The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-07-06
LABOR AGAIN.

Professor Maxwell at once puts MINI
self on record in the matter of labor
as favoring the Hawaiian. 1t was evil
IDENTIFY a slip of the pen when the pro-
lessor apparently did not do so, but 1t
is always wise to have such matters
as of record. So far so good.
But the professor has more to say
and what he says is very well worth
consideration His first argument, to
the criticism to which he replied yes
terday was full of meat. There is no
doubt that the planters and mill own
ers themselves, have done themselves
injury. They have looked after the
dollar before their eyes, and have for
gotten the dollar of the future. The
planters and mill owners never made
n greater mistake than when they de-
cided to turn their white help away
and took Asiatic help to do the work
that white help had been doing. 1t is
true that it might be cheaper, but it
was only cheaper for the time. 1t may
prove to be a costly experiment.
The professor touches a keynote in
his second letter to The Star. He
points out that contracts for house
building, for road making, for draying
and for hack service are let to Celes-
tails. This may be a fact. 1t is a
possible perhaps, it is an undeniable
fact. The expression is often used II
might have got it so much cheaper
done by a 'Chinaman.
There can be no doubt as to the duty
of the next Legislature. 1t will have
to tackle the labor question without
gloves The success of the Territory
depends upon its plantations. Their
yield in many places has been enor-
nous, and naturally the salaried men
kick 1t seems hard to a luna working
at $50 or SIS month to hear that his
stockholders are pulling down any
where from 25 to so per cent per an
mum. He naturally kicks, but it is
quite a question whether it is not bet
ter to stomach the kicks, and hold to
his job-as a rule he holds to his job
and only growls.
The professor points out that certain
plantations are endeavoring to bring
labor from other countries now, and
then adds of what ultimate advantage
prevent these people from crowding in
to the centers of population and either
taking the white mans work or sub
sisting on his charity.
Whatever legislation is done in this
direction will have to be very careful.
1t is very easy to rush to extremes.
Successful states do not run to ex-
tremes. In avoiding the Scylla of con-
tract labor we must not fall into the
Charybdis of running our plantations.
IN one direction move can be made
and our organic law gives us pointer
on the subject. No man can hold GER
s9aln offices without being an American
-eHiitl4.1en and a citizen of the TERRITORY
of Hawaii. Garry this out and insist
that no government work be given to .
any but American citizens, and no con-
tracts except to American citizens. This
would eliminate the Asiatic from all
government work at least If that were
done the Asiatic now here would be
forced to seek work under private en-
terprise and would swell the army of
labor available for plantation use.
Such plan would fall directly to the
advantage of the Hawaiian for he is an
American citizen by virtue of Section
of the Territorial act. He would UNI
der such a ruling have a cinch upon
government jobs. This would require
no legislative action. 1t would really
be simply necessary for the Superin-
tendent of Public Works, in giving cut
contracts, TO insert a clause that no
Asiatic labor be employed in any shape
whatever You have to protect your
American citizen, and you cannot do
better than by beginning with all gov
eminent work.
1t is true that all labor of repairing
and anything where work is directly
given by the government departments
is done by Hawaiians or white men, but
the white men are not always American
citizens, and under present circum-
stances they all should be. But in the
contracts given out by the department
for roads and so forth, the contractors
use good deal of Asiatlc labor, so that
indirectly a good deal of government
money finds its way into the pockets of
the Celestials. 1t is true that the exc
cutive is not directly responsible for
this, but the contractor is. There have
been cases where white or Hawaiian
contractors have sublet their contracts
to Asiatics, this certainly should never
be allowed.
In granting franchises there should
also be clause prohibiting the use of
Asiatic labor. Thus the tramways and
the Rapid Transit ought to have been
prohibited from using Asiatic labor. 1t
was not so long ago that Mr.. Pain was
surrounded by gang of Celestials who
were working on King street
The matter of labor is in the peoples
hand very largely. If they will rele-
gate Asiatlc labor to the place where