Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-29
BUSINESSMANIS
SAID TOBE SOON
QUITT|NGHAVAII
Administration Credited With
Making R. M. Morton's
Stay Here Impossible

| Robert NJ. Morton, superintendent
| CT the American Can Company Of Ho.
nolulu. intends TO leave the islands for
California, according to a statement
credited &c him by the Evening Trib.
/ une Ct PendletGn, Oregon. The Trib-
une says that this statement is made
direct to II in communication.
Mr.. Morton when shown the article
by the Star-Bulletin stated that the
communication quoted was entirely
personal and written without any
thought of publication. His leaving
the islands. be said further, has moth
ing to do with business conditions
here, For was he responsible for the
personal illusions. especially as to be-
ing general manager" the company
having no officer OF that rank connect
ed with any of its plants. He has no
objection to the printing of his views
on business conditions in Hawaii at
present, saying. They are just about
as see things" ...
The Tribune Of August 6 declares:
''One finds state Of affairs in the
Hawaiian Islands that leaves no cues
tiCn Of the times during the troubled
days.
Apart from the general reports
touched up in places with optimism
there comes a direct statement Of af.
fairs in the archipelago upon the ire.
futable authority of leading business
man Of Honolulu and who makes his
statement direct to the Evening Tri-
hume in a communication. ...-
Is Leavine-BIames Administration.
Robert M Morton is general man.
ager of the American Can Company.
He is known in these parts, where he
has visited friends. He now announces
his intention OF leaving the islands for
California, until such time as business
gets better i'm the islands OF the
magnitude CT his concern he states tho
cannery grew from capacity of B..
900. 900 cans to 54,000,000 cans year
during his management and he found
things in high state of prosperity
until the past year or so.
he says: ....
q business here in the Hawaiian
islands is pretty quiet, and is certainly
hard hit bv the nresent Democratic
administration. There have been
plenty of failures and stocks have
dropped fully so per cent
"Mr. Morton goes on to explain that
many of the plantations are running
at heavy loss, and are only hanging
On. despsrately, in wild hone that
conditions will change somehow and
rive all chance to retrieve their lost
fortunes.
''He also makes the significant state
ment that he believes not one Demo.
crat will be elected in the Hawaiian
Islands in the coming election The
voters and all the thinking people
have. IL seems, sustained too heavy a
less to make any further experiments
with the administration. and mean to
know what they are getting next time,
Fruit Men Desperate.
Commenting upon the ominous
state of affairs that has brought the
planters and exporters to the verge
of ruin in the islands. Mr. Morton
states that many places will be forced
to close unless a quick and favorable
change occurs. Fresh pineapples that
sold for $40 and $21 ton a year or
two ago are now going as low as SO so.
Some of the growers have term con.
tracts with the packers on "a sliding
scale, and they are getting $11.15 a
ten for their pines. AS it costs, on an
average, about $14 to raise the pines.
the less is apparent. In fact. states
Mr.. Merton. thousands of tons have
even gone as low as S. to So ton.
No Market for Fruit.
But this. it seems. does not tell
the worst of the tale There are about
5000 tens of fruit unsold on the islands
at this time. This supply, perishable
as it is. stands ready to be taken away
for $3.50 or any price that can be OBJ.
tanned
While these facts are covered by
market reports officially, the state.
ment assumes local interest by Mr..
Mcrtcns acquaintance with this sec.
ticn Of Eastern Oregon. and becomes
authentic by reason of his high stand
ing as manager of leading industry
of Honolulu"
~.