The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1901-06-05
SOLDIER ON PORTO RICO
TELLS OF LABORERs HAWAII is
NOW GETTING.
Three Years on the Island Has Taught
Him That Porto Rican Labor is
Uniformly No Good.

Members of the 18th Infantry on the
transport Lawton now in port, came
here from Porto Rico where they had
been stationed nearly three years. They
went to that island with General Miles
in 1898 An Ohio man i'm the party gave
talk last night to a number of Homo
lulu people thatp rOved of vast local
interest. Among other things he said:
Having lived nearly three years in
Porto Rico | can almost say that |
know the people and their country very
well. For the reason that the island is
oVerpopulated, | am glad that they are
finding lucrative employment in the
Hawaiian islands and in other parts of
the United States. But l fear for the
consequences.
I'm encouraging immigration from
Porto Rico, Hawaii is playing with fire.
This Territory is small. Its population
is not large. l am sure l do not be-
lieve Hawaii could accomplish the edu-
cation of the large number of Porto
Ricans that would be only too glad to
come here. Although not so large as
many counties on the mainland, Porto
Rico has a population of more than
100000 As one of our officers remark
ed soon after the war: There is Just
room enough here Tor tne people t.
stand on and that is all.
II found the people of Porto Rico dis
honest and tricky. The Spanish and
half breed elements have all the cum
ming of their ancestors. / noticed this
just after the great hurricane, when
the condition of the poor natives APP
pealed TO every part of the United
states. When supplies were sent over
by the government | was made one of
the army of distributing agents. We
had a list of people in our district that
should be supplied daily, others semi
cti nt
week had gone by before we were sup
plying twice as many as there were
names on our list. Investigation show
ed that we were being tricked and
swindled in many ways. We found
that not one could be trusted. l. per-
sonally discovered afterward all of a
thousand cases of relief to parties not
requiring it, the parties selling their
food and clothing to others.
1t Is great thing for the Porto
Ricans to get to Hawaii. In their own
country they are extremely poor. They
usually make their purchases with one
cent pieces. To them the $40 a month
received in this country is certainly a
gold mine of wealth. l am not sur
prised at all to hear that they smoke
fine cigars and ride to their work in
hacks.
The Porto Rican in Hawaii will re-
quire great deal of attention In the
way OF moral ana educational influence.
Born and raised in ignorance and vice,
it Will take a generation to elevate
them to good citizenship. The clamor
they are making for school facilities is
mere bluff. After a time it will give
the authorities all they can handle to
keep the Porto Rican children in school.
Il may be all wrong; but 1 do feel
that if l were a resident of Hawaii /
would oppose the wholesale Importation
of Porto Ricans. l know them too we'll.
l understand that there are couple of
hundred now here ana nine hundred on
the way"
The speaker was interrupted and told
that there were about 5000 already
here and that 10000 more were to come.
Hesitating a moment the soldier add
ed We'll, | am very sorry. | like Ho-
nolulu. The Lawton has already voted
Hawaii the most beautiful country we
have ever seen. We shall now be fear
full of her future"