The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1903-04-07
THE LABOR
MOVEMENT
ON HAWAII
Deep Significance
of Late Events
at Hil0.


significant movement in the line of the
real Americanization of these islands
that has occurred lately is contained
in the union labor movement recently
organized at Hilo. The Herald, in its
last issue, prints story that contains,
In effect, every step taken so far in
the movement. 1t is as follows:
Believing that the interests of Hilo
will be best served by encouraging
American citizens to be identified with
the progress of this section of the Ter
ritory of Hawaii, the undersigned,
chairmen of committees representing
262 mechanics, citizens OF the United
States. engaged in structural contract
ing and the various trades Identified
with this proposed organization, do
hereby agree that we will employ only
citizen labor; that we will work only
by the side of citizen labor; that We
will not finish, nor contract to finish,
any work begun by aliens and that in
all cases where aliens are in COMPETE
ton with American citizens we will
give preference to the latter in all of
our personal dealings"
The quotation above is the resolution
offered at the meeting of mechanics of
Hilo at Fireman's Hall last Saturday
night. 1t was adopted and signed by
the chairmen of committees represent
ing eighteen trades and of which there
are two hundred and siXty-two work
ers in Hilo who are injured by being
thrown in competition with aliens,
principally Japanese.
The hall was crowded as at the first
meeting and there was quite as much
interest shown, Following the preamble
printed above came the following reso-
luton:
Resolved, That the Territorial and
Federal Governments enact such legis-
lation as will bring the desired result,
Resolved, That it is the sentiment of
the allied trades that the contractors
and mechanics be licensed and that
such licenses be issued only to COM
petent persons who are citizens of the
United States. 1t is further,
Resolved, That all Government work
either by contract or sub-contract be
performed only by citizen labor.
The petition and resolutions We're
signed by the following:
II. Kendall for Carpenters.
j. NJ. Cameron for Plumbers.
+. Fuhr for Painters.
A. II. Hancock for Electricians.
r. f. Byrne for Blacksmiths.
j. A, Mcclure for Railroad Men.
Joaquin Carvalho for BARRIERS.
c. Lehman for Tailors.
~. Ludwig for Timers.
=. Hale for SteVedores.
w. Todd for Harnessmakers.
A. McAulton for Transfers.
p. G. Beamer for Gun and Lock-
smiths.
John Herring for Fishermen.
Fred Naylor for Boilermakers.
There was motion put that COM
mittee be appointed by the chair to
draw resolution to be presented to
the Legislature. Chairman Kendall
named G. l., Clement. j. NJ. Cameron,
a. r. Hancock. w. Todd and Il. Very.
The chairmen of the various COM
mittees met Monday night to prepare
data to be presented at general meet
ing on Tuesday evening and at the
latter the resolution was read and ap-
proved. At the Tuesday night meeting
the hall was crowded To the walls and
only two interested persons were con-
spicuous by their absence. No changes
gested.
An employee of the Hilo Railway Co.
reported that Superintendent Lambert
favored this movement and was willing
to pay white laborers on the docks l.50
per day. He believed, however, that
for railway construction white men
would not perform the work In all
other departments citizens would be
given preference over aliens. In con-
nection with this a gentleman present
stated that railway station is now
being built on the beach by A. Richley
and that only Japanese carpenters are
employed. He said further that there
was citizen present who had applied
for work and had been refused. That
In answer to the request for work
Richley had said that he had no place
for him as he had contracted with the
japanese for the work. Mr.. Richley's
lack OF consistency in signing petit
ton against the employment OF any
1