The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-05-07
Chinese LABOR is
ESSENT|A[FORR|CE
INDUSTRYNHAWA||
Islands Once Produced Twenty
five Million Pounds Now
s..r Only About Half That I. ID,
CONGRESS ALMOST READY
'.'~ TO ADMIT CHINESE
W. II. Hindle Believes Community
Should Now Help Push
Plan Over the Top u

The time has come for the com
nunfty generally 70 get behind the
movement, already well started,
for suspension Of the Chinese Elk
c.usion Act 40 viii permit the bring
ing TO Hawaii Of Chinese labor for
dustry, In the opinion Of W. H
Hindle, who has been working In
the matter for the past two years
and more. ~ tIt.
IN the following statement 10
The Advertise, Mr.. Hindle reviews
what has been done, outlines his
reasons for believing that the mat
Ger can be SUCCESSFULLY concluded,
ana appeals for community sup
port. He says;
Ehitor Advertiser-The time is now
oppottune for the people Of this Ter.
ritory to know why this measure has
been advocated.
Three years ago, just prior to the
visit Of the Congressional party from,
Washington to Hawaii was requested
by Mr.. Lee Let, q prominent Chinese
merchant Of Honolulu, to assist him in
preparing a petition TO be presented ia
the members of the National Congress
on their arrival As the result Of this
Mr.-Lee Let, Mr. Chu Gem, Mr.. c. X.
Ai,riMr. Ching Shat and other pfomin-
eutssuerchants were accorded an aud
ienee with several members of congress,
font.of whom were members Of the
houses Of representative committee on
immtgration and natnralization-H Hon.
J. u Burnett, chairman; Hon. J. Stay
den, Hon. J. Hampton Moore and Hon.
a. lJahhsou. The needs and require
inents were set forth In the petition,
as to why IL was necessary the rice
industry should be encouraged in this
Territory. ~.
Inyestigation Invited
Specific data was given to enable the
Congressional Party to make observa-
tiohs lfor themselves during their visit
to htvarious Islands as TO whether
their petition was justifiable. A close
observation and many enquiries were
made, particularly by the immigration
committee.
Prior to leaving the Islands, several
members Of congress expressed the
opinion that the matter was worthy of
consideration. On the day that Mr..
Burnett and Judge SlaydeR left Homo
lulu for the mainland, Mr., Burnett said
to Mr.. @, X. Al, in my presence, that
IL atpetition were presented to congress
he would entertain IL In his committee.
The question was not lost sight of and
considerable time was occupied in
gathering absolute facts to support the
petition. .4,.
Pstition Prepared
In June, 1915, q petition was pre-
pared, meetings were held by the mem
bers Of the United Chinese Society and
fnaliy at o. meeting, held August s
1918, by a unanimous vote, it was re.
solved that i be requested TO proceed
10 Washington and act As the repre-
tentative for this society and for all
the Chinese of Hawaii.
The entire object of this visit wa
missionary work and it proved a sue
cess 49,
Subcommittee hearings were accord
ed me and passed to print by Chairman
Burnett OF the immigration committee
Ghaifthan Houston Of the committee on
Territories and the Hon. A. Caminetti
commissioner general Of immigration
and through the latter. gentleman the
petition was personally presented to
the President.
Again at the request of the United
Chinese Society combined with that IF
the Chinese Merchants Association, 10
the, latter part of 1916, returned to
Washington for further missionary
work on the advice of members of
congress by cable and letter, the result
of which was q Joint Resolution, No
-, which was introduced in the Ha
waiian' Legislature of 1917, recommend
ing to congress the need Of importing
Chinese to Hawaii as rice farmers.
This resolution was passed and copies
were forwarded to the President, Vice
President, speaker Of the house of rep
resentatives and the Delegate for Ha
Haii.
The Delegate, on receipt of same
immediately introduced into the house
May 20, a resolution, No. 90, in con
f0rnity with the resolution passed by
the Hawaiian legislature. This wai
referred to the committee on immigra
ton and naturalization.
Correspondence was at once taker
up by letter and cable with the Ha
waiian Delegate. He learned that moth
ing but absolute war measures would
be taken up at that session. This wal
also confirmed by personal friends Of
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