The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1911-03-24
CHINESE SIDE OF
POI QUESTION

Editor Advertiser:-K allow US
some of your valuable space to ex.
press our views, relating our side of the
case regarding the "Poi Question, "
as much has already been given by
Others in your paper
AS we have been deprived Of work
for so long by the order Of the au-
thorities in power, we have no means to
resort to, except the public, the back
bont of the American government, for
remedy and assistance, that we may be
permitted to resume our work.
For the past fifty years, we, owners
of about fifty poi factories in the city,
have been manufacturing poi legally
and peaceably and in accordance with
the rules Of the board of health; sup
plying the kind and honest Hawaiian
people fairly and without molestation
from any body polite whatsoever.
Sorry indeed were we to hear of the
discovery of such dreadful disease US
cholera, which as accounted for by the
local board of health, was due to the
filthy condition of the poi manufactured
ut the Chinese shops In the city. While
we were informed of this danger, we
were in accord with the board, realizing
the seriousness Of tho disease and the
importance of guarding the health and
peace of the community, in which we
have been earning our living, we agreed
to close our shops for several days AT
the present time we have been closed
for over twenty days and the cholera Is
known to be stamped out; why thea
does not the government permit us to
resume our tradeq
Has the government such a wicked
intention as to take advantage Of this
incident to deprive us tho privilege Of
manufacturing poi, whereby several
hundred Of tho Chinese IN this city
will not be able to make a liyingf For
the past years the Hawaiian people had
mover complained OF tho poi manufae-
tured by us as destructive TO their
lives; and so IL is certainly amusing
and noneomprehensive to us to hear Of
the recent complaint.
Our trade has been prohibited, and
our means for making a living are none.
Our situation Is desperate, and yet we
are residents Of this out possession OF
the American Union, whose watehword
Is for justice, equality and mercy, and
80 we desire TO appeal TO the public for
fairplay and justice. The American
people who arc residents of our nation
as merchants and w0Fkingmen are en-.
titled 10 the full protection of our OFF.
cials, but we as residents OF this Ter
ritory have not the privilege of pro-
lection from friendly nation are sub
jeeted to much misery and harm.
Let ms give o short account Of the
eontroyersy between the Kallhi Poi
Factory and ourselves, in which we
had been accused by tho Kalihi Poi
Factory Of having eOrnered all the taro,
whereby the Hawaiian families would
suffer hunger and starvation. Their
accusation is outrageous and high
handed, While all our shops were pro-
hibited 10 manufaeture poi, the Kalihi
Poi Factory asked the Chinese tar0
planters 10 sell them their taTo, and the
planters refused 10 do so on the ground
that their tarO even that nneTOpped has
been eonirRet0d by tho Chinese poi
manufacturers IN return for such a
hTm stand on the part Of the tafo
planters, they accused vs. Of having
combined with the taT0 planteTf 10 cor
nor tho taro supply in this city. We
never hni such an Intention, and the
Aaiihl Poi Factory could not buy the
iaTo from tho Chinese planters u be-
eauae that their iaf0 bad been already
contracted ~ others, Then " their ae
euead lon iusilhahlol
n u generally easler 10 tread on ihe
weak Than 10 defy lhe strong We
are feeble Ia political strength ana pnQf
~ purse, and No nnlY desire NJ iay nus
fapig before Tho public f0r 40 dne CON,
sidNfaiinn aud trust that u mas assist
na NJ haYinF auf fhapa oprned, N0Ts
resumed end Justice dealt ia ne ena
lhanklnR Ypa iol yeal falpahle
tp8nfI 80 are
flf fniNfsH lQl NANuFA0puR
M ~ TIN Hiff ~ HOMO
liY lHW Qu0a,
M0pH h'Ha hm