The Hawaiian gazette., 1901-01-29
LATE NEWS
FROM MAUI
Many Strikes Interrupt
Plantation Work.
NO SIGN OF SETTLEMENT
Some tf the Negroes Imported are
not Good Cttzens- -0.her
Happenings.

wAILUKU, Maui Jan. 21.--It Is fortu-
nate for Maui that negro labor has been
available, for planters who have to de-
pend upon japanese labor will be Obliged
to sacrifice their sugar crop, or grant the
unreasonable demands of these people.
The Maui News says: 1T has been cur
rently rumored for some time past that
the Japanese on the Island. led by un-
scrupuluus agitators. were preparing for
a general strike, and so Ii was no sur
prise, during the early part OF the week
to learn that the Japs working at Kahus
lLi had led off In the strike for more pay
and shorter hours. The Japs not only
quit work themselves, but, by threats AMI
coaxing, they induced some of the Ha-
waiians to quit work also. one japanese
has been arrested for threatening Ha-
wa.ian who expressed his determination
to return to work, and will pi obably be
put where he will not he able to harm the
Hawaiian for "A VIII lie at least 1t is claim
ed that many of the Hawai.ans have been
so terrified by the threats of the Japan
csc to kill them that they are really
afraid to return TO work at Kahului.
The mil hands at Spreckeisvllle mill
followed suit and went on a strike dur
ing the early part of the week. a pecu-
Lar fact in connection with these two
strikes IS lIle Japanese WHO WOTR at Nd
hului and at Spreckelsville are much the
best-paH and best-treated Japanese on
Maui.
Fortunately for Mr.. Lowrie, a large
consignment of negroes and Italians had
recently arrived, and he put them to
work in the mill with gratifying results
AS soon as the Japanese saw that they
We're about to be superseded in the mil,
they were glad to patch up "a compromise
and go back to work.
The negroes and Italians were then
sent from the SpTeCkelsvllle MIL to the
kahulu wharf to work, and the result is
that large number of Japanese are out
of job, and it is more than likely that
they will remain so. As soon as the fool
ish terror of the Hawaiians Is removed,
they VIII doubtless return to work on the
wharf. The negroes who have come to
the Spreckelsvile plantation are farm
hands from near Montgomery, Alabama,
and giving very good satisfaction. Anoth-
er large sh pment is now on the way from
Alabama, and the day of Japanese dom
ination Is gone forever.
THE small shipment of negroes from
Tennessee to the Wailuku plantation is
not as class so desirable as the Ala
bamians. Some of them are all right, but
a number of them are crap-shooting city
darkies who never ought to have been
brought here. Some of them caught the
infection this week and went on a strike,
but to their surprise they have discover
ed that no other plantation will give them
work, and as the walking from here to
Tennessee is bad at present, they are at
a loss to know what to do. Wiser coun-
sells Will probably prevail with them soon,
and some of them may turn out all right.
1T would prove economical in the end
to ship some of them back to Tennessee
by the first sailing vessel, as they will
never be worth anything to themselves
or anyone else on the Islands.
Dur ng the early part of the week the
Japanese at Kihei plantation began to
strike in small numbers at time, prob
ably as a test. Mr.. Pogue had sized up
the situation about right, for as soon as
a strike is called to his attention, the
strikers are bundled out of their cabins
and Off the plantation, bag and baggage,
instanter.
The Italians who have recently ar
rived are the best class of labor on the
Island. and inducements will probably be
held out to increase their number.
THE Porto Ricans who have so far ar
rived are a sorry-looking lot and the gen.
eral sentiment on Maui is that 1t would
not be wise to encourage their immigra-
ton to the Islands in considerable num-
bers."
NEWS EDITORIAL COMMENT.
The News comments edtoriaIly on the
labor question as follows:
this week demonstrate more fOrcibly than
any argument could that it is absolutely
necessary to entirely supplant Japanese
labor on the sugar plantations. The Jap
anCse at the Spreckelsville mill and at
kahului We're the best-paid Japs on the
Island, and yet, influenced by a few I'M
scrupulous leaders, they quit work at
tine when they foolishly imagine that
the planters are at their mercy"
LONGSHOREMEN STRIKE.
on Monday, January 81, the longshore-
men in the employ of the Kahului Rail
road Company struck for higher wages
and shorter hours, and have not since re-
srmed work. There are about 100 of them
made up of 100 Japanese and 60 Hawaii
ans,
They have been in the habit of begin
ming labor at o'clock a. m. and receiv-
ing either 81 or $3.50 per day, the lesser
sum for handling ordinary cargoes, and
the greater sum for unloading coal. Sat !
urday afternoon, January 18th, they in
formed the superintendent that they
would not resume work on Monday morn
ing unless their wages We're raised to 81
per day. and the hours of labor were
shortened by beginning work at O'Clock
a. m, instead OF O'clock as heretofore.
Their demand being refused, all the
employees struck excepting the lunas, and
up 10 the present time there seems to be
no prospect OF any compromise or any
settlement OF the difficulty,
NEGROES STOP WORK.
on January 23d twenty negroes in the
employ Of the Waikiki Sugar Company
stopped work and are In an angry mood.
one Of their stories, which is current hut
not vouched for, Is that on the pay day,
last Tuesday, they were informed that
their wages We're 20 he reduced to IS
cents per day, or about Sl7 month. IN.
stead OF The 'e7 per month when they
maintain was the agreement.
They are now scattered an over wailr-
ku district, working here and there. They
say that as soon as they can earn enough
money they will 80 90 san Francisco 10
stop any more Of their race from coming
90 Hawaii,
MORE LABoRERs.
ny th.. steamer Helene which arrived