The San Francisco call., 1898-02-05
IS IT DOLE'S HAND ?

N have had no doubt from the beginning ol IA the intention of the Hawaiian planters to force HH permanent advantage in our sugar market securing for all time protection of $Io per ton on sugar in lieu of their present free entry given by the reciprocity treaty, and at the time to se- cure as permanently the enjoyment of cheap Asiatic labor for their plantations.
 To do this 1t necessary for them to escape the operation of labor laws. To do this by indirec- ton too risky. It might be done for few years but doing 1t would rouse the spirit that went like moral conflagration through this country against the inequalities produced by our own system of slavery Therefore 1t became necessary to pro- tcct their cheap labor by prior agreement interna- tional i'll its character. With such an agreement in force any change raises international questions of such portent to protect the planters indefinitely.
 It appears by the latest news from Washington that this plan has been adopted It was undoubtedly the real object of Doles visit. It became necessary for him and our State Department and the Japanese Minister to confer together and that conference has attained the object and IS cloaked behind the osten tatious announcement that Japan has withdrawn all objections to annexation.
 Ii we are in the right in annexation, if 1t be i'll ac cord with principles of government and Tn line with our national policy, if 1t be in the interest of American farmers and of white labor if it be square with the principles of international morality the sent of Japan would not be necessary. Her objec- tions would not be worthy of consideration and her opposition would excite derision rather than appre- henson. There would be no need to negotiate for withdrawal of her objections and sinister purpose would need ambushng behind her attitude. The re- ported outcome suggests the suspicont there has been all the time an understanding between Dole and Japan, that that willy olgarch has been astutely playing Japan and the United States against each other for the purpose of this outcome, which he seems to have secured
 It makes the situation still more grave for Ameri- can labor and for the American farmer. Just how much can those classes in California stand? With Germany shutting out our fruit by subterfuge, and the cheap labor of the island plantations competing sugar beet industry of existence the future is not rosy.
 The producers of this State should renew and re- state their opposition annexation Every influence possible Is being brought to bear in its favor at Washington So far the ranks of the successful oppo- ston stand unbroken, but their purpose may be strengthened by the people here. The whole coun- try looks naturally to California in this matter The farmers of the United States who massed around the definite purpose of taking for themselves the do- mestic sugar market of $Iooooo,oo year, need the support of the pioneers of American beet sugar in California. In like manner the white labor of the whole country looks to this State as it always has, for leadership against Asiatc invasion of the labor field.
 It is not sufficient to have spoken once As the phases of the issue change at Washington the voice of California should be heard again.