The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-05-09
= The japanese in Hawai- !.

T, them chafc at the recently imposed
restriction Of Japanese labor. but even
| the sugar barons as whole seem To
see that the Japanese were becoming
too numerous. The threatened buying
| up of sugar stocks BY Japanese capital
lmay have had something to do with
their attitude. Among the more pros
isressiye planters are men who realize
that Hawaii ought not to bring ia any
more Orientals, even IL 1t could, ard
these are looking to the south OF
Europe for relief.
| Although they came to Hawaii at the
! Invitation OF the sugar planters and
| the Hawaiian government the Japa-
lnese have become the masters OF tho
social and Industrial life OF the terri
| tory. More than 10000 were brought
Tin under iron-clad contracts in the
Years between 1885 and 1890 The tide
was swelied eacn succeeding year. un-
| I'LL the recent restrictions. Where each
month used to bring from 500 TO 600
the number coming In now 10 not above
iI5o month. These are. under the
ready residing in Hawaii.
1 The great majority go 10 the cane
| fields. where they work for Sl3
month. the month consisting of tween
1 ty-sIx days of ten hours each. The old
contract system, which would he peon-
age, is abolished under American rule,
but the laborers are stu very much
bound to the soil Nevertheless their
| n was In Japan. years wages for
a farm-hand in Japan Is less than
1918. OF course living costs more IL,
Hawaii, but the average Japanese Ia
| borer lives on $40 or S12 II month and
saves SIS or IS. In n short time he ~
a wealthy man. according to his stand
ards Before the law prevented. a large
portion of these savings went 10 steam
| ships for transportation to the Pacific
Coast. Now many go back TO Japan,
but since the immigration restriction
| there is less migration and the Japa-
Inese declare they arc In Hawaii TO
/ stay.
| The cane field laborers have found
out that they could make more money
1 by working In the sugar mills, with
the result that semi-skillcd labor of
! the mills has been taken away from
white men and given to Japanese. The
same spirit of progress which former
lily carried them TO the mainland of the
Union Will now keep them In Hawaii,
lfor they see that the chance TO I'M
prove their condition is better now
THAT immigration has been curtailec
and the door OF greater hope on tho
mainland has been closed.
/ Servile lie may be now, but the Ha-
waiian japanese will not be content
| to remain SO. When the Tokyo govern
ment used some rough language to
Washington at the time OF the san
| Francisco school question, Hawaii
knew all about 1t, and the cocky Japa-
nese Were bold enough to boast thas
the Japanese flag. instead of the Stare
and Stripes, would soon fly over the
islands. Events have cooled their pa
triotism to the point of keeping their
mouths shut. but it is safe to say that
inine out OF ~very ten Japanese IN
the islands think that Japan could
take Hawaii whenever 1t pleased. and
that It is likely to please
| Several thousand veterans OF Inc
war with Russia are now working In
Hawaii. They have been the nucleui
1 for many wild rumors of military or.
! Eanizations and uprisings. most OF
(which were made Of whole cloth. But
lit Is true, nevertheless that these vet
Grams keep UP organizations, Just as
veterans of wars in every nation do
They may be seen on Sunday marching
about the country in military fornla-
/ ton. but they declare that their only
purpose Is a social reunion.
So much alarm was caused by TINS OFT
/ OF thing that the territorial legislature
last year passed law recurring, all
owners Of firearms to register them
with the county clerks. The result
Twas that the Japanese were shown TO
possess fewer firearms than the peo-
| pie OF any other nationality But even
these returns. 1t is know that the
limited states War Department took q
lserious interest in this registration and
examination. An officer Of the. RUS
sian general staff also came to Homo
lulu to inquire into the results Of the
Registration and to examine the Jana
.Inese veteran organization. The Japa-
|nese are sly and clever, hut their rep
utatfon for trickery has become so gen
eral that they are being closely watch
80 t q p 1905. by Frederic ].
|Haskin)
To- morrow-Hawaii to the Fore.