment. We must not forget that
idleness, whether voluntary or enforced, is
the most demoralizing element that can be
introduced into the average mans life and
that in time it operates with blighting
effect upon even the average steady man
who leaves the restraining presence of his
family and goes away in search of work.
Thus enforced idleness does more harm to
the character than to the pocket, and this
makes the furnishing of employment one
of the highest duties, both selfish and hu-
manitarian, that organized society has to
discharge.
The scheme recently undertaken in this
City for the organization of a cooperative
commonwealth, one OF whose main func-
tons was to be a comprehensive employ
ment agency, has practically failed, largely
because the leading business men of the
City did not lead the enterprise and lend it
the advantage of their superior wisdom.
And yet, unless some such plan for col
Letting and distributing laborers and in
culcating in them spirit of thrift, energy
and hope be devised, one of the essentials
of our growth will have been neglected
AS so much of CALIFORNIA; prosperity is
bound up in the labor problem, the various
organizations which are working for the
advancement of the State could not do bet
ter than give it their most serious atten-
ton. It is manifest incongruity that
where so much labor is needed and so
many deserving men are out of employ
ment these two needs cannot be extin-
guished. Cannot the Half-million Club as
sail the problem?