The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-11-09
MOB FROM OAHU PLANTATION
ENTERS TOWN.
Numerous Petty Grievances Laid Be
fore Consul Hackfeld-Strikers are
Sent to Jail.

licians on Oahu plantation culmlnat- |
ed this morning in an ugly outbreak.
SiXty-eight laborers marched into the
city in body and called on John +.
Hackfeld, their consul.
Mr.. Hac<feld, assisted by DR.. Peter
son, conducted a careful investigation
listening to all who had a kick.
1t was plainly evident that outsid-
ers had sown the seed of discomfort
among the Galicians. They had num-
erous imaginary grievances and want !
ed to throw up their contracts. Some
of them said they would go so far as
to stand arrest and imprisonment be-
fore they would go back to the cane
fields.
A difficulty with Luna Valentine of
the plantation seemed to be the imme-
diate cause of the outbreak. This
trouble occurred yesterday The luna
was struck over the head with piece
of wood and quite badly used up. A
number of the laborers were hurt in
the fight.
Manager Ahrens handled the diff
Guilty and thought everything had
been settled satisfactorily. This
morning the trouble started again.
The laborers refused to take orders
and finally struck in a body. They
walked into town, following the rail-
road track.
At the consulate the men first made
the point that they were ill treated by
the luna. 1t appeared to the consul
that Mr.. Valentine was perhaps at
fault and he recommended to the plan
tation officials that he be dismissed.
This was forthwith done.
Their next kick was general ill
treatment on the plantation. This
| contention was found wholly unten-
| able, for since they have been here Mr..
Ahrens has used every endeavor to
satisfy the Galicans and make them
| feel comfortable and at home.
Paul Isenberg, Sr., came out and
Mr.. Hackfeld retired to consider the
complaints filed. The plantation
head assured the laborers that every
effort would be made to ensure their
well being at Hoaeae. He reminded
them that they were brought out as
an experiment and if they were found
quiet and Industrious others of their
countrymen would be sent for to join
them here.
Mr. Isenberg spoke through an in
terpreter. When his words were re-
peated there were general murmurs
among the strikers. They would not
return to work. Mr.. Isenberg talked
to them for nearly half hour, speak
ing personally to those who under
stood German.
During the progress of the discus
sion what on ship would be called
sea lawyers made the point that the
| 10 ho to
work on the plantations for the rea-
son that they were i'll treated by the
master of the vessel which brought
them. They contended that there
were conditions concerning their pas
sage which had not been complied
with, and that their contracts dated
from the time the passage agreements
were entered into.
Mr.. Isenberg was apparently unable
to satisfy them, for when Consul Hack
field returned there were still noisy
rumblings in their midst.
Mr.. Hackfeld's decision was short
and positive. He told them that their
complaints were unfounded, that the
Objectionable luna had been taken
from them, and that they must go
to work at once or the plantation
would be justified in taking legal pro
ceedings to compel the execution OF
the contracts. The laborers could take
their choice then and there.
: Six men stepped out and said they
were satisfied and would return to
work. Several ring leaders in the
strike talked to two of them and got
them away in the crowd again. The
other four walked away and went
back to the plantation.
Mr., Hac<feld told the siXty-four re,
) naming strikers to go to the station
house and there await the preparation
of the warrants for their arrest. They
went down in a body and were turn
ed into the station house yard.
Warrants have been sworn out anC
, are being served on the strikers thi
! afternoon. They are all charged will
deserting contract service and viii
! state their grievances before Judg,
Wilcox tomorrow morning. 1t is un
derstood that they will rely for tn,
most part on the contention that thei
contracts were broken before Honolu
lu was reached by the treatment the!
! received from the vessel whicl
. brought them to the country.
The Galicians arrived here onl,
about month ago. They wer
brought out as an experiment by II
. Hackfeld d Co. TO all appearance
. they should make good laborers, an,
. the advocates of white help in the can
fields have confidently hoped that the,
:, would prove a success. The shipmen
? of something over 300 souls was divid
= ed among various plantations and
scattered on every island in the grouI
= Soon after the Galicians arrived pre-
= iudiced persons of European descen
q began to sow seeds of discord anon
them. The most narrowing yarn
; concerning plantation life were retail
ed to them every day, and when the
left for the plantations it was wit
the full determination not to like tn
work and not to get along.