The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-09-29

dores long ago. II was stated that the
men are getting the same wages today
that they got fifteen years ago and
with the rise in the cost of living it
is hardly fair not to have advanced
their rate Of pay. Had this been done
this strike would not have happened.
However, while inclined to condemn
the steamship companies for negligence
in this regard these same merchants
diselaim any sympathy whatever with
the methods employed by the union
walking delegates who came here from
San Francisco TO start the trouble.
Question Of Right and Wrong
These outsiders having come here for
the specific purpose of starting trouble
have aroused the shippers and merchants
and long and determined fight will
now probably enspe, not against q
raise in wages but for the principle Of
the open shop. The advantage up to
now has been with the labor agitators.
Hitherto the question of whether a
laborer belongs to a union or not has
not been raised. -.
| A prominent sugar man said yester-
day that the men who stand for Big
Busi ness" in Hawaii have built up
their industry on the basis of fair
play.
1--WE have tried to make working
conditions here better than in any
i competing country" he said. 1--WE
pay higher wages on our plantations
than are paid agricultural workers in
4 many mainland States. This question
Of higher wages for the men who load
II L T.,
market was not brought to our atten'
ton in fair way and we are perfectly
willing to fight it out. -
| This comment that il 10 not in &C
eOrdance with good business principles
to hit first and explain afterwards
that this is not the way merchants ano
employers do business in Hawaii, wal
made repeatedly yesterday.
Explosives Are Used
rThis course of procedure may b.
necessary in mainland communities bu
IT never has been here" was the re
mark repeatedly made. '.
" At ten-thirty o'clock Tuesday nigh
some unknown miscreant exploded
stick of dynamite on the asphalt pave
meat about three feet from one OF tn
big doors to tue Matson wharf shed
Pier 10. This attempted act of wand
, lalism, and the TiOting yesterday moo
aroused the ire of the steamship agents
J In this connection Castle 4 Cook
stated that if proper protection is nc
} given the vessels of the MatsOn Nav
! cation Company at this port the con
pany will withdraw its ships from th
Honolulu.San Francisco run. ,...
9 ~ In these days of high feights ~
II q shortage of bottoms we do not gh3y
= ID send our vessels to Hawaii.I' ar IL
Q fcer of the company said. "Thsre
0 great demand for our charters in 0th'
3 QUARTERS where protection Of our int
e asts will be guaranteed. We have neV'
d hal any trouble at any Other port. -
0 May Withdraw Ships .r..-.
Speaking of the local "strike" th
offc'ai stated that no demand has bee
made that the Matson Navigation c.
}. Ipany recognize the union. There hi
Q been absolutely no dispute other tbl
q ca tn" subject of wages and tbs wi
o first brought to their attentila wh'
the men quit work. Afterwards a q
"A cular letter was received in which
3 EumbeT of demands were made. Asi'
u from this the company has not hea
.e from any of the strikers or had ~
g denomination with or from them.
10 "The community has got to take
hand" he said. owe do not hav,
II run our ships to Honolulu. II we do '
X demand that the authorities give
ID protection.
r, At eleven O'Clock last night all "
Ie quiet along the waterfront Poll
- were everywhere in evidence, II W
y raining, and large gangs of men we
le hustling freight into and out Of I
x -four big steamers in port, and Tilil,
9 had gone to sleep.