The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-02-27

! the end of two months just one or the
| Is men remained. Some of the men soon
| learned that there was a difference be-
! tween the wages paid them and the
| wa ges paid the japanese, and began en-
| ticing hands from the adjoining planta-
| tons, and taking charge of these men
! themselves. endeayoring to direct the
work of others, but not doing any labor
| themselves. Each man had his own cab
| III and lived absolutely independent of
| the rest. They made no attempt at econ
omy, many of them insisting upon hav-
| ing canned goods daily, and spent 81 per
diem upon their food.
! This class of labor was not good The
men had a dislike for continuous work
and were much more likely to visit the
saloons than to attend to the duties as
signed them
Ultimately it was necessary to supply
their places with Italians and these last
ed only little longer than the other
whites, and the japanese Were called up
on TO finish the contract
The conclusion from these two expert
ments is, to my mind, evident that Amer
leans cannot be induced TO go to Hawaii
and do the work of common laborers.
The facts conquer the theory.
1t is consequently to Asia We must turn
for help. The Chinese restriction act
bars Us from obtaining laborers there.
1t would be well for us if we could do
so, because the Chinaman thrives well in
Hawaii. works We'll, and is frugal. IL is
true he can never assimilate with Amer
leans, and that he is in many ways an
undesirable member of society; but my
experience in Hawaii leads me to believe
that they are far better laborers and res
idents than the foreigner of European
birth who, instead of laboring himself,
stands around with hands in his pockets
and declaims against the Chinaman.
AS we cannot get them, we must be
I
may be possible to so manage that we
can obtain them in sufficient numbers to
carry to successful completion the many
important enterprises now under way.
Our plantations are the backbone of
our Territory. No manufacture is car
ried on in Hawaii except in connection
with the sugar industry. Our people
are supported by it; 1t is the foundat ton
of our commerce; It is our commercial
life.
And our common country should not
forget it's Island children, nor seek to
extend relief to the oppressed of other
lands to the detriment of it's own house
hold.
My belief is that it will take some %
years for Hawaii to become a nation of
home jewellers. / mean by this that it's
population is, and must for some years
to come be largely transitory. Just as
in 40 people rushed to California expect
ing TO make their fortunes there in
short time and then to return to their
various homes, and as in later years
like rush has been made to the gold
fields of Alaska, so the common laborerS
of Japanese and Chinese birth have gone
to Hawaii in order that thereby they
might better their condition, acquire
competency (Which for them IS very
small SUM, and then return to their.
tive land
1 am sure it is not your intention or
the intention of the republican party TO
crush or hamper the plantations. What
is desired is, I doubt not, to have the
plantations broaden their policy along
the lines which are in keeping with the
institutions of our country
1 do not believe the administration will
stand in the way of our getting laborers
necessary to the success of the Islands.
What I do wish is that some way could
be devised whereby We could acquire the
Portuguese and other Europeans in larg-
er numbers, rather than to be increasing
the number of Japanese and Chinese at
the Islands.
The Asiatic 1aborer is not a cheap Ia
borer. Considering the fact that he
works the year around, and is paid for
all the work done, and also considering
the perquisities given, he receives more
than the New England farm laborer
I may add that number of planters at
the Islands are Americans and almost
without exception are ardent supporters
of the republican party