The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-05-07

Back At the Capital
1 In November last returned TO Wash,
| ington and was there informea by Mr..
Burnett that he would cali his commit.
tee for hearing on the matter as soon
as possible, after the holiday recess.
-Four hearings were given me, be.
tween January II and January 20.
Prior to the date Of the executive
sessions to take this matter up on
I March I had two conferences respect
ing the pOstponement of the decision to
report the resolution out Of committee
until a later date. There were several
regsons; that the bill for Admission Of
Chinese TO Hawaii was not 10 apply
during the period Of war alone, but
was Of permanency ;the congested con.
dition Of the house calender, and TO
learn what other committees would do
with resolutions for the admission Of
Chinese as agricultural farmers to the
United States, already introduced in
senate and house. We were also being
apprised that resolutions along thi,
same line would be introduced from
other States In the near future
BY mutual consent the postponement
was made unanimous by the immigra
ton committee on March 7 and at thi,
stage Of the proceeding I had sufHcien'
knowledge that the Delegate of Ha
wall s resolution on this subject had q
favorable majority In committee.
Kuhio Always Helped
In this matter, in my missionary work
heretofore and since the introduction
If the resolution by the Delegate, ]
have always consulted him and work ed
through his Office at Washington, ano
he at all times has willingly assisted
me with his advice and influence.
At the first hearing, in accordance
With the instructions Of the Delegate to
his secretary, l was introduced to the
immigration committee by that gentle
nan, and he, also acting for the Dele
ate, made appointments with the sec
'etary of the American Federation Of
'.abor, personally accompanying me to
hat gentleman 3 office. On arrival of
he Delegate in Washington he imme
lately made appointments for me with
he state department., agricultural de-
,artment and food administrator, to
Shich different departments I was per
,onally introduced. I am in a position
70 state that the matter in question
'eeeives favorable commentator from
hese departments.
Majority Seem Favorable
During my stay in Washington I in
terviewed large number of the house
and senate members with the object of
yetting their interest for Hawaii and
he majority are in favor of the reso
'ution. The DIRECTORS are so few in
number that 1t is scarcely worth men
tioning. ---e
Movement Gains Roadway
Having gained knowledge Of who the
reople are, in the various States from
East to West, who had already or who
intended to advocate, through their
representatives and senators for the
omission of Chinese as farmers to the
United States as war measure, on my
.eturn Journey to San Francisco visit
d in several States personally to get
| better understanding of the situation.
New Hampshire and New York already
AVE resolutions to this effect intro
luced. l procured a copy of another
| resolution to be introduced from the
State of New York. Michigan, Illinois.
| iowa, Washington, Portland and Cali,
'ornia, l am informed, will shortly in,
reduce resolutions for the admission
| # Chinese as farmers and Orehardists
Senator Borah of Idaho has brought
he question Of the need of labor be
fore the senate, as has also the Hon
). ID. Fess of Ohio before the house
Wisconsin has sought and obtained
/ Imong Chinese residents of the Middle
| West two colonies of Chinese farmers
md these men are now farming in
hat State two square miles of land in
cereals on a share basis. They are
furnished with free tools, seed and
Houses.
In the present titanic struggle, food
y as necessary as men and munitions
We are at war. The Country must get
Iehind the President and food must
% produced The President has appeal
| I'd to the farmers of the Union; the
farmers are asking for needed help.
Weeds Of Hawaii
Here in Hawaii in times of peace we
leeded labor to cultivate rice. Chinese
ire the only people in the past l2S
years, since they first came here, who
| ave ever grown rice in the Islands.
In Hawaii there are 1858 persons
| whose staple article of diet is rice. The
average consumption of these people IL
ixty pounds of rice per month per
,erson. We have a further population
| # e6,974 persons whose average con.
sumption is ten pounds per month. This
is not including the army Of o,520
lroOps.
| Rice for all these people could be
| yrown on these Islands on land which
| s only suitable for rice and taro. Why
this not done! What is the reason
or the present shortage Of rice here
| oday and the high price of samei We
lave not got the labor to plant rice
That is the only answer. An old adage
s, that "there is nothing impossible.
| What would it mean to every inhabi.
ant of these Islands should there be a
bloekadei Simply starvation.
Population and Production
Now let us look at this matter from
another angle and which should appeal
% everyone here to get behind this
movement Of the admission of Chinese
| rs rice farmers to these Islands.
In 1895, with a citizen population OF
l54,03l persons, 25,O0OOO0 pounds OF
4 rice was grown on these Islands. In
| 1915, twenty years later, the citizen
population was 228,77l persons and rice
grown here that year was 13,500,00O
pounds, showing an increase Of popu
lation of 1870 but a decrease of IL,
i SOC 900 pounds Of rire grown. Again