The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-05-14
MAY ORDER A
GENERAL
STRIKE
(From Wednesdays Advertlsor.)

clhllou went OUT 10 llhntallon COM
mittees OF japanese on the Islands OF
Kauni. Maui and Hawaii by yester-
days steamers, apprising them OF the
strike movements on oahu Island
plantations. should the association
see chance Of winning. one word
by wireless to each island committee
will be the signal for Japanese labor
ers there TO strike for more pay.
Formal demands were presented TO
Manager Ross of Honolulu plantation
at Aiea yesterday, signed by a COM
mittee OF twenty members. The de.
mands are identical to those which APP
peared in yesterdays Advertiser.
Although the millmen on oahu plan
tation at Waipahu struck on Monday
the striking of the field laborers has
been postponed for various reasons,
the principal one being that the High
err Wage Association does not want TO
have too many unemployed laborers on
its hands at once.
Getting down to the basis of this
decision, 1t is said that financial am
munition is absolutely necessary To-
the strike agitators, and one planta-
ton at time Is all that can be ham
ultNs ne TlllNlilb NhNitlpiN
hope to obtain funds from those EN-
ployed. The original plan was to COM
mand strikes on two plantations at a
time, but this plan has been modified,
and Aiea alone will remain in the
breach for while. However, 1t was
given out by one of the leaders who
was in conference yesterday with the
editor of the Nippu Jill, the strikers
organ, that Waialua might have to be
brought into the strike zone in a day
or two.
mass meeting is to be called in
Honolulu some time this week, and
representatives of the laborers from
each plantation on this island are in
vited to be present. Contributions
will be asked for today and also at
the mass meeting.
The higher wage leaders have sent
word to the strikers that they must
refrain from drinking sake or becom-
ing intoxicated during the strike
tenure, SO that no difficulties may
arise from overheated brains. Fred
Maxine stated last night that If any
striker commits violence or incites to
riot the association will take a hand
III dSSlSllIlS piOGNNuAioh NhS
courts of law.
Maxine blames w. o. Smith, secre-
tary of the Planters Association, for
the present labor situation, and also
| states that the press has been an
agent in bringing the Higher Wage
| Association to its determination to call
a strike.
There is a vein of humor in the
situation at Aiea, in that the higher
wage leaders here express their adj
| miration for Manager Ross for acced-
| ing to the humble request of the
strikers that they be allowed to draw
| firewood supplies for their quarters in
| the camps.
"All the people on the plantation are
satisfied with Mr.. Ross" said Mr.. Ma
kno last night He is a gentleman"
The Chinese laborers at Aiea went
back to work yesterday, the Chinese
| Consul having been active in showing
| his countrymen that they had no
| cause for Joining the japanese.
| The places of the striking millmen
at Waipahu have been filed by Por-
tuguese and Porto Rican laborers.
One or two of the leaders have ex-
|
ment of Aiea plantation can not evict
the laborers from the plantation lin
It's, and If they attempt it they will
resist in the courts.
The formal demands made by the
strikers to Manager Ross of Honolulu
(Aiea) plantation, presented in writ
ing yesterday, are as follows:
Demands of the Strikers.
Aiea, City and County of Honolulu,
1. May 10, 1909.
Mr.. George Ross, Manager, Honolulu
Plantation Co., Aiea.
Dear Sir: We have the pleasure t.
express our keen appreciation of you
past kindness and favor, and it is par
ticularly pleasing to us to recollect tina
we have taken a part in the develop
; ment of the Honolulu plantation, there
by not only contributing to the up
building of the splendid and prosper
GUS plantation of which you are man
ager but also contributing our part i
the upbuilding of the Territory of Ha
wall in its economic progress. 1t shal
be our fondest and most cherished hop
to continue to help the development
and progress of your plantation, an
through it that of this Territory, tn
outpost of the American civilizatio
and its power and majesty-the NEE
8 ing place of the East and the West.
i While we thus look back upon tn
0 past with pleasure and pride, and loo
5 forward with hope and enthusiasm, til
4 progress of the time has brought abor
/ many varied changes necessitating a
enormous increase of expenditure
n which cannot be met with I'll
! present scanty wages Therefore it hs
4 become our painful burden to hereb
' respectfully present to you our requei
q for reasonable increase of wages.
The following are our requests;
v ID That the wages of the commC
: field hands, the lunas, the mule-me
a the mill.hands and all other kinds
! laborers be increased by eight dolla
= (Ss.0O) per month of twenty-six wor
. ing days worked. Provided, howeve
that the wages for one Sundays woi
! be paid at the rate Of two days wol
= of the secular week day.
(2) That the price of all kinds
'e piece work be Increased at the sau
!" rate as provided in the foregoii
- n.....1aa lomayar tha aoufra