The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-02-16
TALKS WITH
THE UNIONS
Carter Up Against
Demands of
Labor.
(Staff Correspondence

a committee from the labor unions thi
morning and informed the members tina
he would support them as long as the
were reasonable and moderate in thei
demands. The committee was told tina
the Governor was opposed TO any coer
cion on the part of the labor unions
that he wished citizen labor used OF
government work, and would enforc
the law in this respect.
A committee composed OF Rep. J. d
Lewis, II. Kendall, and w. c. E. Brow
representing the Federation OF Allied
Trades of Hilo presented the petition
they being accompanied by half dozer
other members of the committee. The
memorial was as follows:
The present deplorable condition OF
the affairs OF this district in relation to
the general conditions as hereinafter set
forth, renders it incumbent upon repre-
sentative local business organizations to
call your attention to matters of public
welfare.
mittee to attempt recommendations as
to the labor problem confronting our
main and almost exclusive industry, the
raising OF sugar. We do request your
keen attention to the fact that skilled
labor is being driven from employment
from the Islands, or to lower, meaner
and almost intoerable scale of living
through the competition OF alien labor
and because private selftishness cannot
be controlled.
I'VE, however, most emphatically pro-
test against any action of the Territorial
government through its local and Off
cial representatives in employing direct
ly or indirectly, through contracts, con-
tractors or otherwise alien labor.
SO far as Hilo is concerned such ac-
tons by Territorial officials or contract
ors undermines the body polite, (polit-
ical standpoint and must react on the
general welfare, social and political.
I'VE believe all Territorial contracts
or enterprises requiring nominal skilled
or executive instruction be confined to
labor other than alien, and on scale
Of compensation permitting American
civilized standards of living.
I'VE ask you, Honorable Sir, that by
its recommendations it urge that all gov
eminent contracts, both direct or in
directly, be let only to other than alien
abor, and so stipulated as to do away
With the system of un-Americanized labor,
and to give us an American form of
government, pure and simple"
The Governor read the petition and
said that he agreed with it generally.
He believed that the law was being en-
forced on government contracts, and /,
hat the government could not control !
private selhshness. Draga, one of the !
committee who acted as spokesman, said
hat in kau the law was being violated |
III roads. Governor Carter stated that |
lie intended to investigate the alleged
but said that permission had |
,een given the contractor to employ |!
Asiatics. as permitted by the labor law.
This was done because no citizen labor |
ould be obtained. The reply OF Draga |
vas that only dollar per day had been
,ffered, and no native or white man ,
ould work for that amount. The Gov
rnor asked who was to fix the wage !
Gale.
Draga said that they did not object
o the Japs working in the fields, but
hat the plantations were employing
,siatcs almost exclusively and that |
When they learned trade, they came
o Hilo and opened shops in opposition
o citizens. Governor Carter stated that
lie was unable to remedy this difficulty
nd asked Draga ii he ever employed
apanese.
Never, except about the house." said
le
why did you do it,"
well, | had to-
The Governor replied that it was the
anne way with the plantations, they
we're forced into ii. He said that as
ar as the government was concerned
he law would be enforced, but that II
vas the duty of officials TO make every |
Iollar count, and il unreasonable wages
we're demanded, the government would
lot stand for it, In some districts II
vas a physical impossbility to get cit
EN- labor and in such cases, resort would
ave to be made to aliens. The Governor
aid that il was expensive in districts |
where the laborers had to be carried
long the road, and naturally the gov
did not want TO be eXtravagant,
, IL. -a,,an,,o ,,,as already far Lose than