The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-01-15
Conditions Very
Favorable to
Negro.
TWO ARGUMENTS
IN THEIR FAVOR
Better Wages and Shorter Hours
and Steady Work the Year
Round.

Judge Robertson, editor OF the Maui
News, believes in negro labor for Hawaii.
What Judge Robertson says on this sub
ject has great weight, for he was born
and grew up in the South and knows the
negro with that intimate knowledge only
gained by a childhood and young man
hood among them.
Il believe the negro will be success
here" said the Judge last night He is
the Japanese's superior at every point ex-
cept the latter's ability to shirk. The ne
gro is ambitious, American, and desirous
of education from the white mans stand
point. In the South he is often man of
superior mind and morals. We must get
a good class here and must avoid the cit
lies.
The dude, the crap-shooting and bad
negro must be avoided. That sort comes
from the cities and is not found in the
country. / think the negroes sought
should be fully enlightened on the pros
poets here and should not be deceived in
any way. We want them to come to stay
and to be satisfied with their surround
ings.
"Some of them may have an idea that
they will be able to buy little homes here
and to do farming In a small way. or
course we know there is no land here for
them and that they must expect to make
ltl.er living and their future as 'laborers
Oh the plantations, in the fields and the
mills. They must come to supplant the
Jap and it is to take the place of the
lcafers of that race that the negro is
needed.
| THAT the negro is fit for work here and
that the climate will not weaken him is
certain 1t is never as hot here in the
cornfelds of Tennessee or Georgia, the
cotton fields of Mississippi or the cane
brake of Louisiana. They will adapt
themselves to the work in very short
time. If the right kind of negroes are
chosen they will do twice as much labor
as Japs.
"But their life must be made agreeable.
They must have bosses that suit them
and that know them. The Southern ne
gro looks on his boss or luna as his
friend. He looks to him for encourage
mert, for advice and help at every turn.
PcrhapS if a good negro manager Tor eT-
ery 500 or 1000 negroes could be brought
here, it would be the very best thing
possible. There are many reliable, hon.
est, educated and intelligent negroes In
the South who are accustomed to bossing
big gangs Of men and who are able to
get more out of them than could luna
of anv other race.
..Take the manager of the Belle Meade
farm in Tennessee. He is a negro, cid
and worn now. but still in supreme con-
troll of everything on that finest of stock
he keeps the records of all the thorough
breds whose excellence have spread the
fame of the Belle Meade stud far and
| wide There are plenty of men like him.
Men who have accumulated property but
who could be induced to come here to
live. Men like these could bring with
them the class of negroes that Hawaii
wants. They have remarkable inf1u-
ence over their race and are thoroughly
: familiar with the negroes in the country
about them. If such bosses cannot be
gotten then white men should who know
2 the negro.
, s"Wben the negro is brought here he
/ must be treated properly. He will not
/ stand what Japanese Will. I mean IN
the matter of food. habitation and envi-
ronments. He must have the same hu-
manizing and civiliZing influences that
he is used to at home and without which
5 he will not be happy His children must
: have the best of schools and the church
must be close by.
s'The Southern negro is ambitious. He
5 considers himself the equal of anyone:
and kindness is the key to his heart and
to his hands If he is contented and well
f he will work to the very limit of his ca
: pacity. The plantations will have to zeal
! the negro. He must have bacon ana
+ bread and plenty of it. F1sh
and poi or rice will not sustain him. lie
, is a hearty eater and with fun stomach
! he is very anenable. AS to wages J
cannot say Certainly bacon and bread
y for a negro and family would today cost
, more per month than the Japanese Ia
q borer earns The negro must also have
= vegetables. I believe 1t would be better
= If the negroes did not have to work with
3 the Japanese. as fear the 1oafing habits
of the Orientals might impress the sturdy
Americans They would get acquainted
:, with the habit of shirlsing.
, s'The Japanese has no stamina. He iaVs
> ND when he has the slightest ailment No'
{ so the negro He has to be pretty SICK
l before he Quits work. The Japanese mas
:. no recuperative power. The negro mas
u tremendous vitality. AS long as ne Il
. well paid, we'll fed and has comfortaniie i
u quarters. he is not going to lessen ms
u income bv taking vacations. The pianta
o ton should not FRY to fll al the place,
Z; at once. I think thev should get a srnai
u number of negroes and test them 'hor'
z orIghIy before attempting Tn do away en-
/" tirelv wifi, Jaranese. Saw 3no or SO fanor'
ii ers to each plantation. Gradnaiiy .is m
anaeers would learn their mems ao',i
?, ties and find ont the best localities IN III:
a South TO nick from. The future wor,ie
$ dictate the limit to the Importation. ih' y
q Japanese would gradually he re.urned
W would have to vie with the new iaoorel