The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-06-20
LABOR.

The labor question is undoubtedly
paramount. 1t is the question Of the
moment II the plantations suffer ev-
eryone will suffer. 1t has been com
mon thing for people to deride, or to
antagonize the influence of the sugar
interest, but the fact remains that there
Is not an industry i'm the Territory that
is not dependent upon the sugar indus
try. Therefore, II the sugar industry
suffers, we all suffer, and as rule we,
none of us, like to suffer. Again, there
fore, we naturally as body desire that
fhe sugar industry should go on unin-
terruptedly. The mechanic, the banker,
the wharf laborer, the hotel keeper the
school teacher, the liquor seller, the pro-
fessional man, the carpenter, the mer-
chant, the bricklayer, the lawyer and,
in point of fact, every wage Garner in
the community has his hopes in the
great industry of the Territory. II 1t
is successful all these varying and, at
times antagonistic, interests feel per-
fectly satisfied and less likely to fly at
one anothers threats, but if things go
wrong with the industry, and things
get out of gear there there is nothing
very pleasant in the future.
Under such circumstances it is wise
for every one to think carefully over
the situation. One is perfectly aware
that there are people who look upon
any crisis as satisfactory If it goes
against the constituted powers, or
against those who have carried on the
main Industries of any place. 1t is an
anarchistic idea which is dear to GER
tain minds, which assimilate socialistic
ideas and pervert them. The true in
terest of everyone in this Territory is
to stand by its main industry, and at
the present moment that industry is
undergoing a crisis and feeling a very
severe strain.
The law upon the question is set forth
in section 10 of the first chapter Of our
organic act, or Territorial law. This
says:
THAT no suit or proceedings shall be
maintained for the specific performance
of any contract heretofore or hereafter
entered into for personal labor or ser ,
vice, nor shall any remedy exist or be
enforced for breach of any such con- {
tract except in a civil suit or proceed |
ing instituted solely to recover damages |
for such breach: Provided further that
the provisions of this section shall not
modify or change the laws of the Uni /
ted States applicable to merchant sea-
men.
THAT all contracts made since Au-
gust twelfth, eighteen hundred and |
ninety eight by which persons are held |
for service for definite term, are |
hereby declared null and void and ter
minated, and no law shall be passed to |,
enforce said contracts in any way; and
it shall be the duty of the United States /
marshal to at once notify such persons |
so held of the termination of their con-
tracts.
"That the act approved February |
twenty sixth, eighteen hundred and |
eighty-five, To prohibit the importation |
and migration of foreigners and aliens
under contract or agreement to perform |
labor in the United States, it's Territor- |
les. and the District of Columbia and |
the acts amendatOry thereof and sup |
Elemental thereto be, and the same are |
hereby, extended to and made applica- !
BILE to the Territory of Hawaii"
If the Interpretation of the law goes (
against the labor companies it is fool /
ish to try to help them. The reading /,
of the law does not appear to give them /
what they wish, then why make a stand |
in their behalf. On this point the con-
tracts in vogue, or those portions perth |
nent 10 the issue are printed in another |
column. The matter is a thing for the |
courts, and the sooner it is tried, the |
better II is for our future comfort and |
prosperity.
Whenever a crucial difficulty occurs |
it is the best thing in the world to
appeal to the law. Once the legal as
pect is settled, there is an end for good |
and for all useless pickering. Until the |
matter is legally settled there will al |
ways be room for discussion and for |
differences Of opinion. Give that oppor- |
tunity, and you give the opportunity for
strikes.
The labor question is, of course, |
very vital one to us. 1t has been met |
in other places without any great fric-
ton, and it is very certain that with
very little friction it may be met here.
What our employers of labor have to
avoid is entangling alliances with labor
agencies. These are apt to try to get
their utmost pound of flesh and to bring
their business into very proper dis
repute. But in Pennsylvania a supply
of labor, similar to what is required by