The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-08-06
MANY GLAD
THEY CAME
Porto Ricans Feel
Satisfied With
Work.
CONDITIONS ON
MAUI ESTATES
Some Of the Newcomers Who Will
do Nothing But Beg or
Steal.


Ricans imported to work on the plan
tations, was the subject of a little pri
vate Investigating, done on Maui re-
Gently by Mr.. F. j. Dutra, who was
going over the Island on a business
trip. Mr.. Dutra speaks the Spanish
language, and thus was able to pursue
his Investigations at length, and make
them directly among the new people.
Putting his conclusions in a nutshell
there is much to be hoped for from
the Porto Ricans, and under good con-
ditions there will be shown desire for |
advancement all through their ranks.
In discussing the matter last evening |
Mr. Dutra said:
II found the best conditions at Ha-
makuapoko, where the Porto Ricans
bless the day they We're led to leave |
their own country and come to Hawaii.
They have the kindliest words for the
manager and for Mr.. Baldwin. There
have been provided at that station all
the possible comforts, reading rooms. |
kindergarten and schools. and l found
the people taking advantage of these,
and improving themselves in every
way. OF course there are in every flock
some black sheep. The Porto Ricans
know that some of these bad men
came with them. especially in the first
shipment. These will give 10 the
islands a bad name; in fact, are now
becoming tramps and beggars, but
they are not the rule.s
''As showing what some of these dis
reputables Will do, l found a case
where a Porto Rican had left the plan
tation on which he was set to work,
and went across the Island begging.
| He played sick and worked upon the
sympathies of all the people he met.
| At one place he played SICK with such
good results, saying that he would not
recover, and that he wanted to go
home and see his folks before ne died.
! that the good people among whom he
| fell kept him for several days, and
! then gave him a purse of more than
$40 and sent him on his way. But he
] did not leave the island at all. He
! was simply encouraged to go on with
his work of imposition. In the same
way others of this stripe have become
! tramps and will not work. This is to
be feared more than anything else.
/ AT other plantations there is not 50
good feeling among the workers. There
seems to have grown up a miSunder
standing. For instance, the Porto Ri
that they need not bring clothing, as
they would be supplied, and also that
they would be given an advance of $50
upon their arrival here, with which to
purchase what they would need be-
fore their first months wages should
come in. This alleged promise was
made to them by the agent at Porto
Rico who enlisted them. Upon their
arrival they found that this money was
not TO be paid to them direct, and some
of them viii not work until they get
ii. In the meantime there is trouble
for them for they cannot get all they
want. ami in consequence they are led
to steal.
Taking them by and large there are
good workers among them. ard they
say they understand the cuII walton OF
cane. One of them said to me as
showing that they do know what is
needed. that they never saw cane grew
so rapidly as here; that IN their own
country they had to wait longer befare
they could grow crop. and the viii
insist that the cane grown in their
own islands is better than tina pro-
duced here. Another thing when
found is that the Porto Ricars are al
ready looking about them sud noting
the conditions Of soil a1u Climate anc
discussing other crops. one of then
said to me that if he had a. little piece
of ground and some water. he coulG
grow good tobacco. Another said he
/ thought good cotton would be a prod
, uct which would pay well. This show!
} that some of them, at least. are look
r ing to better their condition.
| One great need l found is tina
there should be on the plantations {
man who speaks the Spanish language
so that the Porto Ricans could discus!
with him the conditions, and thus ar
| ri yn al hot .tpta Of IND
r of them do not understand about tn,
conditions, and will not be good work
men until they are perfectly satisfied
= This would do more, in my opinion, t.
{ keep the men at peace than anything
else. Then I believe that there mus
be something done to interest the WON
, en-, something found to occupy them
, or the result will be that they will
3 drift into evil ways. Some of then
work in the fields, but not all will d,
, this for the wage. If there was some
. thing else for them to do they would
I be more content. On some of thu
, plantations there Is restitution, o
course: cases where the man of tn,
family has died or is sick and the re
r suit is that there is great suffering
the women and children not having tn,
: comforts of life
"One thing which. In my opinion
. gained from the men In the field!
. would DO much for the contentment O
, the men, would be a scale of wag,
rather than level rate. Some of thu
men think that they should be pait
in accordance with what they do, ant
: believe the hard workers could b,
I made better, if they earned littl
? more than the lazy ones. for of course
there are some who viii not worl
hard. who would rather lie around thu
quarters and play a guitar than b.
in the field There are many orphans
lwho have to struggle hard to ge
along and. who will be turned int
: thieves il. they. are not given some care
These cases Go not always come unde
the eye of the plantation manager, an
b 1.-THE little fellows wander away and beg
Il There is problem which must be solv
8 ed in the bringing in of this new PEG
pie. but the majority of them will
prove to be. good worktnen. and vii
= try and make themselves better a
~ 1.-Two hnr