The Hawaiian gazette., 1904-05-17

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president OF the American Federation
of Labor:
Honokaa, Hawaii, May 8. 1904,
Mr.. Samuel NJ. Compers, President of
American Federation OF Labor.
Washington, d. C.
My Dear Sir: My attention was
drawn by an article in Harper's
Weekly OF April 9th, relative to your
visit to Porto Rico. and having in
vestlgated the condition of the Ter
ritory and it's people. This paper adj
vocates that duty be placed on cof-
fee from foreign countries so as to
protect territories under our flag.
1t is in connection with protection
to the coffee industry that wish to
dwell on.
/ myself am an American citizen en-
gagged in the cultivation of the coffee
industry in Hawaii.
When the senatorial commission,
composed of Messrs. John II. Mitchell,
Foster, and Burton visited Hawaii in
the fall of 1902, l appeared before these
gentlemen and spoke in behalf of pro-
lection to the American coffee in
dustry.
Mine, and other memorials are to be
found in the printed report giving all
the hearings of citizens relative to
various conditions in Hawaii.
The coffee industry in Hawaii is not
so extensive as in Porto Rico. but I'M
der a protective tariff would surpass
that of Porto Rico, for this territory
possesses larger area than our sis
ter territory in the Atlantic.
Tho Nd, har l,,.
declining owing to the severe competi-
ton caused by an over production in
countries not under the American flag,
and vast sums of capital have been
sunk in coffee enterprises in this ter
ritory.
Previous to annexation to the United
States we had a protective duty of z
cents a pound in the local market,
while at present we have no protection
whatever. The industry is in the
hands OF mostly small land owners.
homesteaders, and women and children
engage in picking their own crops.
The condition of these homesteaders
is deplorable indeed, as an inspection
of their places attests to grass and
weeds flourishing more than coffee or
anything else. Many have abandoned
their homesteads and gone to work
on the sugar plantations.
The coffee industry especially is a
most desirable one for white immigra-
grants in the tropics. 1t Is as you
know cultivated in the mountain re-
gions. where white people can enjoy
the best of health, and the harvesting
being light and easy enables women,
girls and boys to earn money picking
the berries.
This industry under protective poll
cy has wonderful possibilities in Ha-
wall, Porto Rico and the Philippines.
The tropical domain of the United
States, namely these mentioned terri
tories could in time easily provide and
supply the whole nation with this
beverage.
1t is an industry that can never con-
nict with any agricultural product of
the present domain of the mainland of
the United States, where 1t does not
grow. This growth and great future
industry can be developed under the
American flag. and it's principal bene-
fit would go to American citizens. We
are sending now millions of money to
foreign countries benefiting foreign and
European investors, who are heavily
interested in Brazil and other South
and Central American countries in this
industry.
All European countries exact an i'm
port duty on coffee whilst the United
States of America opens her markets
to free coffee.
Do we receive corresponding con-
cesslons from these foreign countries
for such valuable gift?
We buy considerable coffee from
Java, yet what do our exports thither
amount to?
In Java 1t is a well known fact that
laborers only receive 10 cents a day
in wages. Can an American civiliza-
tion thrive, much less be built up in
competition on such uneven terms?
If in your judgment and wisdom. my
dear sir, you would assist In having
n duty placed on coffee coming from
foreign countries, you would confer an
everlasting blessing on the American
tropical territories, and also enhance
n better social condition than exists
today.
Is IL not only Just and fair that Con-
gress should eventually look beyond
the seas, towards her tropical posses
sIons and throw over them the strong
arm OF the protective tarin that has
been accorded the industry Of the
mainland
The magnificent prosperity and In
dustry, the wealth ~ the United states,
that looms up as mighty factor IN
tho worlds commerce has come
through protection,
u Is the weak and feeble that need
nursing ana care, the slTonE can stand
without w.
May No p0l plead that y spint ~
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