The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-07-25


and would assimilate very rapidly any
report that might be brought before
them. A well digested plan would
readily be understood and acted upon
The man who draws up such plan
must be no novice. no theorist, he
should be a down right practical, ac-
customed to handling men and versed
in the working of a plantation. and
such man would undoubtedly be ox-
pensive, for the rewards of those who
have such qualifications and the oppor-
tunity to exercise them are great.
The appointment of an impractical
man. however able he might be in the
DRY, is bound to be a failure. The
practical planter will not listen to the
theorist he will only listen to man
who has a thorough knowledge of his
subject and has worked at it.
A prominent business man yesterday,
talking over the situation here, said he
did not know which was the more i'm
portant question at the present time,
that of capital or that of labor. He
considered our projects as all perfectly
sound, but as needing assistance in
their development. One is apt to con-
slider the question of capital as the more
essential as given the means, and the
greatest difficulties dwindle away. But
the labor question is undoubtedly run
ming the question of capital very
closely.
There is no reason, however, for any
alarm as to the future. We know what
can be done with our soil. We have
adopted methods of cultivation which
put us on the highest plane of our in
dustry and we have machinery which is
unequalled in any sugar country in the
world. Our status with the United
States is assured. We are no longer
on the tenter hoops wondering what
will become of us. We konw that we
are a part of the Great Republic, as
long as that Republic remains in exist
ence.
What we now have to do is to solve
the problems before us. We have every
advantage in helping us to a solution.
We are not in the condition of a bank
rupt community, striving to uphold a
sinking credit. We have large assets
which will make enormous returns, we
want means to develop our resources
and we shall give a golden harvest to
whoever sows in our fields. The money
problem is one for the financiers to
solve, and they are using their best eff
forts to solve it. Before December
there seems every chance that it will be
solved, if all that Is talked of can be
depended upon. The labor problem is
one for the planters to solve themselves.
The days when the Government did ev-
erything have passed away. The
country has passed out of the state of
tutelage, and its enterprises must be
carried on like the fight of the historical
Smith of the Wynd for their ain
hand
Thus the advice given by Mr. Jones
seems to be good advice, and to merit
consideration. The other portions of
his remarks have weight. But the sug-
gestion with regard to negroes merges
into the suggestion for careful exam.
ination and report upon the labor ques.
ton. That we ought to be able to OBJ
tain negroes seems more than proba BILE
If men can be found to face bullets and
fever in Manila at $13 per month, they
should be able to be found to work as
agriculturalsts al $16 per month, with
house, garden patch, wood, water and
medical attendance free.
The profit sharing plan suggested
merits more careful consideration thar
can be given it at the tail end of an ar.
ticle. 1t is a subject which is occupying
the minds of economical thinkers all
over Europe and the United States. II
seems the solution of the great prob.
lem of how to properly divide the prof.
its between labor and capital, which Is
the most difficult to view impartially
and to argue over calmly. If there is
all the good claimed for it, it will stead
lily make it's way, but no economic rev.
olution of this sort is sudden. 1t will
take long time for both sides to thor
oughly understand this relation under
such changed conditions. There are
responsibilities which are by no means
clearly understood by those who would
perforce enter into the relations.