The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-10-15
GOMPERS
MIGHT HELP Us

Solving ths labor question n IA.
val by securing 90 aofogatiou u tie
contract labor law l the idea Which
has occurred ~ Robert stein, u wash.
ington, DcY who has addressed the
promotion COMMITTEES ID the matter.
AT. Stein suggests that the matter be
taken aP with samuel G9mpers, presl.
dent Of the American FedsrRslon Of
Labor, and biz assistance solicited. The
letter u az Interesting one as showing
no" our labor situation IL being studied
on the mainlsnd
~ the present time IL IL permissible,
under a ruling by the Attorney Gen,
eral az Washington, fOT the TsrTitOTy
10 assist white immigrants into ia.
wan, but these Do not come IN under
contract, nor h there any obligation
upon them 20 work when they Do ar.
Hye here, Or even stay iD the country.
Mr. STEMS letter say,
White Immigration.
Having had occasion recently 10
study the Hawaiian situation, an idea
has occurred 70 me which may possibly
be ~ value. The foremost aim III the
fedefal and territorial governments,
and suppose Of your OVB OYgaBiza,
ton, seems 10 be 10 promote white i'm,
migration, The greatest ObstsQis Ia
the w6y 0f this aim IL the federai
c0ntrnet labor law, IN recruit labor,
eTs for Hawaii In the United etates IL
dl1iepIt, because WaRss on The main.
lana are higher than IN the Territory,
immigrants from foreign counties Win
not come spontaneously, because III the
great distance n Il highly desirable,
therefore, that Hawaii be Gxempted
from the operation NJ the egntraet labor
lgW Hawaiian government immiQyas
il0n agents ought N be absolutely free
~ enlist immigrants IN any EufODean
country and make any cObtraets with
them that may be deemed best Tor
the TeuitOry,
Federation Could Ala,
~ seems ~ me that congress could
be induced W grant such exemption,
The c0nif6et l6bOT I6W YBE passed NJ
the demand VI Organized labor in tho
United States md II maintained in re.
Spouse 10 TINT demand, Now / under,
stand Tint In IIGwaii organized labor
Is not only not opposed ~ white immi.
gTatiOn but earnestly IN favor nj 10,
IN order ~ strengthen Itself against
Asiatic competition, " the tTads
unions ~ Hawaii would address The
American Federation Of Labor nj
Washington, nc, asking that the fed.
eratl0H petition congress fOr a law
exempUpg lIaw6ii from the operation
| ~ tho cOBtrGct lGbOr law, ! nm In,
cllDed 10 think TINT the federation
would do 10, Mr., OOmDers, ils pTesi.
dent, II thoroughly reasonable man,
who Is anxious above oil 10 keep the
federation from placiBg Itself IN an
attitude Of opposition ~ the public
welfare on any question, lie would
perceive that the Introduction ~ white
c0lonists into Hawaii direct from Eu,
rope, by tho assistance Of the Terri,
toTlnl government, could not become n
monaco ~ the labor Interests ON the
mainland, since these immigrants would
hive no greaier faeility NJ rsaelinq tho
| mainland from Hawaii thHn they now
blye ~ reGcblBg II from Europe, The
officers " the federation NJ Washing,
ton would probably consult tho fTads
Unions % the Pacific cOast, and these
would almost certainly vote IN favor
OF the proposed exemption, since ~
would lessen Oriental competition Tor
them also, by shutting our Oriental i'm,
migration from Hawaii
"Asan additional measure NJ security
u might DO provided that the eyemp,
ti0n shall hold good foF 0ne yeaT only,
70 be renewed only IN cRse tho irads
unions " Hawaii Gnd tho American
Federation Of LabOr continue IN de-,
mand w. " might be further provided
TINT no assisted Immigrant into In,
wall shall, during FIVE yGars from data
~ landing IN Hawaii, be admitted 10
the mainland 0f the United States
livery truly yours,
flunnEIm kIuFIM -