The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1908-03-30
Chinese immigration for Hawaii
By E. w. Thwing.

g By E.
ssSssssSSSSssss>sssseSsssss
This is a question of practical value
to every citizen of Hawaii. 1t is {
| question that must be considered owe
| and over again. and repeatedly pre-
scented to the thinking people of the
United states. Information is needed
more than anything else, as the grea
mass of the American people, and, il
fact, many of the lawmakers a
Washington. know little of the rea
conditions affecting the Chinese Labor
| question in Hawaii.
| Although legislation by Congress:
| should not be expected, or attempted
| this year, while other such importan
| issues are engrossing the attention OF
| Washington and the entire country
yet now is a good time to scatter facts
and explain conditions. Information
continuously and persistently given,
from many sources, will help prepare
the way for action and right legisla-
ton another year. AS was said by the
or two of campaigning to a specific
idea is often essential to the enact
ment of a good law If the people
of America can only know and I'M
derstand the truth about the Chinese
now here, and the supply that is need
ed, there will be no trouble in Hawaii
getting what is asked for, and getting
it without delay. Ignorance and mis-
information are the basis OF much of
the existing prejudice against the Chi
nese entering America. This must be
overcome by abundant information and
continued explanation.
CHINESE INDUSTRY.
The Chinese now in Hawaii have
come almost entirely from the indus
trious, Woodworking, farming class of
South China. They are in their own
country an agricultural people, and are
peaceable, law-abiding and willing to
learn. They make the best labor Ha-
wall has ever had. They began the
planting of rice, and started the first
sugar plantation, in these islands.
They began over fifty years ago, by
their thrifty energy, to develop and
increase the wealth and resources of
these islands. They have reclaimed
and made productive large tracts of
formerly worthless lands. They have
interested themselves in public i'm
provements, works of charity, Chris
tian churches, schools and newspa-
pers. A large part of their money is
spent in the Territory. Their taxes
furnish a good share of the support
of the government.
The Chinese children are most dill
gent in school, often leading in their
classes, and furnishing a good exam
pie to other nationalities. Many of
the young Chinese born in Hawaii
gladly avail themselves of the privi-
leges of American citizenship. And as
citizens they are. credit to the COM
munity. The Chinese here have been
treated fairly and kindly. They are
well liked by the Hawaiians, and also
by the whites. There is no Chinese
race question in Hawaii. They have
lived for more than fifty years in
friendly intercourse, with all the vari-
Gus nationahties in the islands.
MORE CHINESE NEEDED IN HA-
WAII.
L. AtiIltCd A0lilDSI III N<i1IllCSC idpOI-
ers are needed in Hawaii for the fol-
lowing reasons, among others:
1. For Work in the Cane Fields
Sugar is the main industry of the is
lands, and demands much unskilled
labor. European labor can be used to
some extent, but does not make a per-
manent or satisfactory supply, for the
work in the hot cane fields. White
labor is not fitted for. this. If the
labor supply is cut off, the whole SUI
gar Industry is endangered, and every
American enterprise IN Hawaii will
suffer. The very origin and continu-
ance of this the most important in
dustry, and the one that has made
possible the American Hawaii of to-
day, is largely due to the Chinese. It's
continued prosperity may depend on
the admission of a limited supply of
Chinese labor.
2. For the Culture of Rice.-Rfce
growing is second only to sugar. Only
the Chinese will do this laborious work
in the rice fields. Nearly 10000 acres
of land, much of ii worthless swamp,
have been put under cultivation by
the Industrious Chinese farmers of
Hawaii. 1t is somewhat less now, as
some rice lands have had to be aban-
doned for lack of labor. The annual
value of rice grown here is over one
million dollars. Annual rents on rice
lands of over 100000 are paid by the
Chinese. However, owing to the de-
creasing number of Chinese laborers,
some rice growers have had to re-
duce their business. Some have lost
their all in the crippled condition of
this important industry. caused by in
sufficient labor. Much of the rice
lands, if abandoned, will be useless for
anything else. 1t would mean def
mite and important loss of some of
Hawaii's important resources
3. For Pineapple, Banana and Rub
Der Growing.-The American farmer
can take up government lands, and
raise the above products with profit.
But he also needs some Chinese farm
hands, to do the hard field work, set
out the pines and prepare the plants.
If limited nun1bpr Of Chinese ,-a