Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1908-12-28
wage AGITATORS
FRAME RESOLUTIONS
Asahi Theatre Meeting Is
Productive Of Much
Talk

labor force;
Whereas, Sixty-nine cents a day for
the plantation hands is an inadequate
reward for the laborers' toll under the
tropical sun in the cane bushes
Whereas. The present wages sched
ule Is framed upon a misconceived
principle, fitted for a coolie laborer or
d laborer In a condition Of semislavery,
but utterly united and unsuited for
iignified and self.respecting labor;
Whereas, The prices for laborers
daily necessities have advanced at
least 25 per cent. since the present
wages schedule was adopted;
Whereas, The number OF married
men and children has rapidly in,
creased;
Whereas, Decent, respectable houses
should be provided for the married
men;
Whereas. That, although the
churches. chapels. temples and schools
have increased. their number should
be still more increased md the phys.
ical and spiritual qualities have neces.
STATED an increased burden on the lab.
| orers: therefore. be II
Resolved. BY the japanese mass
meeting. held In the Asnhi Thcater this
eth day of December, 1908.
That the principle Of wages govern.
ing the wages of the plantation hands
be entirely changed from one govern
ing the coolies wages to that govern.
ing that Of dignified and self.respect.
ing labor, so as to enable the laborer
TO rise from the level Of coolie to the
dignity Of a laborer conscious of high
Responsibilities as member OF free
community;
That the present wages should b.
Immediately Increased to a sum abote
ut least $3.50 per month OF twenty.six
working days. and the wages OF the
women be CORRESPONDENCE increased;
That the Wages Conference pro.
posed by the Higher Wages Associa.
ton should be Immediately held be
tween the said Higher Wages Associa.
ton and the planters:
That copy OF this resolution be
sent to the Hawaiian Sugar Planters
Association through the Higher Wages
Association;
That the chairman Of the mass meet.
ing is hereby instructed to sign this
resolution and to forward a coup OF
this resolution to the Higher Wages
Association for the purpose OF having
II transmitted to the Hawaiian Sugar
Planters Association by the said
Higher Wages Association.
Done at the Asahi Theater. Homo
lulu, T. H., the night OF December "a
1908
As soon as the above resolution
had been read to the japanese audi
ence which gathered In the Asahi
theatre on Maunakea street to listen
to the speakers, relative to the high
er-wage proposition, they rose &c
their feet and unanimously sanseied
(adopted) It. The sansei was given
with enthusiasm. Fred. X. Maxine
president OF the japanese Associa
tion for Higher Wages" presided.
1--WE are not here to strike" said
: Maxine, but we are assembled her,
tonight to speak on the higher-wag,
proposition In a quiet and peaceful
manner" He then scored certain
i Japanese newspapers for not takini
[ a hand in the matter like true Japan
csc, whose duty II is to render assist
!. ance to those who are oppressed
4 The proposition relative to increas
: Ing the wages OF plantation Japanes
laborers is Of such Importance that 1
0 should be handled carefully" said he
r He told the audience present to q
j. slowly In the matter. SO as to avoi
e trouble.
For the first time since the compile
!, ton Of the Asahi theatre, It wa
n crowded to its utmost capacity. Spe
Z cial seats were reserved for prominen
n Japanese merchants. hotel keepers
u and professional men, and they a.
listened to the speakers attentivel,
:, Maxine, having criticised the Ha
: wall Shinpo. the Jiju and the Dali
r. Chronicle. told the audience that the
IS should not continue to patronize ther
d In the future, as they were not doin
4. what was right for tho workingmeI
y The audience once more shoute
a their approval.
n Mr.. Yamagi. one of the merchant
IF then addressed the audience. II,
10 like Maxine, roasted Editor Sheba {
y the Hawaii Shinpo and said that h
% regretted that Sheba was not preser
~ to speak to the laborers, who ha
m come from outside districts to be pre-
a ent at the meeting.
Of Editor Tasaka OF the Nippu Ji
y. was introduced. He was receive
X with prolonged applause.
o. Gentlemen" said he. I'VE are a
~ sembled here to discuss the wag,
IN proposition peaceably. The Japane,
u. plantation laborers are not receivin
he good wages today. Eighteen dolla
In a month is not sufficient to live O.
u especially when man has Il fami
u 4, aunnnrt