The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-04-07
KONA SUGAR
IS HELPLESS
JAPANESE LABORERs DEMAND
ING WAGES AMOUNT
ING TO $4,000.
REFUSED TO CUT A STICK OF
CANE UNTIL PAID.
Receiver Scott Powerless-Asked for
Appointment Of Chester Doyle to Aid
Him in Appeasing Strikers.

Conditions on the Kona Sugar Com
panys plantation have reached a crisis
Advices received by the Kinau last Sa-
turday, COrrobOrate the report brought
earlier in the week by the schooner
Eclipse, that the Japanese labOrers had
at last risen, and refused to 40 a stroke
of work until something had been done
to pay them.
Instead of the troubles of the COM
pany apparently easing up when NJ. f.
Scott was appointed temporary receiver
matters reached an acute stage and in
place of the amicable and speedy set
tlement of the difficulties, that had been
anticipated, Scott awoke to find him
self on the worst possible terms with
the labOreTs.
As soon as the Japanese heard Of the
appointment of Scott as temporary re-
ceiver, they made up their minds that
such appointment meant a speedy liqui-
dation Of their claims and an inn
mediate contribution of food. They
arose at once and demanded that they
be paid $4,000 back wages for their
work, and until this was paid they
would not perform any work.
What no pay2" inquired the Japs,
"Then you no pay, we no cut cane and
from that time forward, not hand was
raised by the Japs, to cut cane. In fact
they refused point blank, to deliver a
stick of cane unless they received the
$4,000, due them.
In vain Receiver Scott exerted his
powers of pursuasiOn on them He did
every thing in his power to explain the
situation to the strikers He said that
matters would speedily be settled, but
this did not satisfy the Japs They
could not understand that Scott was
acting merely for the court and not
directly for the people, who had the
funds to pay the Japanese wages. FINAL
ly, after eXhausting every means in his
power to induce the Japanese to dis
continue their strike and return to
work, Scott turned in desperation to
the court, and asked that Chester Doyle
| be appointed as interpreter for the
| purpose of trying to appease the strik-
| ers and inducing them to listen to rea-
| son. This appointment met with the
/ approval of the japanese also. A con-
! ference was to have been held between
! Doyle and all of the Japanese, in the
school house at Kailua last Thursday
night, when Doyle was to explain the
! situation to them, and endeavOr to In
| duCe them to return TO work and let
! the mill start grinding,
This sudden and unexpected action on
| the part of the Japanese labOrers has
| seriously endangered the present crop
| 1t had been expected that the labOrers
would begin cutting cane last Monday
/ and the mill would start grinding on
| Tuesday. Instead of this program be-
| ing followed however, the japanese
! went on strike and every thing has
since been at a standstill. Some mea-
sures will have to be taken very soon
to get the cane cut and hauled to the
MILL for if the crop is permitted to re-
main on the ground uncut, the cane viii
rot and the value Of this seasons out
put amounting in round numbers tC
$l5O,OOO will be lost entirely.
The selection Of Doyle is considered q
very fortunate one. He is believed TO be
the best man that could have been Sc
cured for such a delicate mission, as he
has had considerable experience in the
past, in settling just such strikes anC
has been generally successful in his ne
| gOtiatiOnS.
There seems excellent prospect tha
affairs may be satisfactorily settled, by
which the Japanese will agree to return
to work, for, Mkt Saito, the japanese
consul, left on the Mauna LOa last Fri
day for Kailua, for the purpose of con
ferTing with the Japanese on the KOnj
Sugar plantation. From the state
ments which Consul Saito made, pre-
vious to his departure from Honolulu
! Ile Was not lueu aware VI lllC NllLlNc d
condition which existed on the planta
ton, but was going merely on one o
his annual tours of inspection through
out the islands, He appreciated tha
conditions were very discOuraging a
Kailua, and for that reason, had de
cided to make that his first place of cal
Upon his arrival he will be appriseu
of the facts and the result of the con
ference which the Japanese held wit
] h.. llrVr trHf11 N
doubt, advise his countrymen to d
what he considers will be to their bes
interests.
Mkt Saito stated that he hoped mat
ters would be amicably settled at tn
Kona Sugar plantation and from hi
well known views on matters of thi
character, it is thought he will exer
his influence to get the Japanese t
work, if indeed Doyle has not sue
ceeded in doing so, before the Maun
Loa reached Kailua, which was o
Saturday evening.