The Hawaiian gazette., 1917-09-21

IN present agitation
Efforts continue on the part of tn,
Japanese newspapers of Honolulu Il
keep alive an agitation for higher
wages for plantation laborers, At tbs
present time the matter Of continuing
the agitation and as to how il shall
be continued rests entirely with the
newspaper heads Of the Japanese colo
ny here as result Of the second con.
ference held on the subject last Fri
day night when the newspapermen were
named as = nominating committee >
or, Il may be said, az a steering com
mittee, since they were given practical
ly plenary powers in the premises.
Following the progress Of the effort
that has been made 20 rouse a demand
among the plantation laborers for
higher wages through the columns OF
the Japanese newspapers produces some
interesting results At the outset these
newspapers denied that they were start.
ing and conducting the proposed move
ment and, some Of them even asserted
that for the newspapers to do so would
be TO weaken its effect. Today those
same papers admit that the possible
success Of their plans depends upon the
newspapers and the association which
has been formed evidently believed 50
also since II needed them as the com.
mittee which IL to select all other com
mittees practically the directorate Of
the association.
Papers themselves Chow history I
Quotations from the various Japa-
mesa papers tell ON their face the real
impetus behind the proposal and com
parison of the utteranees on August
"a, and August Is, and on September
Is, IA and is is interesting.
On August IA there was published in
the Hawaii Hochi statement by Kyu-
saburo Takeue, boarding house keeper,
; as 70 why he had said that Japa-
nese laborer could live upon S20 a
month in the course Of an Investigation
Of the cost Of living Of plantation
laborefs being conducted by Manager
Gibbs Of the Aiea Plantation. In this
statement ne qualified some Of the
testimony Ne had then given, saying he
was afraid Others would be indignant
because he said this.
On the same day the Hochi said nm:
der 's0dds and Ends: *
y ttSince the beginning Of the war the
wages of laborers have been raised in
every country, but in Hawaii wages
have not increased and this is not good
for the planters.
Strike u Hinted
"Their idea Is to put or "a confer
ence for higher wages as long rs they
can unless they are compelled TO hold
one through strike This may seem a
good plan but how do they know the
laborers will not start an absolute
strikef Having had experience in 9th
er years the laborers Of other national,
tiles win join them. si
eff the pIanters do not want such
a disturbance they will voluntarily Of
fer higher wages
On August Is, the same paper under
the heading Conference for Higher
Wages Question said in part:
FIRST Conference Suggested $50
Regarding the matter of higher
wages we have argued in many ways
and we have heard much argument and
II has finally become firmly fixed in
public opinion after three weeks. An
argument IN advance of realization, II
win now enter into the stage Of rehli-
zation. At first hold conference Of
all our brethren residents and decide
on definite means for the movement.
As there is among the Japanese resi-.
dents Of Honolulu no sneh body 10 rep.
resent our brethren, there is no one
else to give notice of the date aud
place for the holding of conference
Some one reports that il necessary the
Japanese Society of Hawaii may act
as temporary promoter but IL was de-
cided that the four newspapers shall
have a preparatory meeting at four
o'clock this afternoon and give notice
TO all parties. n,a.
"We say frankly the relations be
tween all the newspapers in Honolulu
are not amicable as the subscribers can
zee by reading the papers but when we
have such an important question which
concerns the general interest tof our
brethren residents before us we must
set aside all private feeling.
~ Yesterday Mr.. Murakami Of the
Hawaii Choho telephoned to Mr.. Tsu.
rushima Of the Hawaii Shinpo and Mr..
Soga Of the Nippu Jiji and said ~
"thhhh the SthRt TOT argument on the,
question Of higher wages has passed
and we must now study the means for
it's realization, How about the four
newspapers giving notice of the hold
ing Of conference in our joint
namesG' To this both gave their con
sent. '"E .''.r. ~ lM
"The opinion of our paper is that
the Planters Association seems to mis-
understand the Japanese papers aud be.
lieye we are agitating the labOrers IL
any Of the newspaper heads are named
on committee to negotiate with the
Planters Association; II win be the
same as sowing the seeds Of diasension,
Therefore we believe II Is well to. leave
all these things TO our brethren resi-.
dents. 49,.
In the came issue the same paref
gave a table 10 show TINT q laborer
could not live % less thar s27 month.