The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-01-09
UNION MEN
WANT WORK
Plans for a Fight
on Oriental
Labor.
TO KEEP CHINESE
OFF PUBLIC WORKS
Builders and Workmen Are Plan
ming to Make Conditions Here
Known at Washington.

N UILDERS and members of the or
X ganized building trades are dis
- cussing plan for the bringing to
the attention of the authorities at
Washington the employment of
Oriental workmen upon public build
ing construction. There has been no
formal action upon the part either of
the organization of the building con-
tractors or of the labor unions, but in
formal discussions have been had, and
it is very likely that a meeting for the
purpose will be held soon.
The result of the suits brought
against Campbell by the labor men
caused much dissatisfaction, and there
has been a desire to bring about an I'M
Outstanding of the matter at Washing
ton since that time. While it is realized
that there is no statute which prohib-
it's the employment of Orientals upon
public works, ii is believed that the
fact that the members of Congress,
without exception perhaps. would work
to prevent any contracts being given
to men who employ other than union
labor, would have the effect Of causing
an investigation on the part of the
navy and war departments here, as to
conditions governing the prosecution of
the work which is going on
As the matter is put by men who
have taken prominent part in the pri-
mary discussions of the matter. it is
the contractors and men are working.
That is, they have lost a fight in the
courts over the eight-hour proposition
and the navy station work has been
done by Oriental workmen. but they
are looking to the great contracts
which are to be expected when the
time comes for the letting of the works
which are to be constructed at Pearl
Harbor. and for the army Department !
in the matter of the establishment OF /
a post here.
Some Information as to conditions /
has gone to the States In the sending |
of reports of the trial of the sub-con- !
tractor for the naval work to the |
heads OF the labor unions which are |
Interested This without doubt has i
been placed at the disposal of the COM
mittees OF the labor unions there, and |
it is expected there will be some action /
taken. There will be upwards of 500 |
men employed at the work on the Pearl |
Harbor naval station. and the perma-
nent army barracks. IL the appropria-
lions for these improvements are made
soon. 1t is to this work that the men
who are at the head of the various as
sociations are now looking. They want
assurance that there will be only the
ing OF the offensive and defensive
works
The labor men feel that they have
great hopes OF the fight being success
full owing to the fact that there was
such complete victory in the battle
made against any Oriental labor on the
transports OF the United States. When
this matter was taken up by California
members and Senators. there were Chi
nese crews on the various vessels car
rying soldiers and supplies, but these
were all displaced. While there was no
specific law against such action there ,
was a feeling that there could be no {
Justice in protection for union work 1
men in labor on public works in the {
States. and the employment of cheap {
crews on a War Department ship.