The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1910-07-10
VIRTUAL SLAVERY.
AYERS GOMPERS
President of American Fedora.
tiOn of Labor Scores Condi-
tiOns in Hawaii.
PITIABLE CONDITION OF
DECEIVED PEASANTS
Lured by Sugar Planter to Ac-
cept Employment Under
False Representations.
y Leased Wire to The Tribune.

BY Leased Wire to The Tribune.
WASHINGTON. July o.-That approx.
mate slavery exists In the Hawaiian
Islands Is the charge made by Samuel
Gompers. president of the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, to the department OF
commerce and labor He has fled a
memorial ON the subject and demanded a
full investigation. Sugar planters. act
ing through the Hawaiian government,
Gompers charges, have been Turing peas
ants from Harbin, in the interior OF 81
beria, to the islands. Russians and Ha-
walian agents are engaged In the work
They recruit peasants, Gompers says, by
attractive pamphlets and in these and
by other means promise the peasants
wages OF S45 per month, free homes, fuel,
light furniture, gardens, evening schools,
free hospitals, half pay during sickness
free railroad fare and free schools for
children. y delegation Of 5000 deluded
Siberians went to the islands last Octo-
Der and the total number yielded TO the
lure OF the planters was more than
1000 Their experience. in part, is thus
set forth by President Gompers;
Rudely Disillusioned.
Instead of all the comforts above
described, the people found roohess wood
en- shanties with floors Of rough boards.
The furniture consisted OF two benches
table and few beds. Instead OF prom
ised electric lights. kerosene lamps were
used; the food was the roots OF sugar
cane, which the men were to carry from
three to seven miles.
Instead of free transportation to and
from work, the men had to walk a dis
tance OF five miles. and the time con-
sumed was not included In the working
day. ANY lateness from five TO ten min
utes. was punished by deduction OF a
quarter days pay The wages paid were
S22 per month for men, and S13 per
month for women. They were com
PEELED to buy their provisions In the plan
tation store at such eXorbitant prices
that they exceeded the earnings due, and
they became debtors OF the planters.
after three months OF suffering and
qulat submission" continued Mr.. Com
pers, ''havlug spent not only their scanty
earnings, but the money they brought
with them the men revolted and, leav-
Ing the plantation, went to Honolulu 10
Inform the American government,
through its regularly constituted au-
thorities.
"rhe people looked for work else
where, bat could find none.
Government Indifferent
''The governor of the territory was in.
formed OF the unbearable conditions by
delegation OF men. but the only answer
they received was that they were TO re-
turn TO the plantation with a promise
that the conditions would be improved.
THE people returned TO work, but
finding no fultilln1ent OF any of the PROM
ises. they began TO appeal for assistance
from the outside world. and upon ars
ing in protest were driven from the plan
tation. Some found employment on Jap
anese vessels, others were left breadless
and homeless, all being cvcted from their
shantics and their belongings thrown out
Into the open fields