The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1899-07-24
VIEWS OF SOME PROMINENT
MEN.
Thorough investigation of Conditions
and a Report Suggested by p. C..
Jones--what Will Replace the Italian

p c. Jones speaking upon the labor
question says he thinks that II would
be a wise thing for the planters to em-
ploy some thoroughly competent person
to study the matter up and present a
report upon it to the representatives of
the planters.
"The fact is," said Mr.. Jones this
morning, "the gentlemen interested in
the plantations are too busy to make an
exhaustive study of the subject, but q
clear report laid before them they could
easily master and understand. More
over, if there were any flaws in the re-
port they would easily detect them. For
this purpose no cheap man is required.
1t must be q man conversant with labor
conditions and of more than ordinary
capacity. / am no longer a member of
the Planters Association, but / feel
convinced that this is the best way of
acquiring the information and evolving
definite plan to meet the crisis which
Is coming on.
Another thing that I advocate, but it
does not meet with unanimous appro-
val Is the introduction of about 1000
negroes. We have too many Japanese,
have read much that has been said
against the negro, but that does not ap-
ply to the class that 1 mean. What we
want are men who will come with their
families. If 1000 are scattered among
here will be hardly noticed. Any one
who noticed the negro regiment that
passed through, must have been struck
by the fine physical development of the
men and their excellent behavior. OF
course, they were under discipline, but
believe that just as well behaved men
are to be found ready to come here with
their families.
Another aid to the solution of our
difficulties I believe to lie in the adop-
ton of the profit sharing system. About
year ago l read paper upon the sub
iect before the Social Science Club and
every body who heard 1T seemed to
think the scheme good one, but 1t has
rested there. I believe that the owner
of an estate who adopts profit sharing
will have more sugar and better results
from his plantation than the owner who
has merely paid labor, however cheap
it may be. Not only is profit sharing a
key to our own situation, but 1t is one
to many complicated problems on the
mainland.
"As to the penal clause in the con-
tracts 1 have urged it's abolition for q
long time. 1t should have been done al
the last session of the Legislature"
| S. NJ. Damon is of opinion that the
| Legislature cannot be called together Il
abrogate the penal clause. If it Coult
be, it would be a step towards the solu-
ton of what must be solved only one
way, six months hence. Others have
suggested that the penal clause be al
lowed to become a dead letter, but thai
could only be by united action.
j. B. Atherton says that now that the
Italian plan has fallen through the at
tention of the Planters Association /!
| turned to the Portuguese scheme of w
| G.. Irwin and to possible immigrants
| from Russia. 1t has been plain to ever!
one that the penal clause would come t.
an end when the United States assumed
full control, and therefore many people
had not interested themselves. in it
When annexation was accepted tn
penal clause was by that acceptanc,
doomed.
The best minds of the city are givinl
great attention to the labor question a
the present time.