The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-03-31

| this way we command the respect. and
| have the support of the laborins
classes. They do not want to support
| drones, neither does the department
! wish TO assist them. When
was asked by Governor Budd TO as
sumo charge of the department, l con-
sented to take the place for three
months. At that time we were feeling
the effect of the influx of Japanese,
| and they were taking work away from
the white people. During the two
years I have held the office of Labor
Commissioner I have had the pleasure
of seeing more than 1.500 Japanese
surrender their places in the fields to
white men.
81 do not know that the same trans
formation can take place here: l will
learn the conditions before giving an
opinion. 1 have been told that white
men cannot work in the cane fields on
account of the heat. l want TO be sure
of it before giving an opinion. If
am convinced in my own mind that
they cannot, I will promptly say So
II, on the contrary, | am convinced
that they can, will gladly report on
II, because the Introduction of white
labor in these Islands will be pretty
close to their salvation.
From what I have read. I am salts
lied the conditions are no worse than
IN the vineyards around Fresno where
the thermometer registers 10 deg in
the shade, and the work has to be
done in a stopping posture. | consider
that the most laboriouS work in our
State, and when I have applications
from vineyardists for grape pickers, I
am careful to send only a certain class
of men. For instance: The nature of
the work is such that tall men cannot
perform it, and I send men not above
feet, 6 inches tall Their 'stoop' is
necessarily less than would be the case
with tall men. / find this plan works
admirably to the employers and en-
ployes. Few of the men we send TO
Fresno quit work until the season is
over.
''The source of our supply is so great
that we are able to fill orders for any
nationality that may be wished. If an
order comes to us for one or so Ger
mans not to be more than 80 years of
age, and to be tall or short, as the
case may be, men answering the de-
scription are sent, none others. I be-
lieve, always, that the man who sends
The order knows better what he wants
than do, and for that reason I fill it
as required. Private employment
a gents find it to their advantage to
send out poor labor, because it doubles
heir fees by the men having to come
back again for other situations.
Now, then, as to the benefit our
labor bureau is to the men: We are
their agents, attorneys and friends
without charge. They present them
selves for situations and we provide
them. If there are differences between
capital and labor the laborers bring
their case to us and we settle it as
their attorneys without cost. For |
these acts we have their respect and |
our department has the cooperation of |
labor unions throughout the United |
states. When L undertook to suppIant |
he Japanese in California with white |
men, it was war to the knife. but at the |
very beginning I had encouraging
elegrams from unions as far East as
New York
You are having here the same diff /
'ulty with students that we had. but
began by carefully investigating the
tatus of every Japanese student who |
anne to California. / found that each
arried certificate which acknowI-
dyed the receipt of 10 or 90 ven. in
of which the emigration
gent guaranteed employment or sup
'ort during sickness while they were
n California. Each emigration COM
ANY in Japan referred the student i
o its California agent Throughout
ny investigation I failed to find a sin
lie agent in California.
THE step your Government has
AIKEN in excluding the Japanese has
'on the admiration of the people of I
alifornia. They feel that you are 60
1g to show them that you are in earn
st regarding the laboring classes of
Iawaii.' Ii
Messrs. Fitzgerald and Green will ,
o TO Eva plantation this morning and
emain several days investigating the
ondftions there. This place is selected
Or the reason that it is the largest ]
lantatiOn here, and the one on which
he cooperative plan has been tried. ,
IeXt Tuesday they will leave for Hilo,
nd inquire into the conditions on the
limitations in that district. When they I
ave finished, they will continue their i
-ork into the coffee plantations in ,
laa.