The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1910-06-07
CALIFORNIA WANTS LABOR TOO.


State Board of Commissioner of Labor,
on the Japanese in California, is re-
garded as having an important possible
bearing on the future policy of the
nation with regard to Japanese labor.
California having been the State main
ly responsible for the Japanese exclu-
sion policy now existing, the report of
the commissioner that the State alb
solutely needs some such labor as the
japanese, for the development of her
industries, is striking and important
new feature of the discussion. The
following, from an Associated Press alb.
stract of the report, which was fled
in Sacramento, May 81, shows that the
California labor commissioner thinks
that California needs labor about as
much as business men here think Ha-
wall needs labor:
''Some form of unskilled labor, such
as is now represented by the Japanese,
| is essential for the continuance and
development of the specialized agricul-
tural Industries of California.
"This is the broad conclusion of the
report of the State Labor Commissioner
| Just submitted to the Governor, on the
Japanese in California and which was
| prepared after over a year of careful
| field work by corps of special agents
4 among the farms employing Japanese.
| The investigation was authorized by
act of legislature just after the anti.
Japanese agitation in California in
1908 1909, and the report consists of
over 10000 words exclusive of mass
| of tabulated statistics.
"The so-called oriental problem in
this State is thoroughly discussed in
| the report and after searching inquiry
into all economic and social conditions
| finds that some form of unskilled labor,
capable of Independent subsistence,
quick mobilization and entailing no re.
sponsibility upon the employer for con
tinuous employment, is absolutely nee
essary to California Is field, orchard
and vineyard industries if these vast
enterprises are to be perpetuated and
developed. The report is of the opinion
that the Japanese are second only to
the Chinese in meeting these require
ments.
GAS to the complaints heard against
the Japanese in the districts in which
they are employed in great numbers,
the report states that they arise large
1
to secure higher wages. 1t is pointed
out, however, that there are few com
plants of this character except in such
districts as are dominated by the Japa
nese laborers by virtue of their mum
hers and the almost absolute depend
ence of the growers upon them for the
harvesting of the crops in the short
time the seasons allow for the work
The average duration of employment
on farms is less than two months il
the year In this connection the repor
; points out that the Japanese have
learned that they can make much more
money out of contract laboring thar
working for daily wages. The rough
average wage in the fields, orchards
and vineyards is given at approximate
ly $3.50 per day. Under the contract
system the laborers are able to make
from $500 to 800 per day. From
this they have passed to a more liberia
form of contract, working together OF
shares; to growing crops on GROUND
held by them under cash rental an(
in comparatively isolated instances, t.
actual ownership of the land.
/, 90 Japanese ambition, says the re
port, to progress beyond mere servilit,
q to the plane of the better class o
e American workmen, to own n home, t.
; operate industries, to be master and no
;. slave, is of the same quality as tina
, of the italian, the Swiss, the Port
uguese, the Russians, with whom h
n completes, and is in line with the ambi
? ton of that type of American who vii
q not compete with him. The momen
that this ambition is exercised, tina
moment the Japanese ceases to be a
ideal laborer.'
ffOf the character of the Japanes
3 laborer and his desire for an America
n education, the report speaks in hig
f terms. OF the responsibility and rel
n ability of the Japanese, contractor
l. small contractors, sublbosses or labol
a ers, the report states that they do nc
it compare unfavorably with white me
l. in the same stations. AS to the il
70 dividual Japanese laborer as compare
'. to the typical class of white laborel
l. now in the field and available for th
g. work, the report disclOses that the higI
+. err standard is that of the Japanese.
"Of the Japanese grower, whethC
land owner, or leaser, it is stated thi
he is found to be of a very high typ
N The investigators found that the lam
10 owning Japanese desired to make h
hViht ~ lhiH hOhhAig hAhb hN ~ phi
le adopted American customs and habi
10 of life and closely followed his Anne
y lean neighbors in many ways. I'll
s. agents invariably reported eourteol
O. treatment and hospitality when visi
.. ing these men.
~ f'The report states that it is not wit
~ in its province to offer suggestions
ie TO the solution of the labor profile
10 presented, but merely to present Il
20 facts as they have been found after
10 rigid scrutiny of everything beariI
IN upon Japanese life in California Grei
stress is laid upon the infinite lab
that was expended in gathering d
data from which it is drawn. II
NJ pointed out that virtually every far
I'd IN the districts where Japanese Al
a employed was personally yisitedj thl
rs the opinions Of employers Of Japane
- exclusively, Of mixed races and
Il. white laboreTs only were Interview