The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-02-05
NO WORKING FOOD.

The question of supporting people in |
idleness is one that must crop up at
the present time. Early in the plague
campaign The Star pointed out that
there would be a number of people,
who, when their term of quarantine
was up, would have no means of earn
/ ing a livelihood. The necessity of pro-
viding for these poor people was recog-
nized and buildings were erected for the
homeless and destitute But it was
never meant that there should be an
elemosynary camp provided where men
and women could live at free quarters.
and not do a stroke of work in return.
In discussing the question close on
a month ago, The Star pointed out that
these people should not be allowed to
become mere pensioners of the govern
ment. That such a course was demor-
alizinP and that once out of quaran-
tine public work of some kind should
be provided for those who could not
find work for themselves. Road MAX
ing was suggested as a proper work
for the unemployed, and the Minister
of Interior appealed to to designate
some sections which could thus be
pushed along.
| 1t certainly is not the intention OF
this community to keep it's Asiatic
population in idleness. But this COM
munity can be very sure that its Asia
tic section will be perfectly willing to
live at free quarters if it gets the
chance, and one cannot quite blame It
if it is given the opportunity. If it can
get rid of the hereditary curse "in the
sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat
bread" it is only aiming at what every
one is more or less striving for.
But certainly no government should
support any of its people in idleness.
If it has to support it's wards it should
be on the principal of no work, no food.
The government of India has had TO
deal with millions of destitute people
and it has always been on the principle
of giving work for which a food ration
was the equivalent. In the United
States, when there was so much trou-
BILE about unemployed, the plan which
worked satisfactorily was that of CIV
ing employment on some relief work.
In this way both San Francisco and
Chicago added boulevards to the ad-
vantage of their citizens.
We are sadly in need of the road to
the Pail being completed Many of the
streets need mending. Why should not
the men in the relief camps be turned
on this work 1t is true that some of
7
some store keepers, and that they are
not used to the hard work on the
roads But when the unemployed on
the mainland were rounded up, there
were clerks, statesmen, college gradu-
ates, store keepers and others who had
never done a days manual work IN
their lives who were only too glad to
take a pick and shovel to earn meal
ticket, which wouiu stop the cravings
of their hungry stomachs.
1t will be found that once the men
in the relief camps are put to work
regularly, those who do not care for
such labor will very soon find occupa-
ton for themselves in other lines. If
there it not the necessity of hustlng,
! 1ASlO VIII ne no uuSlle. Inc danger
we have to avoid is a philanthropy
which will degenerate into makwish
sympthy for people who may be per-
fectly willing to become pauperized.
1t is all very well to have a labor
bureau, the persons in charge are do
ing good work, but the men WING are
waiting for the labor bureau to find
them something to do, should be hand
ling pick and shovel and giving the
people some return for the rice f,
salmon, etc, which they are
with three times a day. There vii.
probably not be a large demand FOR
factors" for some time, but there is no
reason why the thespiars should not
do some road making 1t viii probably
be the most useful Srk they have ever
attempted. xPMMk