The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-05-13
A|EA MANAGER REFUSES To ACCEDE

the japanese on the outlying portions
of the plantation did not quit. The
mill is shut down.
, Yesterday the mill was running
under reduced force, and I can not
tell you what cane We have on hand
but it is not very much, as we have
been cutting slowly for the past few
days. Everything has been very quiet,
with no trouble
Can Stay Out Six Months.
Maxine is authority for the state
ment that the Aiea strikers, at least,
have determined to stand by and can
remain out six months if necessary
1t is known that the strike commit
tees, and particularly the Higher
Wage Association, are making an eff
fort to get contributions. They have
an added expense now for attorneys
services, and this, with the mainte-
nance to be provided for the strikers,
will amount to considerable
Attorney Lightfoot's Statement.
Mr.. Lightfoot, when his attention
was called to the statement in the
Bulletin of his purported remarks at
the Japanese meeting on Tuesday
night, said he did not make many of
the statements accredited to him, in
the way in which they We're put.
What I did say to the Bulletin and
what 1 did say at the meeting" said
Mr.. Lightfoot, was this: 1 was ask
ed by certain people who are called
agitators to address a meeting to be
nj in Of boI
higher-wage movement The hall was
crowded with Japanese, representative
business men. I stated to them that
the press did not offer any serious
argument against an increase of wages
to the Japanese, but they did say that
the time was not ripe for an increase
of wages just now. The same idea
| was expressed by Mr.. Kinney in the
case of the Territory VS.. Y. Sega, in
which he states these words:
1T may be that the laborers are
| entitled to more wages, but who can
| tell that the earnings of the planta-
| tons will be as great for the next ten
| years as they have been for the past
| few years?'
1.-THE newspapers were also opposing,
l told them. the movement for higher
wages, on the ground that it was be-
ing conducted by agitators. I said
| that for months the japanese laborers
have been trying by every proper
means they knew of to secure higher
wages, but they have failed. The in
creased cost of living, the things they
have learned to have in Hawaii, made
| them feel entitled to higher wages,
especially in view of the fact that
most of the plantations could afford
to increase the wages, somewhat, as
their profits were very large. Having
| failed in their overtures, as said,
| to the Planters Association, these
| oyertures at times not having been
treated courteous1y, they felt they
must do something and they had de-
termined to strike.
/ In striking. 1 said, they were fol-
lowing the example which had been
set by white workingmen in the Unit
ed States and England, viz, that
where there was a dispute between
employer and laborer which could not
be amicably settled, the workmen went
out on strike until the differences
were settled. It is recognized. T said.
strike, and I saw no reason why the
japanese laberers on the plantations
should not strike if there was no other
way open to them to get an increase
of wages
The strike was on, I said. Tt was
matter that could not be laughed
down and must be considered as q
/ serious thing. I believed that the Jap
anese were entitled to an increase in
, wages. and l hoped that the strike
: would be successful.
, AS TO the strike being conducted BY
4 agitators. the leaders of strikes are
e always called agitators. Very otter
e in the United States these agitators
e generally called walking delegates
have encouraged strikes for their owr
n benefit. l said I knew the leaders O
: the higher wage movement, and die
+ not believe that any of them wer,
advising the strikers or the leader.
for pay. I have never heard of thei
receiving pay, nor had / ever heard
(, that they expected pay
g Leaders, | said. are necessary il
+ every movement, and it is necessar,
that strikers should have leaders
g otherwise strikes would be more seri
l, Gus. [ said that it was the intention
h of the strikers and their synpathizer
e to conduct the strike in an orderly an.
o lawful manner. I said that acts O
Re violence committed by them not onl,
If does not do their cause any good, bu