Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-11-30
CUBA RECIPROCITY AND
HAWAII.

Self-preservation is the first law of
industrial activity. For this reason
II no other the people of Hawaii.
whether sugar magnates or day labor
ers. strenuously oppose the proposal
to admit Cuban sugars into the Am
erican market free Of duty. Compe-
titiop with the immense product OF
Cuba at this time does not present a
question Of reauced dividends for the
stockholders In Hawaiian plantations.
It is matter OF practically absolute
loss of hundreds of thousands of dol
lars already invested.
Reciprocity with Cuba at this time
will have the same effect In Hawaii
that absolute free trade or tariff for
revenue would have on the argicul-
tural and manufacturing industries Of
the United States. So far as this Ter
ritory 10 concerned Cuban reciprocity
will make the time honored protection
policy Of the Republican party null and
void, misnomer and fraud.
Citizens of this Territory realize that
sooner or later Cuba will become
part Of the American Union with all
the privileges of trade which such
condition gives. They are not dis
posed to oppose the policy Of expansion
which places under the American juris-
diction those island domains which.
from their proximity to our coast, rem
der them important strategic points
a,,l hA III A ,,a rtn
consideration and guardianship. Ha.
wall accepts the political destiny Of
Cuba as a self evident truth.
Hawaii only seeks such temporary
delay in the fulfillment of the Cuban
plan as will enable 1t to set Its indus
trial house in order after the general
shaking up received from the changed
conditions forced by annexation.
The annexation Of Hawaii gave its
people stable government and an as
sured market for their chief product.
but 1t revolutionized labor conditions.
especially on the plantations. This
was anticipated. Leading business
men were well aware when they sought
tuut ths oWhVi
ship OF the Islands meant the wiping
out of the contract labor system and
the exclusion Of Chinese largely EN-.
ployed on the sugar plantations. The
responsibilities of such a revolution
they were willing to assume with the
reasonable assurance that time would
be granted In which to adapt them.
selves TO new conditions. With a pro.
tected market which they had every
reason to believe the Republican party
would continue and which has become
settled national policy which no
political party has hitherto seen fit to
reverse or destroy, managers Of our
chief industry are in a position to deal
with the new phases Of the. labor
problem without seriously endanger-
ing the prosperity Of the Islands.
Temporary reduction Of the
dividend paying capacity Of industrial
properties was anticipated and the an.
ticipations have been realized. I'm.
mediately the plantation laborers, by
virtue OF the application of the con.
/ ia iupoi bCtuhS iiCV' eShSio
migration from one plantation to an.
other began. The manager paying ths
highest wages got the labor. Thus the
necessity for taking of the crop or
various estates and the cratic move
ments of the laborers have resulted In
the doubling Of wages on nearly all the
plantations. Instances are not lacking
where managers have been forced ia
burn over fields ready for harvesting
because sufficient labor was not to be
had at any price for the proper har.
vesting OF the cane that had reached
maturity. The planter has been fore
ed to choose between the loss occasion
ed by gathering the cane after 1t 4
burned or total loss by leaving tn,
cane In the field to rot.
1t Is not contended that this stat
OF affairs will long continue. But 4
force upon Hawaii now the additions
burden Of competition that will reduc
the price OF its sugar to one half tn
present figure while labor Is twice a
expensive and insufficient TO do tn
: work required, is merely to deman
that Hawaii shall burn its industrial
candle at both ends with the inevl
table result OF widespread distress an
, financial ruin to the small stockhOlde
and merchant.
Millions Of dollars OF American mon
ey are invested In the sugar proper
! ties of these Islands and in the mel
: camille and commercial pursuits d.
! pendent upon profitable sugar produt
ton. These investments have bee
: made with the full confidence and b,
7 lief that the Republican party woul
keep faith In its national policit
. framed with the declared intent {
. fostering American enterprise and pre-
4 noting the welfare Of American indus
Y tries. 1t thus becomes a question {
: whether the national legislators wi
: repudiate their declarations, check tn
I advance of properties built up throug
: false confidence Of trusting peopl
3 and spread ruin by the adoption of tn