Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1900-08-29
LABOR QUESTION
IS MOST SERIOUS
Sugar Cane Being Burned
Because It Cannot Be
Harvested.
MAN FROM HAWAII
TALKS EARNESTLY
Causes Of Japanese Unrest Are Dit-
cusSed and Remedies Suggest
ed--The Public Kept Too
Much in the Dark.

wall to Bulletin reporter:
"You Honolulu people seem to have
no adequate realization of the gravity
of the plantation labor question Many
plantations are in most serious straits.
Particularly is this true of plantations
that are removed from the centers
where the japanese are wont to con-
gregate.
"In some cases the sugar cane has
been deliberately burned to keep 1t
from rotting SO as to save 1t for ra-
toons.
"Paahau plantation that has been
paying dividends in San Francisco.
used to have 400 japanese. Now 1t has
only about 1875. They have barely
enough men to enable them to grind
half a day at a time. This is deplor-
able condition at this time OF year,
when the crop should have been taken
off the first Of July. Not only Is good
deal Of cane rotting, but they cannot
keep up the cultivation.
AT one Hamakua plantation the ia
panese demanded the dismissal Of two
lunas and the manager, although he
had nothing against the lunas, let them
out. They followed up that victory by
demanding the dismissal Of the chief
luna, but so far the manager has re-
fused to yield this much.
AT the next plantation they had a
very serious strike some time ago. The
management cowed the japanese, but
at the end of the month a good many
OF them cleared out. As the crop Is
small there, 1t does not matter much.
AT another plantation 1t was prog
nosticated that the severe discipline OF
the manager In the past would recoil
on his own head yet he is the only man
In the district who has no trouble In
holding sufficient men. This is simply
because away back he followed the
principle that the best way to rule q
race like that was to make them work
He took occasion, when one Of their
holidays came round, to tell them he
would let them see who was master
II they gave up their work they would
have to leave their houses. He has los
only few men.
Six Of the plantations are able to e
on because the japanese population ha'
surged back. That condition will b'
realized, however, only In the centeri
Of population.
1T remains to be seen whether thu
plantations will hold together. The!
had meeting last spring at Hilo, a
whichthey agreed to stand by eacl
other. Now II seems to be simply tina
II a plantation can AFFORD to pay tn
higher wages demanded 1t can get la
Dor.
The only solution of this difficult
is what many plantations adopted Ion
before the Territorial Act came int
effect-that is, the contract system.
gives the Japanese his liberty, an
that's what he likes. Unless there
concerted action through the Planters
Association to bring in large amour
OF labor, the small plantations canno
hold out under present conditions. Tn
larger ones can afford to pay the high
er price, but Of course with reduce
dividends.
Much harm is being done the plan
tation Investing interests by keepin
the public in the dark about the vita
question Of labor. II is impossible
ascertain whether concerted action
being taken by the planters and tn
uncertainty is playing the mischi'
with investors. Brokers are unable
answer questions on the subject.
"The disposition Of the Japanese
fly their labor when their contrac
were voided by the Territorial Act
only natural. The greater proportio
of them were recruited In the COUNT
districts Of Japan. On arrival here the
were dumped ont at the quarantine ST
ton, whence they were shipped dire
to the plantations. They hardly kno
what a city is like, particularly any
, the towns In these islands. What mo
likely than that, when their contra
bonds disappeared.th they should want
go into town and see II they could be
ter their conditions there?
Most OF them are In the hands
agitators from the cities of Japan.
saw men turned out TO work, after d
contracts were abolished, and MOTTO
how they looked around to see VIII
their leader was doing. Sea lawye
and agltators are at the bottom OF mt
OF the troubles.
1T Is a serious matter with respe
to the public peace, Take Hllo for 9
ample. Suppose these people started
riotlng. That from the standpoint
law and order, but the most importa
matter In sight II that OF labor for /
plantations.
-s--------s-----
, .sicely furnished rooms at the Pc
. ular House, l5i Fort street, from 81