The San Francisco call., 1899-08-20

| q q ONOLULU, Aug. S.-"Are you II
! I@ favor of retaining the penal con
! tract-labor laws? If not. hav'
| j you any suggestion to make IL
connection Herewith to protec
the employers of labor in their invest
ments?
Have you any suggestions to make II
regard to the labor problem of securing
! sufficient labor for the needs of the plan
! tations and other industries2'
| The best and most representative minds
! of Hawaii are now devoting themselves tC
4 thoughtful consideration of these ques
| tions, propounded to them by The Call
Some, for personal reasons, decline te
answer, while others feel that their viewS
! Will be valueless in the face of measures
which they believe to be already cut and
dried; but the great body of thinking mer
are asking for further time to devise prac-
teal methods, beneficial alike for labor
| and capital.
Following are the views of several prom
inent planters and plantation managers
in addition to those of other representa-
tive men, who are in the main large cap
italists but men of liberal views. 1t Is
noticeable that but very few indorse the
penal clauses, but it is also noticeable that
few think of the ultimate destination OF
the islands from the point of view OF re-
placing the immensely prepOnderatins
Asiatic population with a class of white
peasantry or yeomanry. Patience is the
motto of the hour.
Rev. Alexander Macintosh, the clergy
man SO favorably known in connection
with the second congregation Of st. An
drew's (Episcopalian) Cathedral, writes:
Abolish the penal contract laws. Fair
wages on a progressive scale will do much
to obviate difficulties in the labor market.
From what / have seen in the importation
Of white labor | think INK the planters mad
Hon. William Nevins Armstrong, who
| held high office under King Kalakaua, has
| been a Labor Commissioner, and is now
editor of the Pacific Commercial AdVer-
tiser, writes:
Il am not in favor of retaining the penal
contract-labor laws, and suggest the or
fering of contracts for the raising OF
cane, and the giving of fee-simple homes
to laborers, with some restrictions.
Robert w. Wilcox, surveyor and real
estate agent, the Hawaiian whose name
has been prominent more than once IN
revolutionary attempts, writes:
mo, because it is slavery; The pro
lection for the employers of labor in their
investment is to follow the laws of the
free laborers of the United States. The
only suggestion in my opinion, is to get
the American and European laoorers. 70
obtain them the planters must abandon
the slavery system and Improve the whole
system according to the American system
of free laborers."
known to all who know Hawaii, busi-
ness agent, says:
mo. From the few experiments that
are being tried it would seem as If the CO.
operative plan, for the laborer to be in.
terested in the success of his labor, would
in a measure help to solve the question.
James T. Copeland, officer of the G.. A.
r. Post and master builder, writes:
"Emphatically no. would suggest a
limited time in which to do away with
the present contract-labor laws, thereby
giving the planters an opportunity tc
adapt their business, corps of laborers
etc, TO the new laws. l think two years
/ time would be amply sufficient to effect
/ the change"
| A. Moore, manager of the Paauhau
/ Sugar Plantation, Hamakua, Hawaii
writes:
Heretofore 1 have not been consulted
regarding the annexation of this country
by the United States, nor have Others and
| think that those who have assumed this
responsibility on behalf of the taxpayers
will promote such a Government, and
take such measures as they wish for its
conduct without considering my opinion.
Thomas S. Kay, another planter, writes:
II am not in favor of the penal contract
labor laws. L am in favor of a system
whereby the employers of labor may
have protection for advances by ciVi!
process. l am in favor of an open door
| policy, so that labor may be procured il
sufficient quantity to supply all planta-
/ tions and other Industrial requirements
/ from whatever source it can be obtained
I if necessary confining such labor to the
territory of Hawaii. In my opinion, with
/ out a guaranteed labor supply the agri-
/ cultural industries cannot be maintained
on a paying basis in competition with the
world at large where labor is cheaper and
where transportation facilities are also
better and cheaper"
/ Dr. G. p Andrews, physician and sur.
! geon, writes: