Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-11-14
Merchants Association
At WORK ON
Advertising Islands
Continued from Pag. 81


committee TO consider the matter and
passed over the communication to the
chairman: Messrs. G. w. Smith, Geo.
fiodiek and F. NJ. Wakefield. Thu
committee was instructed to get to
work as soon as possible and to report
back in order that an answer might be
sent to the Merchants Association of
San Francisco at the very next oppor-
tunity.
A communication from q Mr.. Gil
more of San Francisco requesting that
he be given the work of taking charge
of the advertisement of the Islands,
was referred to the Board of Directors.
The secretary next read the report
OF the Board Of Directors on the matter
of Chinese labor in limited quantity
for the plantations and the PROPOSE
tion of having the labor unions of the
country endorse the petition. 1t was as
follows:
Dear Sir:-The Merchants Associa-
ton Of Honolulu representing the ma
jority Of the white" wholesale and re-
tail traders of this city. presented a
memorial to the United States Senate
Commission on Porto Rico and Pacific
Island possessions in which they petit
toned the Senators to use their best
efforts to have the United States laws
relative to the admission of Chinese la
borers so adjusted for operation in the
Hawaiian Islands. that Chinese labor
ers would be permitted to enter the
Hawaiian Islands subject to the condi-
ton that they engage in agricultural
pursuits only: If this condition be at
any time broken. the offender to be
deported from the country. We laid
this memorial before the Commission
ers on the grounds that all trades and
business enterprises would be benefited
| thereby. The need of suitable labor
for rice and cane fields has been
brought forcibly to the minds of me-
chanics and merchants alike by the
contraction Of business enterprise in
every. direction; large numbers OF
skilled mechanics have been compel
led to leave the country from lack OF
employment. The Honolulu Iron
Works who do not employ, and never
have employed Asiatic labor, are only
able TO run half their normal force.
and the building and kindred trades
are almost at standstill. These con-
ditions we believe are mainly caused
by tile high cost and scarcity of com
mon laborers In the fields from which
the wealth of the country is drawn. As
an association OF merchants we believe
the welfare of all classes. artisans,
merchants and mechanics, in the ISL
ands is dependent on the successful
cultivation of sugar cane and its eco
nomical conversion into the marketable
product; TO successfully bring sugar
cane TO maturity a large number OF
field laborers are required throughout
the Islands, and this work, which a
white" man is unable. from climatic
and other conditions. TO engage in with
any comfort or success, IL at present
handled mainly by japanese laborers;
you are doubtless well aware of the I'M
satisfactory and unreliable character
Of this class of labor, and to fill the
great gaps in the ranks of field hands
be believe the plantation managers
throughout the Islands are unanimous
in their decision that Chinese would
best meet the conditions that exist in
the cane field, and prove useful. law
abiding body Of men who, while adding
to the wealth and purchasing power of
the whole community, would not dis
place single white man from any
position. or in any sense enter into
competition with any white artisan,
mechanic, or common laboTer. Our
Association was formed for the en-
press purpose of protecting the prop
erty and the welfare Of the whole COM
and TO devise and promote
such legislation as the associate body
may deem wise and eXpedient for the
benefit OF the Territory OF Hawaii. We
name the object and purpose of the /,
Association, as while influential in |
membership, the body is young, and |
not as yet known to the public. Be-
.ore taking further steps to secure Chi
lese field laborers. we would be glad
+ you would bring the subject your
lnion for an expression of opinion
rom the members of your society; for
we feel that this indispensable relief
proposed for the main industry of the
country must commend itself to your
Judgment and we trust that your
Union will endorse through its proper
)fhcers the action we have already
aiken in bringing this important mat
er before the United States Senate
commission. Enclosed you will find
draft of the memorial named and
'our early attention TO this matter will
'reatly oblige |,
This matter was left in the hands of
he Board OF Directors, and the meet
ng adjourned