The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1906-12-14
Planters
Worrying
Over Sargent
REALIZE THAT IF HE MAKES
ADVERSE REPORT HE WILL DO
ISLANDS GREAT HARM.

Although Commissioner General Of
immigration Frank p. Sargent was
given re gran send-off" as the French
would say, still there are quite a num-
Der of people here who will be on the
anxious seat until after the nature of
his report to the President relative to
conditions in this territory, be known.
1t has been rumored about town ever
since the Nippon Maru, departed, last
Tuesday, that Sargent would be rather
severe in his criticism of the plantation
interests in the matter of Japanese inn
migration.
Sargent finally showed his hand dur
ing the course of an interview. He
declared in favor of higher wages, he
declared himself as opposed to both
the Japanese and Filipino labor and
further more expressed himself as
strongly in favor of the plantations
securing labor from Europe. In view
of the presidents recommendation that
the Japanese be naturalized, this ex-
preston by Sargent might at first seem
to be indirectly a slap at RoOsevelt's
pro-Japanese recommendations and
certainly seems criticism of the Presi-
dents message to Congress.
Sargent had never before expressed
himself so positively upon the ques-
ton of Japanese immigration to these
islands. At least the fact had not be-
fore been made public. He may have
reported adversely to the President
upon the Japanese being practically the
sole character of labor for the island
plantations but the fact has never been
made public
Sargent's expressions about European
labor are in direct line with the utter
ances of the president relative to Ha-
wall and it is safe to say that Sargents'
remarks can be taken as quasi-official
fl ON the President himself.
1t is upon this score that there is
not little nervousness being felt here
in certain quarters. If Sargent re-
ports to the President that he does not
believe the local interests are acting in
good faith toward the Administrations
policy of trying to create middle class
of labor for Hawaii, he will injure the
islands greatly in the eyes of Roose-
welt. The plantation interests are oc-
cupying a very unpleasant position in
this respect. While nominally Sargent
was sent here to observe the reception
and disposition of the Portuguese inn
migrants from the Azores, he was sent
for far more important purpose than
hat He was undoubtedly sent to
| make a careful inquiry into the feeling
cf the commercial interests and the
various Federal and territorial officials
relative to the labor and immigration
questions of the islands and to make
known to the President what the result
of his inquiry was.
Whether Sargent went away with an
unfavorable impression in his mind
toward the plantation interests as is
commonly reported, can not be stated
| Nor is there likely to be anything in
this respect known until after he shall
| have made his personal report to the
president.
| In this connection there is one very
/ significant fact. Sargent who came
| here under express orders from the
/ President, recommends against the
/ japanese as laborers and he does this
| in the face of the presidents recon.
! mendation that the Japanese be al.
lowed to become citizens of the United
States. The most natural inference
/ that can be drawn from the discre
pancies between Sargent's statements
and the Presidents recommendations
is that Sargent does not believe thai
the President has any idea that the
Japanese will be naturalized and tina
the President does not secretly wan
them to be.