The Pacific commercial advertiser., 1900-12-27
PORTO RICANS ARE
PUBLIC CHARGES
Condi ions Wrought By the
Lying Examiner of San
Frau cisco.

SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 17.-Some of
the Porto Ricans who arrived in San
Francisco Friday in a destitute condi-
tion- after having been prevailed upon
u refuse TO go to the Hawaiian Is
lands to work on the sugar planta-
tiOns. were taken to the Almshouse
yesterday. where they will receive tenn
porary care. A number of them had
ters at a lodging house on Steuart
street. while others had been given
beds in the prison at the Hall of JUS
tice. These were removed yesterday |
morning and have become public !
charges.
| SAN FRANCISCO. Dec. 1.-THE Ex- |
aminer says: One of the influential !
men in sugar plantation circles is Lor- |
rim A. Thurston. ex-Judge and ex-At- |
torney- General of the Hawaiian Is |
lands. In last Fridays Examiner was |
published a letter written by him. 1t
dealt with what he was pleased to
term the incorrect information" of
this paper on the subject Of the Porto
Ricans. who were being imported for
work on the sugar plantations Of Ha-
vail In that letter Mr. Thurston stat
ed that the Porto Ricans were To be
offered by r. A. MacFie, in behalf of
the Hawaiian planters. the following
inducements to leave their homes and
settle in Hawaii
Free passage to Hawaii for them
selves and families. 500 a month wages
with free residence. fuel. water and
medical attendance for three years or
any portion thereof that they might
work.
Mr.. Thurston was seen at his home
in this city yesterday. He said:
II belong to the Hawaiian Sugar
Planters Association. as all the others
do; but I am not an officer and do not
know any Of the details Of the perticu-
lar transactions with these Porto RI
cans. What I do know has been set
forth In my communication. and the
men with whom the association dealt
would not do anything that was not
thoroughly straightforward. Nothing
could be gained by INSTRUMENTATION.
and had these Porto Ricans been left
alone and permitted to go aboard the
. Rio they would be happier than they
! are
why. when YOU learned that these
Porto Ricans were distrustful OF the
, promises made them and could not rely
upon Frank Aives the man who had
them In charge. was not some one sent
: 10 them who could speak their Ian
guage and reassure them Of the good
intentions of the association
I To this question Mr.. Thurston re-
E piled:
{ I'VE had informed them of what we
e proposed TO do before they left San
Juan and had no reason for expecting
. that their minds would be poisoned to
The extent Of doubling promises made
IN perfect good faith. Furthermore
there was no obligation on us. We
r were ready in our own interests TO car
nv these people safely 10 their destina-
I ton and to give them all we promised,
Z and that meant better homes and bet
r ter living than they were accustomed
n 10 and better than the average laborer
? in California enjoys. We knew no rea-
= son why they should he dissatisfied
a with terms they had gladly accepted
!, do YOU know that they were prom
ised SOS apiece when they went aboard
, the steamer at San Juan. proper cloth
. ing TO protect them in cooler climates
and good food2"
"As to the sos apiece I know nothing
= and can conceive no reason why such
money should be paid to any of them.
The food should have been good and
presume was Clothes. too. no doubt
were provided"
20 do you know that many Of them
Ie reached this city practically naked,
ID that the children wore single gar
D. ment and that some Of these people in
the earnestness Of their distrust tried
J. 10 walk from Port Costa To OAKLAND
E. and did walk ten miles in the fearful
r. Storm
X THAT Is what the Examiner says and
we are not TO blame. We were ready
he 10 put them aboard the steamer in tht
OF proper way"
K What are the planters going to Dc
d. with the Porto Ricans who are her,
b. now7"
ty 'I cannot answer that: I am not an
official OF the association. We certain
" need the labor there We canno
get the class OF labor in this country
apd with the departure Of Chinese ant
~ the diminishing number Of Japanese 1
:, is necessary TO get people suited for tn
- work 20 take their places. None NOR
I. NJ than these Porto Ricans can be Sc
- cured. and they will be just as happy
!, probably happier than they were Il
~ Porto Rico. AS for the men and wo
In men who have escaped. do not know
* what VIII be done with them. II is no
y my business 10 speak for the associa
ton. The views expressed were M
y" own. and the facts stated were within
my knowledge. That Is all have L
say and more than I intended to say.
~H~