Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-13


Who declare there is ample white labor
to be had II wanted.
During the lifetime Of United states
Sc ator George Hearst Chinese labor
was generally used throughout the
state. The Chinese were coming from
the Celestial empire in great numbers,
and their services were In demand in
all directions because Of their cheap
moss. Senator Hearst used the the
Chinese on his lands and after his
death they were not disturbed by the
trustees Of the estate to any great
extent.
In the course of a month, when the
oranges Tipen and are ready for pick-
ing, fully two hundred Chinese and
Japanese laborers will be employed
ON the Hearst orange groves at Pa
lermo, near Oroville. Butte county. At
the present time the greater part OF the
work, with the exception of teaming,
for which the Chinese and Japanese are
not fitted, Is done by this labor, ASH
attic labor being preferred to white.
These laborers are paid $1,25 a day and
board themselv, ).
White Men Rebuffed
The policy OF the estate is to take
ASiatic labor wherever possible in
preference to whites. Attempts have
been made again and again to obtain
the employment of white labor on the
Hearst estate, but each attempt has
met with a rebuff.
The subject has aroused great indig-
nation in the community The Hearst
people are aware of the antagonism In
Palermo and surrounding towns and
villages to the employment of Chinese.
They know well that during the or
ange season scores of men and women
drive in from Marysvile, Chico and
but return disappointed on being told
that the white mans and white wo-
mans services are not needed.
That this treatment OF the laboring
class Of Butte county Is deeply re-
scented has been made known more
than once. Several years ago MUIR
murs of discomfort and indignation
were heard on the roadside and in the
cottages. The American workingmen
of Palermo and those disappointed
ones who come to the place in the
hope of obtaining work on the Hearst
estate become disguised. They behold
the MongolianS working at the orange
packing house, while they had to re-
main idle, and so many were the
threats that grew from the diSappoint-
ment and indignation that a serious
outbreak was looked for Men met and
discussed the matter, and while cool
heads argued that there was no re-
dress, that the Hearst estate people
in their position were more formidable
than any trust or monopoly, there were
others who favored a march on the es-
tate with the object of running the
army of Chinese fruit gathererS out of
the neighborhood. Wise counsel pre-
vailed, however, and beyond loud
threats no further steps were taken.
The country around Palermo is es-
Sentially devoted to agricultural in
dustry; therefore numerous able-bodied
tOilers tramp from the cities at this
time Of the year hoping to obtain en-
ployment. They resent the encourage
ment of the yellowskins and as Amer
leans cannot understand why despised
opium flends who live on five cents a
day should have the preference.
What the People Think
These interviews with persons of
prominence in the neighborhood of the
Hearst plantations show the feeling
regarding the preference shown for
Chinamen in the orchards and groves
instead of Americans.
The Rev. Louis Wallace, pastor Of
the Congrega tional church of Palermo,
said:
'T feet that the employment of Chi
nese by Hearst is detrimental to the
good and faithful workingmen and wo-
tricts, who can supply all the labor
necessary during the orange crops as
pickers packers and transporters. 1t
is a crime, when so many of our people
are able and willing to work, that they
are, nevertheless, superseded by Chin
ese, an element that is menace to the
people of our blood"
Byron Huse, resident of Palermo
for forty years, says
There is a good deal of hard feeling
against Hearst, and If he were doing
what was right he would cut the Chi
nese and Japs out. In packing, the
Chinese charge a little less, but, their
work is not nearly so good as that of
the white girls"
M. e. Pares, an old resident of Oro-
vile, declares:
Hearst talks a good deal in his
papers about the protection of the
laborers, but in view Of the fact that he
employs Chinese on his estates in Pa