The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1909-06-20
WOULD Invite
LABOR LEADERS

"I believe the Hawaiian Islands
would be benefited by extending an
invitation TO the great labor leaders of
the United States to visit the Islands
and investigate the kind of labor re-
uured in the fields of the sugar plan
tations," said gentleman yesterday,
who is in close touch with inner labor
council matters on the mainland.
"For instance if such men as Com
pers, Mitchell and others, well known
to newspaper readers, as well as the
heads of the great railway organiza-
tions, were brought here and given ev-
cry opportunity to ascertain from per.
sonal observation just what the labor
is in canefelds, learn concerning the
class of laborers who can best do that
work and the many other matters con-
nected with industrial conditions, pecu-
liar to the Hawaiian Islands, the is.
lands and the laboring organizations of
the United States would arrive at a
better mutual understanding.
at is well known that the labor or
ganizations, generally, are opposed to
Asiatic labor being brought into the
country where it will be competitor
with citizen labor. Their original idea,
of course, was in opposition to Chinese
being permitted to become so strong in
competition with American labor that
it would seriously injure the laborer 8
position, but that was long before Jap
anese competition became pronounced.
japanese labor, as we all know, is
now so well organized on the mainland
| that it has become a serious obstacle
to harmonious relations in industrial
circles. | am speaking from the stand
point of the American labor ofganiza-
tions
"There is no doubt but that the
strike of the japanese plantation labor
ers in Oahu has been made much of in
labor circles on the mainland. Those
circles are first of all favorable to man
ming any American territory with white
labor, and naturally they would be glad
to see white laborers displace Asiatic
laborers here. But visit to the cane
fields would probably reconstruct their
ideas on this subject. At least they
could obtain correct impressions. They
might take the view that after all, the
Chinaman is better suited to enter into
industrial competition or relations with
white labor than the Japanese, while
Jnelr ODJeCIlOHS 10 lHc bringing htIe
of Portuguese and Filipino labor would
be done away with or very much less
ened.
"Now, carrying out this idea that
the visit of labor leaders to Hawaii
would be beneficial, it is well known
that the labor organizations WELD con.
siderable influence in shaping national
legislation. For instance every big or.
ganization has its representative in
Washington. He keeps his finger OH the
pulse of all legislation and where he
believes there should be some attention
paid by his organization, he calls their
attention. to it. In the case of the
railway men, their council would take
action, and pressure would be brought
to bear upon Congressman. If the labor
leaders find that it might be advisable
to allow Chinese laborers to again cul.
tivate canefelds. they will present theii
views before their respective councils
and if those organizations want any
changes made, pressure will be brought
to bear upon Congressman.
"By all means invite these big labor
leaders down here to learn conditions
| for themselves -