The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-12
CHINESE
NEEDED
Best Laborers for
Our Sugar
Farms.
HAWAII NEEDS
MANY OF THEM
Perhaps They Can be Had by a
Modification Of the
Exclusion Law.
Hamakua, Hawaii, Aug. 9, 1901.

Editor Advertiser: l think it's very
generally admitted that white men
cannot work in the cane fields of Ha-
wall as field laborers. At least. that
has BEEN the experience of nine tenths
of the planters in the past, and is liza
bic to be so in the future. 1t is there
fore evident that we must look else
where for men who can do this class of
labor unless we want to see this indus
try ruined. Now what l want is to see
every one wake up to this fact; for a
fact it certainly is, in spite of anything
anyone can say against it. When men
talk of white men working in the cane
field of tropical country like this they
don't know what they are talking Of,
and we think, if they were to try this
class of work for single day, they
would very quickly find out that it is
not job for white men. Now as white
men cannot work as field laborers and
as | defy anyone to prove that they
can, | say again that we must look
elsewhere for men. The men that have
proved themselves to be the best adapt
ed TO this class of work and for this
climate and who have given the least
trouble are the Chinese. And as this is
fact we want every one to use their
best influence to bring Congress to leave
Hawaii out when Congress attempts
to pass d new exclusion law against
permitting the Chinese to immigrate to
America. And what | want to see is
monster petition gotten up by all
classes of men of the Islands and have
it sent to Congress to prove to them
that this is a thing that is absolutely
necessary for the progress of Hawaii
If this We're done | think ii is NOR"
than likely the United States Congress
would see the necessity of revising the
labor laws of Hawaii
And as everybody from the bankers
and agents down TO the smallest bust
ess or tradesman, are dependent upon
the plantations for their support we
think there would be no difficulty in
getting up this petition. For most of
the thinking men know that should the
piantatio fail, the grass would soon
he growing in the streets of Honolulu,
and disaster and ruin would soon be
stirring US in the face, from one end of
Hawaii to the other.
This is no fancy picture that l have
to draw, but ii is liable to
prove the grimmest kind of fact unless
there are more laborers brought to the
Islands in the near future For already
there is talk of closing up some of the
and. though a few might
survive, what could they do towards
supporting the populatio of Honolulu?
No one that knows anything of the con-
clifton Of this country. and that has got
the true interest of it at heart will dis
pute this point. Therefore it is to be
hoped that all will work together for
the good of all With the exception of
sugar cane. coffee is the only industry
that seems adapted to this climate but
it is proved to be impossible to carry
il on under present conditions-first for
the lack of laborers and second for the
ow price of coffee Therefore we should
put in this petition clause praying
Congress to put a duty on coffee, so
that this country, as we'll as all of
utilized to the best advantage. AS this
is a measure that will benefit all
classes, it is proposed that all classes
will take a hand in getting up this pc.
tition. There should be a man APP
pointed for every district whose bust
ness it should be to secure every avail
able name. There should also be a
man appointed from every business.
trade. profession. and zone from every
or enterprise that is doing
business anywhere on these Islands.
/ remain. very truly yours,
OBSERVER.