The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-03-31
FOR WHITE LABOR
Labor Commissioner Fitzgerald
Visits Honolulu.
lRQUlRING INTO LABOR QUESTION
What the Bureau Has
Done in California.
JapaneseS Farm Hands Replaced
by White Men-Empioyment Bu-
reau Under State Control.

The demand for cheap labor by the
sugar capitalists of Hawaii began when
their desire for fat dividends took the
place of sound judgment. The reci-
rrocity treaty which placed the Hawai-
ian planters on the same footing with
the American producer, and gave them
benefits not enjoyed by producers in
other countries, practically made these
islands, from a money making stand
point, a part of the United States.
Some men were far seeing enough to
believe that the reciprocity treaty was
the first step toward annexation-clos-
er political or commercial union to the
United States. To the owners of sugar
stock ii was merely the step to fatter
and more frequent dividends With
this accomplished, the question then
was, how to make them fatter. The
solution of the problem was in cheap
Asiatic labor, and the seed was plant
ed. Today the white merchants and
mechanics on the Islands are reaping
what the planters sowed, and Hawaii
is now experiencing the incipient
throes of race agitation, which if not
nipped in the bud, must result in the
supremacy of the Japanese race mo
attempt has been made by the users of
labor to provide for white men in Ha-
waii; nothing has been done to offset
this tremendous flow of Japanese i'm
migration and let it continue, and by
force of numbers they will demand the
franchise and get it. They will elect
their representatives and their presi-
dent, and without the stroke of a pen.
Hawaii will become colony of Japan"
The above is an extract from letter
received yesterday by a Honolulu bust
ness man, in answer to one he sent to
a gentleman in Washington, d. c. 1t
is incorporated here for its appropri-
ateness TO the visit of Labor Commits
sioner Fitzgerald to Honolulu at this
time. This gentleman has had more
to do with white labor in California !
than any man in that State. Mr. Fitz-
gerald came here with his secretary !
Mr.. Greene, for recreation and with /
view to ascertaining for his personal /
and possibly report to the |
Governor of California the possible !
opening for the overflow laboring class |
IN that State. Mr.. Fitzgerald was seen
by reporter for the Advertiser yes
-erday. and said, in reply to the ques-
ion regarding his mission:
There has been a great deal said
'egarding the climatic conditions of
Hawaii forbidding white men from
in the cane fields. and the
nj in CoJ r |
guess throughout the United States.
hat the consummation of such a treaty
means the taking over of 10000 Ash
itics. AS we are doing all we can to
replace Asiatics by white labor, the
thought of taking on more through
mother source does not meet with ap-
prevail | came here on a visit. and
while in the Islands. I will ascertain
What amount and the kind of labor is
performed by the Japanese and COM
)are 1t with the same class of labor
by white men.
My department in California is nat
lrally a large one on account of the
normous floating population of labor
ng men. Practically, it is an employ
nent office with the State behind it
We receive applications from laboring
nen out of employment. and by that
10 not mean every man who is poor
because not all the poor are laborers.
hey might as we'll call themselves
,ankers or anything else. Every man
mt of work is not laborer. We give
ach applicant the privilege of remain
ng in the Office for two weeks. and if
lie does not get employment in that
ime, it is because he is unfit. Men who
ONE to us three times for employment
Without giving satisfactory reasons for
eaving the place we provide for them.
re refused, and when they persistent !
' hang around the office. the police de-
,artment takes care of them as va !
rants.
ours is not a play house: of that !
on may depend. The department was
established for the purpose of regulat-