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

Planters Association, yesterday, the
question of labor immigration, with
the statement that some policy re-
garding it must be adopted.
The effect of Japanese immigration
on the civilization Of these Islands was
not discussed, because no one wanted
to discuss it in view of our industrial
interests. We need labor and must
have 1t, if it can be had. Whether
it is wise or not to increase our plan
aations and create a demand for many
more Asiatic laborers IS no longer an
open question. The plantations are
underway, the capital subscribed, and
failure to obtain laborers would be
simply disastrous.
After this demand for many more
Iaborers has been created, and must
be met, the proposition to prevent the
immigration of more laborers seems to
come too late. The moment that the
increase of the plantations began the
government should have made and ex-
ecuted it's policy, and this policy would
sugar industry
Aside from the effect of further Asia
tic immigration on our social condi-
ton, the practical question now is, will
it iniure us, while our condition as a
territory has not been finally decided.
That is a political question which it is
impossible to answer satisfactorily. 1t
is one of probabilities. No one can
foretell the course of public opinion on
the Mainland. If the status of Hawaii
alone were involved it is certain that
our status as an integral part of the
United States would not be disputed A
few thousand more Asiatic immi-
grants would not affect the question.
But we are unfortunately, involved
in questions which are now before the
American people regarding the cheap
labor of the Philippines and Cuba. Up
to the present moment, the active enc
mics OF cheap labor, are the sugar-beet,
and the tobacco interests. These in
terests are not, probably, strong
to do much mischief to US. But
il the laboring class, the Labor Unions,
become actively hostile to us, there
may be breakers ahead. The trades
unions are not directly affected by
cheap Asiatic labor, and it is not GER
tain that they will become actively hos
tile out of sympathy with the agricul-
tural laborers. But there is no data
II; oh, ,al,ln tn n
ment ON the subject.
The people of the United States do
not take any interest whatever IN our
industrial prosperity. Whether We be-
come rich or poor does not concern it.
The free sugar law of 1890 show this
Many sea board COM
munities have for years appealed in
vain to Congress for harbor Improve
ments. We cannot count on any
If the Executive attempts now 10
arrest the rapid development OF the
sugar industry, it may do great marin,
without securing any benefits. Ii 1t
interferes in order to prevent an over
WhetInluS ASidttI Popuie'oAOii'
ply may properly be that the popula-
ton is already overwhelmingly Asia
tic. With the presence of Federal
troops there is little danger of general
and prolonged riots, and as to PLAN
tation instructions the planters Will
take their chances on that, as a part
of their business, just as the coal in
terest takes it's chances on the Main
land.
The Washington Government has
special agent here who should keep it
informed about the action of the Elk
ecutive If he does inform it, and the
local Executive simply enforces our
local laws, is there any need of arrest
ing immigration, without orders from
Washington?
One thing is certain however, there
is crisis in the matter at hand. and
we must look we'll to it, or we shall
find ourselves between the Devil and
the deep sea.