The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-11-21
LIGHT on
LABL)RERS

Continued from Page ~
a citizen of the United States employed
on their several sugar plantations in
any capacity except that of field hand
within six months from the date of the
passage by Congress of the special leg
islation for their relief hereinabove
mentioned and thereafter employ only
white or Hawaiian persons in their
place?
Second. That said Committee shall
compile from the latest available au-
thentic sources the most complete
statistics relating to the above ques-
tions possible for them to secure with
in the brief time allotted them.
Third. That, in view of the serious
condition of the cane field labor sup
ply and the necessity of laying the mat
ter fully before Congress at the earliest
date possible and consistent with the
Importance of the questions involved to
the welfare and prosperity of this Ter
ritory, the Committee above mentioned
to be appointed shall report to this Ex-
change at its next meeting to be held
November "A, 1902, the results of their
Investigations together with such
statistics as they may have been able
to compile and any recommends tons
they may have to make in the prem
ises.
Fourth. That further consideration
of the communication from the Mer-
chants Association be postponed until
the next meeting of the Exchange.
Fifth. That a certified copy of these
resolutions be forthwith transmitted by
the President to the Merchants Assoc
citation of Honolulu, the Hawaiian Su-
gar Planters Association and the Ho-
nolulu Trades and Labor Council and
their assistance, cooperation and sug-.
gestions respectfully invited, in any
manner they may elect, on behalf of
this Exchange, its Committee. and the
business and industrial interests rep
resented by 1t and them.
r These resolutions came up as the
outcome of the debate following the
reading of the following letter from
the Merchants Association:
Dear Sir;-The Merchants Associa-
tion of Honolulu, representing the ma
jority of the white" wholesale and re-
tail traders of this city, presented
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 Ia
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-
that thew 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 COM
PEELED to leave the country from lack of
employment. The Honolulu Iron
Works. who do not employ, and never
nave employed Asiatic labor. are only
able to run half their normal force,
and the building and kindred trades
are almost at a standstill. These con-
ditions We believe are mainly caused
by the high cost and scarcity of COM
mon Iaborers 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
an6s is dependent upon 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
white" man is unable, from climatic
and other conditions, to engage in with
any comfort or success, is at present
handled mainly by Japanese laborers;
you are doubtless well aware of the un-
satisfactory and unreliable character
of this class of labor, and to fill the
great gaps in the ranks of field hands
we 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 a single white man from any
position, or in any sense enter into
competition with any white artisan,
mechanic, or common laborer. Our
Association was formed for the ex-
press purpose of protecting the prop
erty and the welfare of the whole COM
munity, and to devise and promote
such legislation as the associate body
may deem wise and expedient for the
benefit of the Territory offHawaii. 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
fore taking further steps to secure Chi
nese field laborers, we would be glad
if you would bring the subject before
your Union for an expression Of opinion
from the members of your society; for
we feel that this Indispensable relief