Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1905-11-20
MONDAY .......
THE POWER OF SUGAR

Sometimes outsiders who look on at
the brief sessions Of the sugar plant
ers of Hawai- wonder IL these gentle
men stop to think OF the tremendous
power they exert on the future as well
as the present progress Of Hawaii.
World markets have a grcat influence
on the prosperity OF the islands, but
of far more Importance is the ability OF
these plantation men to meet cOndi'
tons as they arise from year to year.
l. sugar prices are low ,Hawaii's sue.
cess depends on the capacity OF the
managers to combine practice and the.
DRY, and apply science with such good
effect that the islands shall find the
burden less difficult to bear. II prices
are high, it is anticipated that the man
ayers viii apply their science and com.
mon sense with equal determination in
order that a full measure OF the profits
shall be obtained for all concerned.
The dollars and cents of the prOpo-
sitiOn Is what attracts first attention.
1t is what retains manager in his
position or makes an opening for sue
cessor 1t Is uppermOst in the minds
Of the majority, But 1t is not all,
Sugar planters OF Hawaii are day by
day determining the character Of the
population OF the islands. They are
shaping the future Of Hawaii, political.
ly and morally. The standard of fu-
ture citizenship rests largely with
them. 1t is inevitable, because the
labor of any ceuntry developing under
natural conditions furnishes the basis
for the controlling citizenship Of fu-
lure days. The preduminating indus.
try shapes the destiny of the commun-
ity, though secondary interests may
from time to time rise up to act as an
alleged leayen to TevOlutionize the
whole loaf. 1t may be a sin to dis.
courage the small leayeners, but un.
less the predominant influence takes
an active part in whatever changes are
sought to be brought about, the revolu-
tionaTy movements of the smaller fac
tors are more or less speedily swamped.
Taken as a whole these men of Ha.
wal who have so much depending up
are the greatest sugar cane raisers Of
the world. Cuba or any other section
may have more productive soil or
more friendly climate, but its produc
ers have not succeeded in getting so
much sugar to the acre or eQualIing
the percentage Of extraction after the
cane is harvested. If any instance can
be cited to prove this statement not
absolutely correct, II will be found
that such outsiders have got their in
SEPARATION from Hawaii.
Since the mechanical and the sCien-
tlfic side Of their duties has been so
well cared for by these leaders of in
dustry II is not probable they will be
less successful in practising civic du-
ties. 1t Is easier no doubt to deal
with the labor problem by figuring men
as so much material, This can be done
successfully for time, but In the long
run the majority power of the men en-
ployed in any great industry exercises
a controlling power for good or evil in
the community and finally upon and
within the industry itself Unfortun.
ately IL is impossible TO strew chem
icals among laborers and make them
bring forth more abundantly Of toll
Dealing with the labOrers Is q far big
ger problem than soil oil the machinery.
The full result Of today's act may not