The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1897-02-20
FOR WHITE LABOR
Col. Armstrong Corresponds With
Commissioner Fitzgerald.
To REPLACE ORIENTAL HANDS
Orders Obtained For
Plantation LaborerS.
Mr.. Fitzgerald Talks to Call Re-
porter About the
Scheme.

| Labor Commissioner l.. l.. Fitzgerald
states that he has big scheme on foot,
says the Call of February 10th.
1t is nothing less than enlisting the CO.
| operation of the Hawaiian Government
in the substitution of American white
labor on the Islands for that of Orien-
tails, now generally employed there.
| The inception of this scheme grew out
of visit to this city of Labor Commits
! sioner w. n. Armstrong of Honolulu on
| his recent return from Japan and Portu-
gal. where he had been sent by his Gov
| eminent to study the labor question.
on his return he called upon Labor
Commissioner Fitzgerald, and in a con-
versation with him learned much regard
ing the advantages to be gained by the
employment of white labor as against
that of Oriental on the low standard of
European countries.
AS soon as Mr.. Armstrong arrived in
his island home he made his report to
his Government and also set forth the
information he had obtained in his in
terview with Mr.. Fitzgerald.
So forcibly did he lay the facts before
his superiors that he was requested to
consult with the managers of the sugar
plantations and obtain their views upon
the question.
The scheme uppermost in the mind of
Mr.. Fitzgerald is to supplant 10000 Jap
anese, 1900 Portuguese and $4,000 Chi
and substitute white American help,
making suitable arrangements with the
planters and also with the Government
for their comfort and protection.
Under the present agreement between
the Japanese and the Hawaiian Govern
ments the sum of SIP must be paid the
former Government by the latter for
cry laborer landed on the Islands.
The object OF the present negotiations
is that this or a greater sum should De
distributed toward bringing white Amer
lean families from California to Hawaii
to work in the sugar and coffee planta-
tons.
now wrestling with problem which is
so perplexing that action upon u
is paralyzed. The Japanese Government
is on the verge of demanding enTrslii-
chiSement of the 80, 900 Japanese now
numbered among it's population, pow
er which if extended the right of sun-
rage would oVerwhelm in strength the
combined efforts of all other forces.
Geographically situated so as to render
the immigration of this class the most
conveient, its plantations are now oper-
ated almost exclusively by japanese
hands, and with no restriction upon the
hordes yet to come, the strained condi-
ton of affairs in that Republic augerS
no future well-being.
AS that condition exists in the Islands.
whether to relieve a state OF approach
ing disorder or to open a traffic in cheap
above stated, to have white American
citizens take their places and drive the
Orientals back to their homes.
These facts, according to the Labor
Commissioner, clearly demonstrate the
difficulties which are brought about
through the Importation of cheap con-
tract labor without taking into consid-
era ton what kind of citizens this pau
per labor Will make and their ultimate
influence over the social conditions of the
country.
Mr.. Fitzgerald says he will take a trip
to the Islands as soon he can be
spared from his Office by the attention
necessary to look after proposed legis-
latfve enactments which he now has in
Sacramento.
His object in going to Honolulu viii
be TO assure the Government and the
planters that he can supply them with
10000 white Iaborers from this State in
one year; but different arrangements
must be made for their homes and ac-
commOdation from that provided for the
Japanese He will ask that the passage
of the men and their families be paid
for either by the Government or the
planters, or by both if agreeable. He
states that he viii also ask that all ex-
isting labor contracts with China, Japan,
PORTUGAL and any and all countries out
side of the United States be abrogated.