The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1897-05-28

their clothes. He did not say what
caused them to come out armed.
On pressing him lie admitted that
he had laid bands on laborers at
different times. The manager also
confirmed this latter statement l
was also informed that Zoller has
been seen to go behind japanese
laborers in the fields, lift them up
by their heads and drop thom.
Lunas Wolters, Schmidt, and Ger
man were questioned but had very
little to cay. They said they had
had very little trouble with the men
and did not think Zoller had. /
called on DR.. Watt, but as he had
only been three weeks on the plan
tation he could not say very much.
He was unable to say anything from
personal experience He was very
careful in his examination of the
laborers and would not send men
out in the fields to work without he
was fully satisfied as to their condi-
ton.
Kong Wa Chang, Chinese store
keeper, stated that the Chinese
laborers on the plantation we're
treated very badly aud we're always
complaining to him.
Meeting Mr.. A S. Wilcox on the
last day OF my visit and asking what
l was doing in Lihue, he said to me
without being asked, that he was
very glad some one had come down
to investigate, it was very necessary
to enquire into the brutal treatment
that had been going on on that
plantation.
Mr.. Geo. II. Fairchild, manager
of the Makee Sugar Co., has a num-
Der Of Chinese laborers who came
at the same time and from the same
place as those on Lihue. He says
he has had no trouble with them.
He does not allow his lunas to
touch the men, and is very strict in
this matter.
A lady we'll known in Lihue volun-
teered the statement that she was
ready at any time to testify to the
ill-treatment the laborers received
at the hands Of the lunas.
In my several conversations with
the manager, Mr.. Carl Wolters, he
denied the truth Of many of the
statements made to me by the Chi
nese. He said that while away a
short time ago there was trouble on
| the plantation and the head luna
was really the cause Of it. About
fifteen months ago the same luna
had quite a row with the Japanese
laborers. l said, "Why don't you
get rid Of that head luna, seeing that
he is the cause OF so much troubleW
and Mr.. Wolters did not see how to
answer me. He does not like to
have trouble with his men, and his
orders are that the lunas must not
abuse the men.
l desire to state that after examin-
ing the laborers in the field / told
them who l was, how l had been
sent by the Government to enquire
into the trouble, and that Mr.. Goo
Kim Fui, their representative, knew
l had come. / then in brief told
them OF the law under which they
had come into the country, that at
all times they were under the pro-
lection OF the laws of Hawaii, They
must at all times obey the laws. If
they had any serious grievance they
must al once report it to Mr.. Goo
Kim, They should never take the
law in their own hands. No good
would come from that told them
it was certainly not the wish of the
Hawaiian Government to hear of
them being ill-treated. II at any
time their wages were not correct
they should go to the manager with
their interpreter. They thanked
me for coming and listening to their
troubles, and hoped they would be
treated better in the future,
l visited the laborers while in
their quarters aud also while they
were away, They did not make
complaints but really there is much
room for improvement. told the
manager they were living in too
crowded condition. In one room
15x20 feet, fourteen men were sleep
ing, in another 1920 feet, fifteen
men were crowded in, while in a
third room, 1920, twenty men were
living.
IL / may be allowed to review the
above evidence and statement ! dc
not think there is any difficulty in
coming to the conclusion that the
trouble which ended in serious riot
; 4 L ~ L 1. l.