The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-12-26

1 u sNdlt
As result OF annexation, rapid ex
panslon of all Island industries has
| WOW ularc. Irnnrts have more tina
doubled since 1898. while exports have
rapidly and largely increased. II moth
| inE interferts, Hawaii's annual trade
will amount to $50 000. 900 year within
two or three years from now. It al
ready amounts 10 1885, 600 600 Tire great
bulk of this trade Is with San Fran
cisco. The nun Der OF vessels clearing
from san Francisco to Hawaiian ports
is nearly as large as the number cleni e
lini for all foreign ports and Is rapidly
IinCreE sing. Mary millions of dollars
worth Of Hawaiian stocks are owned
by san Franciscans and "A like amount
LOT Hawaiian securities are held by san
Francisco banks against loans and In.
vcstwcrts made I'm Hawaii. In fact.
tha relations between Hawaii md san
, Francisco are so close and intimate
lttat damage to Hawaiian prosperity
will mean serious injury to san Fran
lcieco interests as well.
Tho business expansion In Hawaii hGs
lcaused an increased demand for labor.
ANNEXATION has cut off the supply from
IChira. More Japanese are leaving than
coming to Hawaii. while Immigration
from Portugal IS now prevented by the
limited states laws against assisted I'M
migration. These have heretofore beer
the principal sources of Ha ~aifar labor
supply.
! The Hawaiian planters haze hacn and
are complying strictly with America
| irur7iPrption laws and are In good faith
attempting to recruit laborers in The
] tata Ia, ~ WI
high wa"os have rendered this extreme
/ ly difficult.
| THE large surplus population in Porto
Rico. the hard times there growing out
of the hurricane and the war and tho
lcinilarity Of the climate With that &C
Hawaii drew attention to Porto Rico.
General Davis. late Governor of Port"
Rico. was communicated with and
heartily approved Of the suggestion to
recruit laborers for Hawaii in Porto
Rico in the interest Of the Porto RlcsrT
themselves Since his appointment
Governor Allen has also been consulte'
and expressed a Ike opinion
A committee consisting of S. r. Alex
arder of the firm Of Alexander & Bald
win of this city and w. n. Armstrong.
formerly Attorney General of Hawaii
| and recently editor of the Honolulu
! Advertiser was sent to Porto Rico 70
Investigate. They reported in favor Nf
both the character of the laborers ard
their availability. They met in Porto
| Rico II. A. MacF'ic, the owner and man
InCer of a sugar plantation there. Mt.
| NacFie was for a number of years n
plantation owner and manager in Ha-
lwaii he there owning the Kilauca plan
tation. He Is man of education. Of
independent means and high charaCtc D..
Entertaining a regard for his old homo
and former business associates, he Of
| fered to supervise the recruiting of tho
Ilaborers In Porto Rico and his offer was
gladly accepted as an assurance that
the selection OF people would be good
and the entire enterprise properly
handled. He was authorized by the
Hawaiian planters to offer the Porto
Rcans a free passage to Hawaii for
themselves and families: $40 a NOR I'll
wages. with free residence, fuel. water
and medical attendance for three years
or any portion thereof that they might
work. This offer was made by him arc
Approximately a hundred men. womer
and children are now on their way :,
Hawaii rs a trial lot. There is no rea
son to believe and every reason not t.
believe, that Mr.. MacFie has made an,
/ MISREPRESENTATION to these people o
made them any promises which tn
> Hawaiian planters will not carry out t
the letter. It would be folly to misrrp
. resent or promise more than would n
carried out. for there Is no law to com
pei the laborers to work when they ar
: rive in Hawaii and the demand fo
labor is such that n man can immedi
atcly get work on any other plartatior
If the one where he Is does not sui
him, 1t would be rank foolishness I,
lmistrcat or deceive these first arrivals
for upon their favorable report mucf
depends If more Porto Ricans are Il
, be obtained.
These people are In Il strange country
and their suspicious are easily aroused
1t win be easy by mere suggestion ui
evil to persuade them to refuse to pro
coed to Hawaii. 1t will be no kindness
, to them to do so, however The labor.
ing class is in n distressful state IN
Porto Rico. There Is no work for then
here and the climate will be deadly Z,
them, coming as they do from a warn
country. They will simply become I
charge on this community. II they ar
allowed 10 proceed they will be In
. free to work whore they please, Mt AZ
sured wares far higher than in thci
own country.
The attempt to obtain these lahorcr'
is n fair, open and above board trans
action made In good faith by honor
able men, who If they are allowed, VII
, carry it out to the mutual benefit of thu
, lahorcrs and employers alike.
tp,o1inU
throw suspicion or discredit on the nv
tives and good faith Of those prnmotlv,
this emigration which may tend :,
break II up Mt this stage is unfair anJ
unfriendly to n kindred community arc
Injurious alike to tho interests Of you
own city and to those " Hawaii
II viii be a cruel act to these peorl'
~ nv suggestion or otherwise thcv nr
persuaded or frirhteued into refusiui
> to proceed To Hawaii.
L.. IT ~