Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-11

inc importation OF CHfHp -t9i'iti' i''H'i
WAS desired by the laboring pc"pl" Of
Hawaii. No doubt the plantation
owners desire more and cheaD"r labor
but Congress will have to be convinced
that the people whose wages might be
affected desire the removal of the pres
ent ban before 1t takes any action.
While the sentiment against the
bringing in of Chinese labor is still very
strong in this country the blind
antaconism that enacted the present
rigid exclusion laws has been some
what softencd in recent years. Even
on the Pacific slope, especially where
labor is scarce, the fruit growers and
truck gardeners wish the law could be
modified Thousands Of tons Of fruit
20 to waste every year simply for
lack of help to gather and market it.
The greater part Of the work in tn"
cane fields is now done by Japanese.
but their number has been greatly re
duced since the war began, and those
who have remained are said to be un-
settled and practically worthless. Con
grcssmcn who are opposed to the i'm
portation of the Chinese say that Ha-
Waii would find a surer remedy for her
present troubles in advertising than III
begging for a change Of law. They ask
Why the Territory does not seek to
stimulate Il healthy growth in ropula
ton from among the idle in the United
States Experts in immigration say
that thousands of men arrive ut our
Eastern ports from European coun-
ties whose past life has fitted them to
crapple with Hawaiian conditions. If
the eug1r-l lantcrs and other residents
of the islands honestly desire It larger
labor supply they could by proper eH-
er;ion draw on this country for what
they need.
Jonah kuhio kalanianaclc, the dele
gate from Hawaii, who has been
dubbed Nh Kuhio' by President
Honsrvclt, and who is commonly
known Is Prince Cupid, is urging on
his friends in the House the necessity
Of passing a bill carrying out Governor
carriers suggestions. To the cOrr"-
sI,ondcnt who sought his views the
delegate said:
Fer i've years, or ever since the be
| ginning of 'eXpauSioN. the American
| people have been clainring the iron
| shoe Of Federal laws. designed Tor
mainland conditions, on the odd ana
sometimes curiously shaped foot OF
| outlying Territories and possessions.
The resulting pinch has at several
points been acute, and in Hawaii al
least has led to commercial depression.
While tho states have been enjoying an
almost unprecedented prosperity Ha-
vail has Undergone me severcst finan-
cial strains for Two decades. Wealthy
both the coffee and rice industries have
been Threatened with extinction. ana
the sugar has been III sore straits. This
t.rOp may be declared our single source
of wealth.
The arbitrary extension Of III"
coastWise shipping laws to Hawaii de-
privcd us Of one-half the steamships
handling our n, iGht and passenger
traffic. The million and quarter
dollars of customs dues formerly
uTuilailc annually for local govern
lurut expenses are now shipped to IN"
uh-trcasurY at san Francisco. But
most important of all, the access Of our
AGRICULTURAL interests to the world IA
nor market Was cut off. PreSunah!N
il was tho belief Of Congress thai
American labor could be induced I"
WORK. III ot,r can, tIt lbs. for il is scarce
" thirkablc that it would Intentionally
make il innrarticahle for our great III
dustry to be continued. The effort /"
secure American. or even European
Labor. fcr field work has been undNdll-
ing. Thousands of dollars have been
spent and liberal Inducements "hcrrd,
| including free housing. good wages ana
| continuous employment. but the WHIT
man has steadily refused to enter the
| sub-trnpical cane plantation.
Under the monarchy and republic
| Hawaiian planters put their chief re-
| lance ON Chinese coolies. supplement-
cd ~ considerable numbers Of
Ja;3nesc. The loss Of the former WAS
first felt in the rice industry. which
vas carried on by that race exclusive
| ~. The Louisiana method OF cultlNa-
| ton is irapnssihlc in Hawaii, and under
| our lrCu!iar conditions the growing OF
| that STAPLE is dependent upon Chinese
| labor We formerly exported large
| amount of rice. but now have to i'm
| port enough for our own conSumptlon
THE distance from continental
| Europe tn Hawaii is onc-t third the cir
cult Of the globe. Field lahorers cam
| not make this long journey without III"
assistance prohibited by Federal law.
| THE entire native Hawaiian population
not engaged in business or as skilled
| artisans are employed in ranchinG ana
| the cultivation Of their own kulcanas;
| hence the Orient Is the only source OF
supply Since the chinese exclusion
| the Japanese have been practically the
only labortIs available. They are in
| the main energetic and effective. but
| since the V.r have become restless ana
| oxcitah". irresponsible agitatnrsammg
them have urged their fellows to strike
| for iInr.aSuuhb" wages. and i'll many
Ways Tho PLANTERS have been made 70
feel he hcIrlcssncss of having all their
I eggs in one basket.
Would il IL prcjuacial to the inter-
| est of American Wnrkingmcn to have =
| limited Immigration Of Chinese. re-
st"ictcd TO field and domestic labor.
With i careful system Of idcntific alton
| ana the obligation to return I" CHINA
| in three or five years? TIL" history OF
| Hawaii Turing the last five years shows
| clearly that it would not. During the
t.t1