The Hawaiian gazette., 1918-08-20
MAKING TO FIGHT
Bringing CHINESE
Japanese Editor Declares War
On Proposal TO Import CooIie
Labor To Relieve Shortage


Labor To Relieve Shortage
Declaring that he speaks forta large
share of the American population of the
Islands, as well as for the greater mum
Der Of Japanese, Fred Maxine, editor
of the Hawaii Hochi, has declared war
upon the scheme being "entilatod to
bring Chinese labor to Hawaii to re-
lieve the war time labor shortage.
Maxine announces his readiness to
fight the matter here and at Washing
ton and declares that IL Necessary he
will call to his support the labor union
clements of the mainland to back his
kick at the National Capital The
Hoohi editor says he would not object
| If the proposal were to bring from
China those Chinese who were previous
ly residents of Hawaii, who are "part-
! ly Amoricanized,' just ms he is advo.
/ eating steps to permit the return to
Hawaii of former Japanese residents
here, who have lost their right to re-
turn. II is the idea of the entry of
eight to ten thousand coolies to which
the japanese leader says he is opposed.
In the Hochi of yesterday, Maxine
says:
Affects All In Hawaii
"Messrs Shingle, Mclncrny and
Hindle are strenuously engaged in con
nection with proposed importation of
Chinese coolies. The HOchi is absO-
Iutely against this movement. The
question, although concerning import
ant productive industries, such as sugar,
pineapple and rice cultivation, is not
merely a question for capitalist alone
Every person residing in this Territory
has right to voice his ideas about it.
$50 far, the movement to import
Chinese coolies has been undertaken
secretly by few persons. The move
ment is an autocratic one wherein the
opinion of the majority has been dis
regarded. Consequently the Hochi can
not, in any event, take side with this
movement. The majority of the peo
plo of Hawaii will surely be against
this nti-democratic movement, for the
people in Hawaii are not so tame as
o submit themselves Internationally
to few powerful men while their
rights are stamped down.
Capitalists may have believed that
they can lower the laborers wages by
the importation of coolies. An importa-
ton Of coolies is certainly likely to
give temporary advantage to the
capitalists. However, can it be termed
as within the spirit of Americanism to
sacrifice the interest of ma ajOrity for
the benefit of n capitalistic minorityt
Wants Re-immigrants
"For quite a long period the Hochi
has emphasized the advisability of sup
plying the shortage of labor through
the importation Of re-immigrants. These
re-immigrants are familiar with condi-
tions in Hawaii and know well the
state of living here. In fact, they are
partly Americanized, and consequently
their importation does not hinder the
further Americanization of Hawaii nor
does it involve the danger Of lowering
Hawaii $ standard of living. By their
re re-immigration to Hawaii, their oppOr
tunity to settle down in Hawaii is re
vived, their love of this country will
increase and their effort to bee ONE
Americanzcd will become more jealous
than during their former stay in Ha
waii.
whether these rc-immigrants are
japanese or Chinese makes no differ
ence.
con the other hand, with the i'm
pOrtation of Chinese coolies there comes
no benefit except that the capitalists
arc able to get labor at cheap wages
; Since they are to be sent back after
the conclusion Of the war, nothing but
) money will occupy their mind. What
an effect such laborers will have upol
! the community can be easily imagined
even by the capitalists themselves
They will desire to stay permanently
in Hawaii But, since they are to bt
sent back with the end of the war, they
will hope that the war will be pro
longed. Still, they will never cherisl
any love toward this land. The effcc
: Of bringing such lah0rrrs the capitalists
ought to perceive easily.
"Capitalists migh say as their eX
cuse that the measure is only for th'
duration of the war. TO this we will
} retort: Is it right to destroy Amer
canization or to permit the entrance o.
disease infected persons under the eX
cuse that now is war timeH
"Wr presume that the labor union
will oppose such proposal and tina
the President will not uphold it, be
] cause he might be advised of the rea
situation in Hawaii before representa-
r tives Of the movement reach Washing
I ton. However, we feel it our duty T.
oppose such an improper movemen
: which disregaTds the majority of tn
D people and thus we explain our grount
of opposition