The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1899-04-14

1
| presented. For it will apply 10 Euro
| paan laborers as well as Asiatic.
| If contract laborers are to be refused
| landing. and only those allowed TO
| land who can produce $50. one of two
| results will be likely TO follow:
ID The spirit of the law will be so
easily evaded that the immigration will
| become practically unlimited:
90 Or, constant friction and diff
Guilty Will arise, and an undesira bic
state of irritation provoked both with
| the japanese and Planters. and much
hardship caused.
| would suggest that a DEFINITE con-
cIusion should be arrived at upon the
question Of whether or not more las
sisted immigration should be al
lowed.
If the determination is TO prevent
the admission of any more of that
class, let the fact be made known. and
proceed TO enforce it.
If it is not the intention TO wholly
prevent such immigration but only to
diminish the number, / believe it
| would be great mistake for the Gov
eminent to relinquish the control it
has of determining the number which
will be allowed to come
In considering the proposition to adj
nit large numbers of Japanese labor
ers, in addition to those now here. the
first question is: Will it be for the good
Of this country? The next is: How will
it be viewed in the United States?
If upon considering these questions
the conclusion is reached that a linn
tied number only should be permitted
to come, then decide upon that num-
ber and inform the Planters that any
above that number must be sought
from other sources
If the conclusion is that no more
should come, make the decision and
enforce it.
But, if more japanese laborers are to
come, whether to the number desired
by the Planters or a smaller number,
by all means retain control of the i'm
migration.
Personally [ am in favor of the Gov
eminent taking firm stand in this
matter, at the same time following a
policy which will not cause unneces-
sary interruption of industrial enter
prises.
Political stability is now assured and
permanent relations with the United
States established. And the necessity
of depending upon cheap Asiatic labor
IS removed But employers will not
seek the higher priced labor so long as
the cheaper class is available.
Why not grant permits for a reason
able number of Japanese for the new
plantations just being started and
very few for the established planta-
tons which already have large num-
bers.
And inform them all that it is the
purpose in the near future to refuse
permits for any more japanese labor
ers coming under contract
Either the abrupt termination of
Japanese immigration at this juncture,
or their uncontrolled influx would be a
public calamity.
,, After the whole of the U. S. immi-
grafton laws are extended to these
Islands, assisted" emigrants will not
be permitted to land from foreign
countries. And then laborers will
have to be sought in other ways
Meanwhile is it not best to keep the
control of the immigration, and at the
same time pursue course which will
compel seeking laborers from other
sources?
1t should be borne in mind that after
the Z. S. laws are in force the bring
ing of laborers from the United States
to these Islands will not be assisting
FOREIGN emigrants.
Steps should be taken to induce Am
erican farm laborers to come here.
The increasing number of Japanese
laborers in these Islands, and especial
~ gathered in large numbers in iso-
lated places, is a growing menace to
the public peace and safety.
| am of the opinion that heretofore
the contract system has been a great
protection to the communities of these
Islands. 1t has been in the nature Of
police regulation, and has been an i'm
portant factor in preserving law and
order
1t has also been protection to the
Ia borers. The law provides for the en-
torcement of the contract against the
employers as well as against the labor
er. w 0. SMITH.
Honolulu April II, 1899.
Before general discussion took
place the members of the press were