The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1897-08-12
THE LABOR QUESTION
\ paper read before the Honolulu
1897, by W. +. Frear.

Social Science Association June 2s.
1897, by W. +. Frear.
The labor question is ever with us,
but it assumes different phases at
iiferent times. In these islands ever
since sugar became king, one phase of
the question has been how to obtain
Il sufficient quantity of labor. That is
Il pure business phase, of interest to
all, but particularly to the planters
During the latter years of the mon
archy the anti-Chinese phase was spe-
cially prominent. That grew out of
movement in the interests of white
tradesmen and skilled laborers, which
had for its object the exclusion of
Orientals who might otherwise come
! into competition with those classes
here. Upon the collapse of the mon
archy and the consequent rise of the
movement for annexation, the labor
question assumed a new form, that of
the ACCESSIBILITY of substituting white
for Oriental unskilled laborers. That
| phase was not presented in the inter-
ests of any class; indeed, it was APP
| parently against the interests of one
class, the planters, to say nothing
| of the interests of another class, the
unskilled Oriental laborers already
here. 1t seemed probable that in the
event of annexation the proposed
change in the character of our un-
skilled labor would have to be made,
and the practical question was
whether the higher and indirect pc
cuniary benefits which it was sup
posed annexation would secure would
compensate for the direct pecuniary
losses which it was supposed the
change to white labor would involve.
4 large proportion of our people
thought it unwise to make the sup
posed sacrifice. That was the status
! so long as continuance of the re-
ciprocity treaty was a probable alter
native to annexation. But about six
months ago conditions changed and
since then it has been probable that
through annexation alone can we
hope to enjoy in the future the bene-
fits hitherto enjoyed under the treaty.
The change in the prospects concern
ing the treaty has brought this phase
Of the labor question into increased
prominence. For, il through annex
alton alone we can secure in the fu-
ture the benefits hitherto enjoyed un-
der the treaty and if annexation would
involve change to white labor.
| either as a result in case it should
take place soon or as a prerequisite
to securing it ultimately, may 1t not
be that the possible pecuniary loss in
volved in the change to white labor
| would be more than offset by the di-
rect pecuniary gain which annexation
would secure? Still there are I'M
certaintieS. II annexation should be
secured soon, who can say with GER
tainty that II change to white labor
would be necessary; or, if it should
not Ire secured soon, that a change TO
white labor would render it possible
to secure it ultimately; or, if it
should he secured, whether sooner or
later, for how long a duty would be
kept on sugar, or, if any, how much?
IT is therefore a question of very
great Importance whether the as.
sumption THAI "A less would be in
volved in a change to white labor is
well founded. If the change must be
made it is important to know what
it will involve and how it may best
I be made. And may it not be that il
4 would not involve any loss at all, and
so would be advisable in any event
1 without reference to the question OF
| annexation?
In this paper | do not propose TO
| discuss the question of annexation at
| all, nor fhe labor question in its social
! or even an its indirect pecuniary as
\ poets. My purpose is to throw, if pos
H sible, additional light upon the direct
pecuniaEy side of the labor question
as it has been presented in Hawaii in
the three phases already mentioned.
\ These are all closely connected with
each other, and for the most part
arise from the character of our la Dor.
Before considering these, however, it
may be well to touch upon a fourth
phase, that relating to the penalty
orceable-contract feature of our
! labor system, which like that relating
to the quantity of labor, has long
been before the public, and, like that
of the proposed change to white labor
and because of its close connection
| with that and with the question of
annexation, has recently come into in
creased prominence. To this feature
is usually attributed undue impor-
lance.
The cheapness of labor is. of course.
| not due SO the contract feature. but
is determined by supply and demand
! In fact only little over two-fifths of
| the laborers on our sugar plantations
| are under contract and their wages
are not materially lower than those
of the free laborers. Indeed, they are
| not sufficiently lower to compensate
| for the loss in efficiency. The chief
| object of the contract feature is to
| prevent strikes and desertions. But
| past experience and the conditions eX-
| listing in these islands go to show that
there is little danger from these
| sources, and the contract feature is
as likely to increase as to diminish
! the occurrence of strikes and deser.
tons. The advantages, if any. of this
feature may be obtained and at the
same time its disadvantages avoided
by other and more desirab methods,
| and, as consequence, partly of the
growing recognition of this fact and
partly of the growing public senti-
ment against this feature, it is gradu-
ally being abandoned. 1t will cease
in time whether the change is made
to white labor or not and whether an
neNation takes place or not. To give