The Hawaiian gazette., 1900-04-20
ALLEN TALKS OF
MAINLAND IDEAS,

II. A. Allen, the well known repre-
sentative OF the firm OF Fraser IL
Chalmers. of Chicago, Is In Honolulu
after six months absence. He left here
last October after a long tour Of the
islands and went directly to Chicago to
get ready several consignments OF
pumping machinery for shipment to
Honolulu. On the way there he pick
ed up a contract for the largest pump
ing plant yet shipped to the gold fields
at Cape Nome. Alaska. His last trip
also included New York. Boston. Phil
ade. phia and all the large cities Of the
East. and he is again here for a two
months stay for the purpose of INSTALL
ing several pumps which have arrived
during his absence.
Speaking OF pubic opinion in the east
In regard to the Islands since the Porto
Rico tariff has brought all the Island
possessions of the United States into
such prominence and also since war
Clouds have overshadOwed Europe, Mr..
Allen does not hesitate in saying that
the people are beginning TO appreciate
the value OF the Hawaiian Islands as
strategic point, but have not come TO
iull realization of their value as a
commercial factor From his own OBJ
servat.on OF peoples ideas regarding
the Hawaiian group he thinks that the
, lack OF cable communi> alton has great
deal to do with outside ignorance OF
: their real Importance.
3 When the cable Is put in," said Mr..
Allen, 1.-The people who have heard OF
3 the marvellous profits made in sugar
r will not be afraid to send capital out
: here, because they can then be d rect
: ly In touch with their vital interests
Now they are content TO buy American
r Biscuit or American Steel stock or any
Q out any time In the day and get cash
n on 1t without losing anything. With
e Hawaiian sugar stocks, the chances are
Q ten to one that they would have to wait
r for advices from Honolulu before get
d ting the cash price they wanted"
e What is the feeling in the East re-
n gard ng the Islands now that plague has
q put In an appearance here?" was asked
: Except as far as tourists are con-
8 cerned. don't think the bubonic
;. plague has cut any figure" was the re-
: ply. Ard, further, think our main
' land brothers generally admire the off,
I clals and people of Honolulu for using
l such stringent measures, and doing
Q everything in their power. as far as
money and work were concerned, to
stamp 1t out This, together with the
manner in which the peop'e have so
, peacefully passed through the transit
. tion period since flag raising day, has
created very favorable impression. 1t
g Is In such marked contract with the
: unsatisfactory cond 'tions in Cuba, Por-
!. to Rico and the Phillpri.' es
"As for the Hawaiian pill which has
t Just passed Congress, hardy think
} that much time will be lost nv the con-
ference committees of the Senate and
, House In reconcillng their differences
For my part believe they viii get
throuoh with this work as quickly as
possible and make an end of 1t.
Perhaps you would be interested In
knowing what kind OF settlement was
, reached by the striking machinis's and
the trades-unions in Chicago. II Is a
matter which aroused the greatest In
, terest In labor and manufacturing cir
cles In the United States, and I pre-
sumo will he apnreciated here.
There were retwee1 10 900 ard 1000
men who struck in the great manufac-
turing establishments OF CHICAGO ard
almost broupht them tn stardst',l.
lust at time when thev were the
busiest. The firm of Fraser e Cha'me"s
was pretty well tied I'M. being affected
nv the absence OF mach'nists. The men
had realv no carse for striking. They
we're cn'lNd o"t rrprt'cnllv tn test the
strength 81 the union oil over the Init
ed States. They were beirg paid fifteen
~ fwentr rsr cent hiohPr wages in
Chicago than anywhere ell g IN the East.
J so the strike was not for WAGES. b"t for
, recoFn'tlon Of the union. and PRACTICAL
" ITS right 10 rnr the business Of the
plants as well. They demarded a nine
hour day ard the rr'nimrr wage.
These two points would readily have
been granted. provided OF course the
same conditions would prevail through
out the United States.
'The strikers then wished to do away
with helpers and restrict the are OF
apprentices from fifteen TO twenty-one
years, ard wanted all the non. union
men d's"h"rPed, ard wanred TO make
1t impossible for manufacturers to dis
charge any one for incompetency. They
also demanded the right to have dele
gate or each trade visit the shops at
any time or the day or night.
! THE strikers he'd out for five weeks,
ana during that time great mary non
union workmen were assaulted. and
severely beaten. The manufacturers
agreed to the minimum wage and nine
hour day and the recognition ~ the
union inasmuch that In event OF differ-
ences between the employer and en-
: ploye, an arbitration committee should
be formed comrosed OF two menufac-
> turers, two nnlon men ard q fifth man
. to be chosen bv the four alreadv chosen,
and no strikes were to he called. both
: sides agreeing 10 abide by the decision
: of this arbitration board. Further than