The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-05-01

DESIRE TO EXPERIMENT WITH
WHITE LABOR.
Large Batch of Men to Be Tried in
the Cane Fields-Commissioner Fitz-
gerald Opposes the Idea.

There is some opposition to Labor
Commissioner Fitzgerald's scheme to
secure American laborers fer the cane
and coffee fields of Hawaii One Gov
ernment official at least thinks that
American labor ought to be expert
mented with before the planters go
in for it too heavily. He wants, it is
said, to try the experiment first on
some plantation. He would have Mr.
Fitzgerald send down a large batch
of men and try them for q year before
the Government takes any action to-
ward establishing regular buelu.
The plea is made, too that nothing can
be done in the way of establishing a
bureau until the Legislature meets
and appropriates the necessary funds,
and that a bureau ought not 10 be
established unless it iSunder the sare-
tion of the Government.
Commissioner Fitzgerald is of the
opinion that any such delay and Eesi.
tation on the part of this Government
would be accepted as bad faith by Con-
gress, and the whole influence of the
movement for white labor in Hawaii
would be destroyed 1t would be ar
gued that the people of Hawaii were
only temporizing-pretending to work
for change in the labor conditions of
the islands, while, in point of fact,
they would be pulling the wool over
the eyes of Congress, in order to Sc
cure renewal of the treaty relations,
or annexation.
Now is the time to strike, while the
iron is hot" said the Commissioner
last night. 1--WE have the facts and
figures to prove that white labor is
competent and preferable in the cane
and coffee fields. The planters and
Cabinet ministers have had the situa-
tion explained, and agree with me that
white labor must come. The impress
sion has gone forth in the United
States that this Government will fos-
ter white labor. That impression is
easily corrected. Any show of weak
ness or insincerity on the part of this
Government would be an excuse for
correcting it. Perhaps the planters
cannot make 60 per cent dividends eX-
cept by employing Asiatic laborers,
but they cannot do it either without
favorable treaty relations. This is not
a time for idle talk, but for manly ac-
ton"
Commissioner Fitzgerald estimates
that 10000 American laborers can do
the work on the plantations to better
advantage than the $4,000 japanese
and Chinese now employed, and can
be secured at wages net to exceed one
third more than the wages now paid
to plantation hands. This he consid-
ers liberal estimate, as there are
only 10000 acres of land under cult
vation on the islands at this time
about as much as it takes to make one
good sized ranch in California.
This labor question now agitating
the good people of Hawaii interests
me not little,' said Lawyer Baker
of San Francisco, at the Hawaiian
hotel last night. II have very warm
spot in my heart for the wage Garner!
of America. With them / fought for
in the States, and, although we were
defeated by the combined money inter
ests of the country, with the support
of the Cleveland administration,
learned to appreciate the true worth
and manliness of the wage earners
than ever had before"
"The labor conditions in the islands
are probably the strongest argument
that can be used against annexation
That such an argument is being used
l gathered from long conversation
had with Senator White less than
three weeks ago. He stated most e;1
phatically that the United States die
not want the islands when the gift
included 10000 or more of the lowest
class of Oriental coolies, who natural
ly must, under the circumstances, be
come citizens of the United States.
81 have talked this matter over with
Mr.. Fitzgerald and I must agree with
him that a refusal on the part of tni'
Government to foster the employment
of white labor, and to show by It's ac
!, ton that it does, would be to deal q
death blow to both reciprocity and an
nexation."
VALUES NOT TO BE BEATEN.
There are no better values to bt
found on the islands that at l.. b
Kerr's. For bedspreads and curtain'
we lead the way. Likewise. for hosiery