The Hawaiian gazette., 1897-06-18
NO POLITICS IN IT
Facts About Mr.. Fitzger.
AIDS Visit.
Armstrong, Castle, and Eva
Plantation Did the
Good Work.

In November, 1896, Mr.. W. N. Arm
strong, then visiting in San Francisco,
called on Mr.. E. L. Fitzgerald, at 325
Suffer street, and made inquiries of
him regarding the difficulties which
had arisen out of importation of Jap
anese labor in violation of the Federal
laws. Mr.. Fitzgerald gave him the in
formation asked for. and permitted
him to read the voluminous testimony
taken on the subject. The interview
led to general conversation on the
subject of white labor. Mr.. Fitzgerald
stated that he and the labor party of
California were opposed to the annex
alton of the Islands and the recipro-
city treaty because it would bring Ash
attic labor into competition with the
white labor of California. Mr.. Arm
strong replied that in his opinion,
white labor could be gradually intro
duced into the Islands, and furnished
Mr.. Fitzgerald with report of the re-
port of the Labor Commission of 1895,
in which this subject was fully consid-
cred, and the need of white labor, as a
new political force, was earnestly con-
sidered. Mr. Fitzgerald, on reading it,
said, at another interview, that if the
Hawaiian community endorsed these
views and would act with energy in the
matter, he believed that the white la
Dor could be introduced with advan-
tage, and a new field opened for the
employment of any good surplus labor
ers in California
Mr.. Armstrong, thereupon, wrote at
length on the subject to Mr.. James B.
Castle, and stated that in his opinion,
Mr.. Fitzgerald was a man of remarka-
BILE ability and executive force, under
stood thoroughly the character of the
men seeking labor in California, and
would be most admirable adviser on
the subject. But he declared that no
movement in the direction of white la
Dor could be safely made until Mr..
Fitzgerald had visited the plantations
and personally examined the condi
lions under which the white laborers
must live Mr. Fitzgerald also declared
that he could not advise any one pro-
posing to emigrate and work on any
sugar plantation until he could satisfy
himself in the matter.
Mr. Castle at once took up the sub
ject, and interested the Eva plantation
in the matter.
When Mr.. Armstrong arrived at Ho-
nolulu, in January last, the subject was
carefully discussed. 1t was believed
that the difficulties of introducing a
new system of labor were very great,
and that it could succeed only through
the work of men who were determined
that it should succeed The directors of
the Eva plantation were ready to try
any experiment which promised to
terminate the present contract labor
system, and would "Americanize" the
Islands.
Accordingly, they requested Mr.
Armstrong to write Mr.. Fitzgerald to
visit the Islands and study the situa-
ton and make up his mind on the
method of reaching the best results.
Mr. Fitzgerald consented to come, as
soon as the Legislature of California
had adjourned, and he did so.
1t was not intended, at the time of
Mr.. Fitzgerald's arrival, that there
should be any public notice taken of
the subject, inasmuch as his report or
estimate of the conditions might be
unfavorable, but the desire of the pub
lie for news made this impossible, and
on his arrival the papers and the pub
lie discussed the subject. What was
done after his arrival is well known.