The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-03-03
7. THOMAS FORTUNE AND HIS MISSION
THE WASHINGTON POST STRONGLY TRAVERSES
FORTUNES THEORY OF NEGRO LABOR FOR
HAWAIIAN OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES HIM SOME
STRONG NAMES

The following regarding T. Thomas Fortune who
here commissioner investigate the labor question Of a-
wall published editorial in the Washington Post of Feb
ruary 10:
the activities Mr. T. Thomas Fortune the col
oed commissioner by the administration Hawaii and the
Philippines to inquire into the conditions there regards
labor from the United Sates seems say his activities
are bearing fruit We all remember OF course that few days
after reaching Honolulu Fortune told the newspapers
that Hawaii offered the hacyon opportunities for the Am
ercan negro and declared that of them could be
at once provided with profitable empoymenthe other millions
to on later The Post promptly took issue with the commits
ventung to that Mr. T. Thomas Fortune resi-
dent of New York qualified pronounce upon the
needs of the Southern negro than upon the proper Interpretation
Of the cuneiorm inscriptions The professional negro
leader politician and Journalist" He is not in sympathy
with the abong of his He nothing about
them their IDEAS their environment their aspirations And
triumph of erontery his part proclaim he did that
Southern could be transported Hawaii with advantage
to themselves or benefit to the country.
Now appears Mr. Commissioner Fortunes absurd procla-
nation has produced the natural and logical consequence 1t has
been passed around IN newspapers and discussed by the negroes
throughout the South The poor creduous creatures still i'm
pevou to the teachings Of experience still easy victims of the
most vulgar and transparent mpoure have evidently accepted
Commissioner Fortunes picture of FL Dorado and ready
follow the first pioneer to another disappointment and disaster
Here is extract from the Hawaiian Star OF January
"CAN SEND NEGROES.
At the meeting OF the Merchants Association Yesterday the
following letter read by Secretary w. w. Harris:
Montgomery, Ala. Dec. rs, 1902.
""The Merchants Association Honolulu Hawaii
'Dear Sir note in todays press dispatches communica
ton from Hon. T. Thomas Fortune special labor commissioner
your by Mr. Shaw, Secretary
uy of the United States in scarcity Of labor with you for the
plantation If you will place touch with the proper parties
who would be willing advance transportation from this section
country in addition allow reasonable per capita
PRONUNCIATION for services in gathering them together
furnish from of Southern negroes the best
farm aborer in the world Hoping hear from you very
truly yours, s. X. WILLIAMSON
Th letter referred to the Hawaiian Planters Association
being the organization which the information contained
would be of the most interest"
The sinister ferment work Negro agents have begun
about telling the ignorant and the rstu that the land OF
promise awaits them holding gerng visions of plenty and
and eXatation; of demanding the usual retainer
advance This Williamson know nothing about But the evil
effect Commissioner Fortunes activities only apparent
He has set in motion machinery OF deception and eXtOon of
false hope and bitter disappointment The Hawaiian plant
the of negroes that willing leave their
homes in this country The kind OF negroes ready to embark
upon such adventure worth their salt Surely there
be way of arresng the peferous mischief Surely
Mr. Commissioner Fortunes suggestions be neutrazed and
and innocent negro rescued from the scheme OF plumber which
has been outlined only too clearly.
1t is difficult to deal effectively with class ceduouS so in
utterly surrendered to superstition Our duty how
clear before We must these helpless people