Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-28

above immfersnts were Japanese and ~
per cent Chinese, while 1900 or 10 Per
cent. were OF European nAtfcnnlittes, three
fourths Of the latter. or O. per cent of tho
whole. being Portuguese from the A1ores
and Madeira. These Portuguese were
brought there around Cape Horn at cost
OF &68.46 per head including women ana
children. making about =. II per head for
male laborers These Portuguese proved
themselves among the most capable OF the
lsborers. and altogether the most desifanie
class OF Immigrants as citizens. except the
few northern whites. But during the
twenty years since their importation ceased
most OF them have drifted away from the
plantations and majority have created
homes In the towns or upon farms.
Estimated merely by their capacity for
either unskilled or skilled labor, the Chi
nese are much the most valuable immi-
grants for the plantations, and Tar supe-
rior to the Japanese In both actual strength
and steadfness at work. But from various
causes 1t has long been didfcult to con-
borers. and since 1905 annexation and
United States laws have altogether pre-
cluded Chinese immigration. And believe
1t to be due to American Labor sentiment
to acknowledge that the presence of a large
Chinese population In Hawaii would neces-
sarily prevent the growth here Of any large
element of Americanixed white people IL
Is beyond question that 1t Is Impossible Ior
the white artisan or laborer to compete
with the Chinaman in cheapness of produc-
ton or OF personal expenditure. II Ha-
wall is to continue undergoing the present
efficient process of Annericanizauon. II De-
comes necessary to prohibit the further Inn
portation of Chinese laborers, however DE-
sirable their assistance may be, or however
meritorious Cinnamon are personally. AT
any rate, that question has been decided TOT
US willy nilly.
As a source of labor supply on the old
plantation system, the Japanese immisTa-
ton is still open to Hawaii, although from
various causes with diminished hperah.y.
Del 80 1nfr n lorr am N
Japanese laborers upon the mainland, ana
very considerable emigration OF these
people has been In progress to Cail1ofmA
and Washington This has been iarse
enough seriously to affect the plantations,
and to make stringent the already CHROME
shortage of labor. The wages offered az
the coast are much higher than those PAID
here. although probably the employment 10
more intermittent. any rate, at current
prices Of sugar the plantations absoluteiy
cannot afford to raise the current rate OF
wages. For another thing, the japanese
laborer Is FESTIVE and fitful. therein wnoiiy
unlike the Chinaman, who Is steadiness
personified. The Jap is indisposed to stay
long In one place unless tied down more by
family conditions. OF the 111,OOO japanese
immigrants brought here during the iasl
twenty-five years, not more than one-1nh
are now on the plantations, and little more
than one-half in the country, counting In
the not inconsiderable number OF their
children born here.
Importation Of Portuguese.
Altogether, a condition has arrived when
something has got to be done, II the pan
tations are to get the number OF laporers
necessary to keep going. And somethihs
is being actively done to that END. Meas
ures are being taken for resuming the I'M
portstion of European laborers, and espe-
cially of Portuguese from Madeira ana the
Azores The new feature or THIS move
to he OF the 1cOSTdl
and territorial governments to furtner IL
The federal government consents 10 per
nit an assisted immigration, such as would
otherwise be illegal, and which mas pen
Illegal hitherto. under the condition that
the Immigrants shall be enabled TO puF-
chase homes for themselves upon arrival
here There is to be no engagement On
their part to labor on plantations Or else
where which would involve the Illegal eie-
M emit but the plantations will advance the
money to bring them here, and Will Sc
cure for them permanent hoidlngs anu
homes upon the plantation iamos, r,, mh he
the cultivation of cane Will necessarily pc
come their employment. Such a provision
of homes will necessarily involve great
eyperse to the planters, an expense 50
great that only an absoiu'e Necessity
could induce them to make IT,
I suppose the value OF the smallest nome
lot allowable say one acre, would not De
less than $500 including the right to water
for irrigation while the COST OF an aue.
Z
be $500 more or 81 coo in all. Estimating
an importation of 5000 Portuguese families
during the first year, this would involve
an immediate outlay of $5,0OO,0OO Tor the
homes to be supplied them. besides the COST
of their passages probably $50 or 500 per
family 1t is evident that this VIII De
very burdensome undertaking for our plant
ers especially when 1t must be repeated
for several years. 1t will, OF course, DC
nruyided that the immigrants shall u1l-
r,ateIv repay their debt to the plantations
But It Will be very heavy load thus 10
advance to the immigrants from 70 to ~
ner cent of the entire value of the plan
tations
The cooperation of the territorial gov
erument will take the form of securing
from the planters obligations 70 Iurnish
the homes which are to be supplied TO the
Immigrants under pledge from the terri
tory. This government agency Will also
be called into action in enabling the plant
ers to find the lands needed. A very con-
siderable proportion of the lands which
they occupy are under long leases, either
from the government or from private IN
dividuais, and therefore could not be trans
ferred In fee simple to the immigrant. IN
the case of government leases an ADJUST
ment could be made for the transfer; or
In some cases adjacent government lands
could be used for the purpose.
It is now probable that an agent of the
territorial government sent at the expense
of the planters will soon proceed to Por-
tugal and the islands to secure the needed
immigrants 1t is understood from the
Portuguese living here that large numbers
of their home kindred are anxious to join
them in these favored islands, and Will