Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-03-23
CHINESE LABOR SOURCES.

CHINESE LABOR SOURCES.
BY the steamer Coptic, arriving here
on Wednesday last. there came inter
esting news for those connected with
plantations, sugar production and dis.
tribution. which means practically
everybody in the Territory of Hawaii.
Both Congressman Hit, and Cover
nor Taft, of the Philippines, express
the opinion that Chinese laborers who
are now in the Philippines cannot be
prevented from going to the Mainland.
Equally they cannot be excluded from
Hawaii, nor can the Chinese who are
now in Hawaii be prohibited from go.
ing to the Mainland. This opinion, II
upheld by the Supreme Court, will
have bearing upon at least half a
million Of Oriental laborers, and per.
haps upon three times that number.
The exact number of Chinese in the
Philippines is unknown, and all estim
ates are merely guess work for they
are scattered throughout the length
and breadth of the group where II is
utterly impossible to keep track OF
them.
The Bulletin has been advised for
some time past that the law read as in
terpreted by Representative Hit and
Governor Taft, and that residents Of
the Philippines. when those islands
passed into American possession
could no more be excluded from Ha
wall than the Porto Ricans. Moreover
that all the exclusion laws that Con
gress can pass will not keep the Chi
nese in American insular possessions
from going to the Mainland SHOULD
they care to do so. This may result
in an exodus from Hawaii for more
Chinese are likely to leave Hawaii fol-
the Mainland than would care to go
probably, from the far away Philip
pines. This is a point to be consid
cred.
That the number of Chinese in Ha
wall has been decreasing Is vel
known. The exodus has probably beer
larger than people are generally aware
OF, but II has been felt to such an ex
tent by Chinese merchants doing bust
ness, that many of them closed and
are closing up their businesses for the
purpose either of returning to China
or of going to the Pacific coast. These
merchants claim that Japanese labor
ers and japanese storekeepers ar,
supplanting the Chinese. II this be
true, and there is no reason to doubt
it, the inference would appear to b,
that Hawaii is not good enough place
tor a Chinaman to live in.
Gentlemen engaged in plantation
properties have received the recen
news from Washington with deep in
terest and the Chinese labor question
will be discussed at the next meetin,
OF the Planters Association. II /.
probable that the best legal opinion
will be obtained on the question in
volved, and subsequently inquiries
may be made as to the wages that ar,
being earned by the Chinese in tn,
Philippines, whether they would car,
to migrate to Hawaii's cane fields anC
in what numbers, and as to the feast
bility OF procuring them in quantities
sufficient for our plantation uses.
1t will be even more interesting nov
to watch the action of our 'Nationa
legislators, in regard to exclusion. I
seems as If all the acts that Congress
may pass will not be able to exclud,
from the Mainland the half million
and more of Chinese who are now liv
ing peaceably upon American soil AM
under the American flag. And whel
Uncle Sam attempts to exclude then
from the numerous islands of the Fhil
ippine group, his efforts are likely I,
be highly amusing. 1t will be prett,
| r,ucl, lilo IN. affnrta 81 N ,,,o.