Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1903-08-06
WHAT Mr., IANNAII SAID


Editor Evening Bulletin:--In this
mornings issue of the Advertiser, |
note what purports to be report OF
the meeting of the Builders and Ira.
ders' Exchange. The manner in which
this report has been made to further
the interests of the Advertiser certain.
L.. reflects credit on the author, al
though one who was present at the
meeting would scarcely be able to rec.
ognize II, so thoroughly have the facts
been distorted and misrepresented.
!, however, ask your valuable space
t. correct two statements purporting
to be synopsis of my remarks. The
Advertiser says:
&c. Tappan Tannatt said he did not
favor the way the campaign was to be
started. He said that all of the planta.
tiCns we're conducting schools of citi-
gen competition by permitting Japan.
csc and Chinese to go to school. This
he thought should be prohibited"
The above statement is not only en-.
tirely at variance to the remarks made,
but places me in an absolutely false
I ngnt before the pubic.
In remarks made by the committee
from the Federated Trades, the state.
ment was made that that organization
proposed to refuse to allow its mem
/ bers to patronize Asiatic stores and
stores in which Asiatics were employ.
cd. although more expensive to do so.
My remarks were to the effect that
hOnored anyone, who for the sake
OF principle was willing to sacrifice,
but that owing to the plantations be-
ing, as II were, vast industrial schools
In which AsiatiCs were educated to
( come into direct competition with the
members of the labor organization re-.
ftTred to, | feared that the sacrifice
would be but an additional means of
driving the citizen labor to the wal:
Especially when placed in direct com.
petition with this ever.inCreasing
horde of Asiatics. believed that our
fist duty is to use our influence and
money to cause the plantation to use
,Asiatic labor for field hands only, and
OF skilled labor.
As for the matter of public schools
being open to AsiatiCs, | certainly am
sufficiently American to believe that
not only should they be open to all
CDmers, but that every walk in life
should be open to all citizens or those
who intend TO become citizens. The
better the education of the masses, the
safer the foundations of our Republic.
|, however. do not believe that the
plantations, or any other party, or cor.
poratiOn, has the right to import to
these Islands (either directly or
through Offices made under the protec.
tlon of the Territory a vast horde of
ignorant people, who will work for a
short time on the plantations and
then flood our country and public
schools with class who neither in.
tend to become citizens, nor who
would support our Government in
event of emergency. To him who will
become a citizen, | believe every op
portunity should be given to benefit by
our institutions and rise to a higher
level, no matter what his color or con
ditlon: but to him who comes only tC
drain our treasures and destroy ouI
, people, against such should We fully
protect ourselves.
As for the incorrect reporting Of mo
tons made, etc, ] deem such matters
OF no importance only to the Exchange
However, in relation to the following
clause in the Advertiser:
"Mr. Tannatt also called attention
to the fact that Japs. were not allow
ed to leave the country on sailing YES
sells, and thought It should be looked
irto. as every one wanted the Japs. tC
go"
Mr.. Tannatt did not call attention t
, any such fact; but rather stated tina
he had been reliably informed, anC
had partially investigated for himself
, that for some reason the agents fol
the steamship companies were refus
, ing, where possible, to issue steerag'
tickets to Japanese wishing tD laav,
the country, although white men wer,
not so denied. If this fact was correct
II might be OF interest to the EXchaug,
; ard the committees of the labor organ
iLatiOns TO investigate. The STEAMSHIP
, companies are common carriers anC
not only could not refuse such trans
pcrtation legally. but were liable il
event OF such discrimination. Tn,
class who were DESTROYS of leaving a
rule were those more directly enter
ing into competition with the working
man, and II such were hindered il
Leaving, the matter deserved consider
alton at the hands of all citizens.
Respectfully.
Q Il. TAPPAN TANNATT.
Honolulu, Aug. 6, '03.