The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1909-02-08
HISTORY OF
WAGE QUESTION
Continued from Page One.)

into public notice, it must be given to |
the writer in the Chronicle, Mr.. Shi- |
mazda, who is now rldiculed by the |
Nippu Jill as traitor and spy for |
his conservatism. /
Then, it happened that Mr.. Tasaka,
who was then travelling on Maui as a |
representative of the Nippu J.ji, saw
his chance to swell his list of subscrib- |
ers; and upon his return the Nippu |
Jill, in very radical way, began its
campaign for higher wages.
About this time Mr.. G. Negoro, who
lust then came back from California,
contributed to the Shinpo an article
advocating higher wages; but it was
not published, because his argument
was radical and would have been an
unnecessary affront to all employers
of japanese laborers.
On principle, the Shinpo encourages
industrial Cancellation; and though we
favored the proposition of higher
wages, we thought it entirely against
our principle to seek to antagonize our
laborers-who were apparently con-
tented-against their employers.
The Nippu Jill, in the meantime,
began campaign which was thoughe
to bring about the same result as tnat
which Mr.. Negoro proposed. Then, the
Shinpo s interviews with the represeD
tatives of the Hawaiian Sugar Plant
ers' Association, which were publshed
to give both sides of the question,
were attacked as being something
meant to obstruct the cause OF higher
| wages.
The Chronicle, which was no par
| ticipant in the discussion up to then,
saw the mischief of the agitation car
| ried on by the Nippu Jill, and joined
with the Shinpo. The paper afterward
became a strong advocate OF peaceIul
methods for the solution of the ques-
| ton.
1t must he noted here, for the better
understanding of our attitude by the
white critics, that about year ana
half ago the representatives OF the
| japanese papers held conference, III
which it was agreed that any antlpathy
between the different papers that ex-
listed should be wiped out and ali
should Join hands in the upbuildlng OF
| a peaceful and harmonious japanese
communicable state IN which alone
we can advance the prosperity ana Wei
| fare of the resident japanese and con-
| tribute to the progress of the territory
| AS consequences of the peace ana mar
mony that prevailed among us, better
spirit was shown in different enter
| prises; further step toward our as
Sanitation with other races became pos
sible; very happy and enthusiastic
reception was tendere to the fleet. We
were one in advancing our interests IN
a peaceful manner.
Why could we not now Join hands III
advancing the interests of our laborlng
class? Indeed, it came about during
the beginning of the present contro-
versy that some responsible gentlemen
made an attempt at Cancellation. The
representatives of the papers met and
discussed the matter at issue, and more
peaceful methods were agreed upon.
While deliberate consultations were be-
ing carried on the Nippu's restlessness
again broke the harmony. The paper
was jealous to secure the credit when
it tried to claim from the laborlng
class.
The paper again resumed its first at
titude and began vigorous agitation,
which was very much resented by the
Chronicle and the ShInpo
The Nippu saw the chance of its life,
for the higher wage agitation became
very popular among the plantation
laborers.
1t began with vehement attacks upon
the Chronicle and the Shinpo, which
remained conservative: called their OPP
ponents dogs, pigs, spies, and what not.
The conservative elements were term
ed right through as traitors and
wretches Mr.. Fred Maxine became
the president and Mr.. G. Negoro the
secretary of the association. Socalled
High Wage drama was proposed to
ridicule the editors of the Shinpo and
J the Chronicle. 1t was, indeed, pur-