Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1901-02-06
JAPANESE WANDERING
WRITER FOR AINSLEE'S
POINTS THEIR TENDENCIES
Large Influx to the lSlands---Other
Movements to British Columbia
and MexicO---IncreaSed
Population.

Although the movement of the ia
panese eastward is newer and far less
numerically than the Chinese emigra-
ton 1t Is already attracting its share
or attention, and the islanders seem
destined to inherit part OF the anti
pathy stirred up by their neighbors
from the continent. The voice of labor
has been raised against them. and the
president has been sending commits
sioners to the Pacific coast to investi-
gate the effect of their presence on
wages.
1.-THE population Of Japan has in-
creased 25 per cent In the last twenty
two years, or while England's popula-
ton was increasing Z. The govern
ment Is anxious to colonize its people
abroad. but has never favored doing II
by the coolie labor system. The first
considerable eastward movement of id
panese. however. was somewhat of that
character.
After the ratification of the recipro-
city treaty between Hawaii and the
United States in 1875, the sugar indus
try in the islands began to bloom. and
there was a sharp demand for labor
which the government. was glad to
help by assisting contract immigration.
Some Polynesians and a great many
Portuguese were imported. but the cost
OF getting Portuguese was very great.
sometimes running as high as 500
laborers could be brought from Japan
at a total cost Of $S7, $50 Of which they
returned.
"The immigration of the japanese
began in 1886, when treaty was soli-
cited from the japanese government
recognizing the rights of such impor-
tation. In that year LISP men and 252
women were taken over. In 1890 there
were 1880 japanese in Hawaii: In
1896 a conservative estimate placed the
number at 10000. Exactly how many
are there now 1t is impossible to say
Annexation FASTENED their coming. in
anticipation Of the extension OF the i'm
migration laws to the new Territory.
and in this report for last year the
commissioner general of immigration
said he had received unofficial informa-
ton Of the arrival of 5000 contract ia
panese since July 7, 1898. This would
swell the total to too large figure.
Thirty thousand year ago is prob
ably nearer the truth.
Most of the contracts provided thlt
the passage money should he advanced
by the employer and repaid nj the rato
OF 81 or 80 n month. that tho nav NJ n
laborer should he $40 TO s15 n month,
with extra nav for overtime. and free
house. firewood. medicine and medical
attendance in case of sickness. and that
q month should consist of twenty-sIy
ten hour days: that II the man brought
his wife she should he employed at
from $3.50 to SO n month and that the
laborer should agree to work faith.
fully during the term of his service.
I'm American eyes the most obnoy-
ious feature OF this system was the
law whereby an emnlova .desartir, To-
bor,' as the violation OF this contract
was called could he tried and punished
as a criminal, a feature that has only
recently been abolished under Ameri-
can rule.
"Of late Japanese labor in the Islands
Is assuming n phase unsatisfactory 10
the employers. Compared with the
placid Chinaman, the ian ia n good
deal of an agitator. He is ana TO preach
discomfort. form unions and resort to
strikes. This makes him dangerous
to the sugar industry, as cane must be
cut and crushed promptly when ready
or the crop is loss and the planters
have begun to turn toward the Portu-
gese again. On the first of July last
two men left Honolulu for New OrIeops