The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1904-02-13
TALKS WITH
THE UNIONS
Carter Up Against
Demands of
Labor.
viii Not Stand for
Coercive
Acts.
Citizen Labor on the Roads Dis
cussed With Union
Leader.
(Staff Correspondence.

| HlLO, Feb. 6.-Governors Garter met
a committee from the labor unions this
morning and informed the members that
he would support them as long as they
were reasonable and moderate in their
demands The committee was told that
the Governor was opposed to any coer-
cion on the part of the labor unions.
that he wished citizen labor used on
government work, and would enforce
the law in this respect
A committee composed of Rep. J. D,
Lewis, H. Kendall, and w. c. E. Brown
representing the Federation of Allied
Trades of HiIo presented the petition,
they being accompanied by half dozen
other members OF the committee. The
memorial was as follows:
The present deplorable condition of
| the affairs OF this district III 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.
1T is not in the province of this COM
n1ittee 10 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 a lower, meaner
and almost intolerable scale of living
through the competition of alien labor
and because private selfhshness 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 undernines 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
labor should follow the law, if possible,
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 1t urge that all gov
eminent contracts, both direct or in
directly, be let only to other than alien
labor, 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
that the government could not control
private selfshness. Draga, one OF the
committee who acted as spokesman, said
that in Kau the law was being violated
on roads. Governor Carter stated that
he intended TO investigate the alleged
violation, but said that permission had
been given the contractor to employ
Asiatics. as permitted by the labor law
This was done because no citizen labor |
could be obtained. The reply of Draga |
was that only dollar per day had been |
offered, and no native or white man |
could work for that amount. he Gov
ernor asked who was to FIX the wage |
scale.
Draga said that they did not object
to the Japs working in the fields, but
that the plantations were employing
Asiatics almost exclusively and that
when they learned a trade, they came
to Hilo and opened shops in opposition
TO citizens. Governor Carter stated that
he was unable to remedy this difficulty
md asked Draga ii he ever employed
japanese.
Never, except about the house, said
why did you do it,"
well, l had to-
The Governor replied that it was the
same way with the plantations, they
we're forced into it, He said that as
ar as the government was concerned
he law would be enforced, but that 1t
vas the duty of officials TO make every
lollar count. and If unreasonable wages
we're demanded, the government would /;
,ot stand for it. In some districts 1t
vas physical impossibility to get clt1-
en- labor and in such cases, resort would
ave to be made to aliens. The Governor {
aid that it was expensive IN districts ;
yhere the laborers had to be carried
long the road, and naturally the gov
r1lnent did not want TO be eNtraNa9ailt'
5 the revenue was already tar less tla1
he appropriations and he did not pc
eve anyone wanted tne tdNe9 70 NC /
aised.
Draea said that the laboring men
-ould just as soon pay nifty cents more
, taxes provided they received FIVE dol 7
,rs more in wages. He said that the
lantations and the corporations were
1e ones who objected to an increase IN
The Governor replied that this was a
IT, +bA rorooratiors had never d