The Hawaiian gazette., 1906-06-15
MOLOKANS
POWWOWED

The invading force Of Molokans took
possession of the THIRD Legislature
reservation beneath the big monkey
pod tree in the Capitol grounds yes
terday. Their leaders entered the
Capitol to treat for terms. and then
came away without getting what they
wanted.
In fact, there were two divisions
making known their grievances to the
Governor. The first was represented
by Mike" whose adherents are still
at Kappa, Kauai. To the Governor Ne
stated the situation of the Molokans.
concluding with the announcement
that he and his adherents liked Ha-
wall and wanted to remain here. He
made statements before the Governor
as to what he considered to be the
Molokan side of the colonization
scheme. He said the people wanted
day labor at Kapaa, and Col. Spalding
had refused. In all this conference
Mr.. Kotinsky was the interpreter.
While Mike" was closeted with the
Governor, a Douma of the other fac
tion had formed about the desk of Sec
retary of the Territory Atkinson. The
Leather-Collar man was there, the
man with the terra blouse and
the men whose hair is cut after a
bowl has been placed over their heads.
John" seemed to be the leader of this
| faction.
While resting in the Third Legisla-
ture section under the monkey-pod.
John" and his companions met. Man
| ager George Fairchild of the Makee
Plantation whose of
the Russians We're given houses and
en opportunity to till the soil. The
manager and the Russians were on
very friendly terms, but in all that
was said 1t was plain to see that the
Molokans did not want to go back to
Kapaa. 1t is not altogether certain
that Manager Fairchid wanted them
back either, for thus far they have
been a costly experiment to the plan
| ia ton.
| The manager explained before
John that soil had been turned by
the plantation for the Russians to
plant and at this stage the Mookans
quit. They wanted day labor at the
plantation, and said they could not live
on the wages offered them.
John" in answer to a question said
|
trical worker and carpenter in Los
Angeles and had received $3.50 per day.
That was the sum he wanted IL he,
continued to stay at Kapaa. Another
man said he had been an electricaR
worker botf at Los Angeles and Tihis.
Others in the group had been drosky,
or hack-drivers. Mr.. Fairchild re-
marked that these people were not a
community at all.
John" said he had lived for while
near Winnipeg and that he had been
with the Doukhobors.
The crowd is residing at the Magoon
block and are waiting for some phil
anthropic person to pay their way
back to California. That phil
anthropic person has not yet loomed
up and the signs are that he will not
! appear.
. 1t is further believed that many of
J these men are well provided with
) money. A thousand dollars is said to
l be in the possession of one man.
e Another is reputed to have $500 and so
on. But all proclaim their poverty and
e roll up their eyes and shrug their
shoulders when they are told that they
l have ample means.
S office did not reach the Governor
e After Mr.. Kotinsky and Mike" were
n through with the Governor, Kotinsky
Joined the group at. the table. Wher
the Governor sent for them, Mr.. Ko-
tinsky said it was not worth while fol-
the Governor to hear them as all they
wanted was the Governor to devils,
ways and means for their transporta
ton to the mainland.
There are about ten families left a
Kapaa. Whether these will continu'
there or not is not known. Mike
wants them to stay.
Mr.. Fairchild stated yesterday tina
what was said of the Molokans beinl
strong and enduring is true, but a
men behind the hoe. they are not equa
to the Japs Their strength lies Il
their ability to lift weights and II |
said that as stevedores they might b
capital men. but working all day in
canefield is not in their line.