The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-05-30

ON LABOR
Oahu CoIlegians Debate
on Question of
Unions.

4
and the Meiibean Society OF the same
institution opposed each other in de-
bate yesterday afternoon In Pauahi
Hall. the subject being. Resolved
That Labor Unions Are Detrimental 10
a Country" The judges decided for
the negative side. which was taken by
the MclIbean Society.
The affirmative arguments were in
the hands OF Kenneth Brown. Miss
Ruth whitney and Douglas KincaId.
and the negative conducted by r. Me-
nees Davis. Miss Mary Crewes and
Clarence Allen The judges were pro-
fessor Edgar Wood OF the Normal
School: Professor c. b. Dyke OF Ka-
mehameha. and Miss Graydon OF Oahu
College. Pauahi Hall was taxed to Its
capacity b. the college students ami
friends of the institution. and from the
amount OF applause given as each
speaker concluded. IL was evident that
the college has taken a thorough inter-
est In the art OF debating.
Principal A. NJ Smith OF the Oahu
College presided at the discussion and
occupied a chair on the platform.
thanked by the speakers
The first argument was presented by
! Kenneth Brown OF the Literary Society
for the Affirmative. followed by Clar-
ence Allen OF the Meiibean Society for
the negative. His was one OF the best
presentations OF the subject. The young
man conducted his line OF argument
with considerable skill. Miss Ruth
n
pleasing speaker and handled her ar
gument intelligentiy. She was of the
opinion that labor unions struck at the
very root OF home life. individual rights
and liberties. and tended TO lessen
mans self-respect. She felt that labor
unions were dangerous to family life
and TO national strength.
Miss Mary Crewes for the negative
followed with n long array OF statis-
tics. The development OF labor unions
was. to her. a natural growth concom-
liant with modern commercial con-
dItions. Through organization amongst
iaborers better results were obtained
for the employer. II was mans duty
TO stand up for his fellow laborer. 1t
was no reproach to belong to a labor
union. but rather was an honor. She
felt that unions were n great benefit to
men.
Douglas Kiucaid for the affirmative
snid that through unions strikes had
become too numerous. and that strikes
brought on misery. Despite the fact
that unions often obtained their de-
mands. he felt they were many times
/ worse off than before. Strikes. and
the misery with which they were at
tended. made inroads upon the moral
character OF those participating in
/ them. Contented laborers were com
PEELED 10 obey the dictates OF the unions
/ when strike was ordered.
Il. Menees Davis made n spirited ar
Eumeut for the negative side. In union
there was strength. and the same ad-
age applied % unions. The labor unions
represented the struggle for mastery
and recognition. The object OF the la
Dor union was to preserve n uniform
wage amongst those who performed
labor. He summed up his argument
saying that labor unions made for
progress and prosperity.
Kenneth Brown closed for the affirm
alive In an extemp0raneOus summing
up OF all the arguments and presented
his deductions In n fair manner. His
principal contention was that unions
we're prone 20 order strikes for real or
fancicd grievances. and that for every
ten who might be benefited there were
n hundred made miserable.
The judges IN giving their decision
ccnplimented all the speakers for their
| earneStneSs and ability. and they trust
ed that the losers should not take their
defeat 90 heart as their arguments
were wei given. and they could hope
for better results 90 another time.