The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-12-12
THE LABOR ISSUE
IN THE ISLANDS

Gently, as the result of an inquiry into
the causes OF an alleged maltreatment
ol Cnlnese laborers on one of the es-
tates, no fewer than four "lunas" were
dismissed and the manager received a
severe caution from the authorities
ne planters are turning in every di-
rect1on to discover more labor for the
future, and are so little confident of the
Porto Rlcan supply that they have
talked even of importing Filipinos TO
work on the plantations.
1t is thought that if Cuba is given
over to sugar planting the Porto Ri
cans are more likely to go to the neigh
boring island than to cross the Pacific
| to Hawaii. 1t is more than ever a diff
ncult question how to supply the plan
tatlon needs, now that the contract
system is abolished. However, doubt
! less some way will be found, because
! the sugar industry is too important a
one to be allowed to die out, however
it may be hampered by paucity of la
borers.
SUGAR is HAWAITS KING.
The Hawaiian Territory is essentially
sugar country, nearly all of those
who once planted coffee having con-
4, verted their plantations into sugar
! cane fields, finding it more profitable
to sell their cane to one of the mills
than 20 grow coffee. This is to be de-
plored, because it makes it unlikely
that Hawaii could stand any accident
to the sugar industry and makes the
authorities of the Islands strain every
nerve to supply the labor market. At
present the Hawaiian sugar output is
one-twentieth of the worlds output,
and it is likely to increase rather than
diminish. In 1898 the value of the
sugar industry was nearly $4,000, 600,
and the export was valued at $16,615.-
339 out of a total export of SIT ,346, IA;
while in 1900 the export amounted to
s21, 89S,549. These figures show how
essential the sugar industry is to Ha-
wall; without it the total exports for
1898 would have been only $731 ,405, as
compared with imports valued at
$11 ,650,890.
| An examination of the present condi-
tion of Hawaii and the sugar industry
i leads to the startling discovery that ii
is only the Japanese labor which makes
the sugar industry possible. Out of a
population of about 10000, the Japan
csc supply 81 ,000--or more than one
half. Japan alone enables the Hawaii
an Territory to be paying portion OF
the United States; and, apparently
past experiences would show that it is
the only country which can make Ha-
wall worth the possession. This fact
startling as it undoubtedly is, mus
give cause for reflection to those who
talk so glibly about cultivating and de-
veloping the Philippines. In the Phil
ippines, the conditions are still more
difficult, because the climate is more
/ tropical, and it is almost, if not quite
impossible for white men to do fielt
labor. The question arises as to whert
the necessary labor is to come from
Is it to be japanese, or is it to be Chi
nese. who will come to the rescue anG
help the United States to reap the ben
eft of her conquest? 1t is probable
that in either case she will have tt
change her actions and state of opin.
ion toward both Japan and China
The example of Hawaii with its 25,644
Japanese laborers out of total d
35,9S7 (of whom 5,097 are Chinese), is
indeed one which should be full Of
lessons to all who are interested or re-
sponsible for the development of the
Philippines.