The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-23
TROUBLES IN Hawaii
Imported Chinese Refuse to
Sign the Labor
Contracts.
DECEIVED BY AGENTS.
British Commissioner Halves
Demands a Thorough In.
vestigation.
BRUTAL CRIME AT HONOLULU.
Murder of a Mongol by Fellow.
Countryman Will Cause the
First Hanging in Years.

HONOLULU, Hawaii, Nov. ia most
atroclous murder was committed in this
city last Sunday afternoon without any
provocation whatever. About o'clock a
Chinese boy named Chik Yok was ascend
ing q fight of stairs in house in the Chi
nese quarter with bucket of water in each
hand, when he was met by countryman
named Wong Look, who, without word
of warning, plunged big butcher-knife
into his abdomen to the kilt and then
turEed it round three or four times. The
wounded man fell TO the bottom of the
stairs and died soon after being taken to
the hopital. The murderer escaped but
was captured before midnight. There
seems to have been no motive for the deed
and the Chinese demand the prompt exc
cution of the murderer. who has already
been committed for trial at the present
term of the Circuit Court. The murderer
has been playing the insanity dodge since
his arrest and has made several attempts
at suicide. He is now kept in irons and
constantly watched by officers. There is
little doubt that he will be hanged and his
execution will be the first in many years
In these islands.
There has been more trouble with the
Chinese laborers who arrived here on the
Coptic and who should have been released
from quarantine two days ago. Twenty
eight of them refuse to sign the labor con-
tracts, now that they are here, claiming to
have been grosslydeceived by the agents
of the Hawaiian Government in Hong
kong and to have been lured here under
false pretenses. The agent Of the Planters
Labor and Supply Company of Hawaii at
Hongkong is Lau Chong, a member of the
firm of Wing Wo Tai & Co., leading Chi
nese merchants here. This mans reputa-
ton stands very high here and the sugar
men all say he is incapable of doing what
he is charged with, and claim that the
men are tempered with on the steamer by
rival runners. Whatever may be the real
truth of the matter there is sufficient in it
for her Britannia Majesty's Commits
sioner here, Mr.. Halves, to make demand
on the Hawaiian Minister of Foreign
Affairs for a prompt and searching inves-
tigation. A special agent of the Govern
ment was sent to the quarantine island to
investigate, and his report to Minister
Cooper was of sufficient Importance to
cause that official to make personal in
vestigation, the result of which causes the
planters some uneasiness in regard to
future shipments.
1t is an open secret here that Japanese
labor is to be substituted by Chinese, and
that importations of the former are to
cease.
OF the eighteen Japanese arrested here
for rioting on the Emperor's birthday only
one has been convicted and his case has
been appealed and able counsel secured to
fight his case in the higher court.
The new Japanese Consul General ar
rived here on the Coptic and brings with
him the additional title of Diplomatic
Agent, which puts him on equal rank with
Great Britain's representative. Added to
this the knowledge that Japanese man.
of-war is on its way here one can readily
see that the Japanese are preparing to
make an aggressive and disagreeable effort
to obtain what they claim to be their rights
under the Favored nation" clause of
Hawaiian treaties with other powers.
The reason that the British Commits
sioner is now interfering is because the
Chinese laborers come from Hongkong, an
English settlement. After making all ar
engagements to substitute Chinese for
japanese labor it can readily be seen that
the planters view any possible trouble
which may put an end to the supply of
Chinese with alarm. Another powerful
objection to bringing more japanese here
is that they invariably go into business for
themselves at the expiration of their con-
tract service and compete with their for
mer employers, and hence are running
business of all kinds. The Chinese don't
do this, but either sign over again at the
increased rate of wages offered for second
term laborers or go home.
1t will be seen from the foregoing that
the Hawaiian Government has much
trouble in sight in addition to settling
with foreigners who were wrongfully inn
prisoned last January and raising funds to
pay off its constantly increasing indebted
ness.
President Dole has issued the following
Thanksgiving proclamation:
The past year has brought varied expert
ences to the republic. With abundant crops
and fair business prosperity, both foreign and
domestic, have come the critical incidents of
domestic disturbance and dangerous pesti-
lence, from both of which the country has
been mercifully delivered with small loss of
life through the blessing of Providence on the
efforts of the Government and its citizens.
In view of these things and other countless
benefits which have been vouchsafed to u.s. T.
Sanford B. Dole, President of the republic of
Hawaii, recommend that Thursday, the 2Sth
day of this present month, November, be set
apart as day of national thanksgiving to AL
mighty God for the blessings OF the past year
and the promise of the future, and of prayer
for the continuance of his favor.
In connection with Thanksgiving day a
movement is on foot to create sympathy
for the remaining political prisoners, with
view to procuring their pardon by Presi-
dent Dole on that day. The movement is
Endorsed by the independent press, and