The San Francisco call., 1899-07-08
ARE WARNED
To GIVE HAWAII
A WIDE BERTH
The Labor Councils
Pointed Letter.
OLD LAWS STILL IN EFFECT
a CONTRACT LABoRER IS PRAC-
TICALLY A SLAVE.
Many Matters Of Importance Dis
cussed at the Regular Weekly
Meeting of the Council
Last Night.
- c62sTSSaassS8s0 -

Recent press reports have brought to
light the fact that Hawaiian planters have
been making contracts with laborers IN
the north of Italy to work on the planta-
tions in the islands. From recent court de-
cisions 1t appears that laborers on these
plantations are still under the old Ha
waiian laws or, In other words, con-
tracing laborer practically sells himself
into slavery for q period covering the
time of his contract. The San Francisco
Labor Council has taken full cogniZance
of this and accordingly instructed its sec
retary to communicate with the proper
authorities in Italy. Secretary Rosenberg
has prepared a letter, which will be sent
to Humbert. King of Italy, Pope Leo, the
Italian newspapers and the labor organi-
cations of that country, the substance of
which is as follows:
In 1897 an attempt was made TO lure
California workmen to Hawaii, but when
the labor laws of that country were pub
Ushed by the San Francisco Federation of
Trades not one WorkinSman responded
During the days of the fight for anneXa-
ton the representative OF the planters
promised that the objectionable laws
would be repealed, but their promises
the Supreme Court in the case of Robert
Robertson VS.. Barry Baldwin ct ais was
to the effect that contracts entered INTO,
whether voluntary or Involuntary, coulo
al no time become involuntary, and the
protection of the thirteenth amendment
could not be claimed. The letter con-
cludeS:
And 60 TODAY the American flag floats over
territory where oVerseers with whip in hand
urge on the toilers in the cane fields to harder
labor Once in Hawaii under contract TO la
bor there IS no escape, as you readily see by
In Conclusion l want to state that the press
reports some time ago gave 1t that the Italian
Government had forbidden the wholesale
emigration of its subjects to Hawaii Now
tI,a sta the objection had been
from Sorthern Italy exclusively Does the
contented workmen, who are becoming trouble
some?
LIES, LIES, LIES WARN YOUR CoUN-
TRYMEN. Bring this at your earliest oppor-
of the italian Parliament and inform the OFF,
cials of Italian trades unions and reformers
in general of this nefarious plot am, yours
iof Hu'''A"''' anu " ED ROSENBERG.
Rec and Cor. Sec. S. f. Labor Council.
Accompanying this letter a copy of the
old Hawaiian labor laws, which the
courts have decided are still in effect,
was also mailed. These laws, among
other things provide that il any contract
Iaborer shall leave his master he may
be arrested and punished.
Other business of the council consisted
Of the appointment OF the following com,
Union in its fight against prison-made
stoves: ]. F. McAuliffe, j. NJ. Burke and
F. e. ESgleSton.
The Brewery Workmen's Union report
ed that the boycott against Techau's
Tavern is progressing and that the Mis-
sion Brewery has adopted the union label.
The following committee was appointed
to Interview the local agent of the An
heuser-Busch Brewing Company and urge
him to use his influence to arrange an
agreement between his firm and the labor
]. w. Lamont, Ernest
Koenig and Ed Rosenberg. Philip Brown
was seated delegate from the Brew
cry Workmen's Union.