The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-08-05
FIGHT THE HARDER

'Twcre folly not to recognize how critical is the case of the Ea-
wall Labor Relief resolution which is pending in congress, but
equally twere folly to give up now, to lie down and quit.
To the opposition of organized labors leaders there has been
added the opposition of the sugar beat interests, and as the opposi-
ton of organized labor comes in large part from transformation and
misunderstood. so also does the opposition of the beet growers. They
believe that Hawai's effort is for the purpose of securing cheaper
labor than is now obtainable; they do not understand that it is the
nocossHv of securino a supplv ADEQUATE in quantity that is the diff
ficulty. 1t is easy to perceive that the beet growers would want for
themselves a supply of cheap labor if cane growers were to be per-
mited TO have them. lust as it is asy to understand that a laborer
would be unwilling to have a position which one of his own race
might occupy given to an Oriental. There is where the misunder-
standing arises The opponents to the measure have not been able
to grasp or have not had clearly shown to them the fact that white
labor will not go into the cane fields i'll a climate like that OF Hawaii
~, uopolrIu tho business MOI ire n lenotb organizing for a
letter writing campaign. They are to take up the subject with ma
tonal legislators whom they know and try to set the facts straight
before them. Another and better suggestion is to have business
houses who buy from mainland concerns write to such concerns and
explain the vital need of the Islands today, the incalculable damage
that will follow Immediately and for years afterward if relief can
not be secured for EawaH's agricultural industries, to impress upon
such mainland concerns that unless relief comes there must be a fall
ing off in demand for their goods; that their prosperity depends
commensurately, on the success of those agricultural industries; that
their sales will fall off with the decline of the Islands industries
They are in turn asked to write their congressman and senators, ex-
plain the situation to them and call for their support for the resolu-
ton. Maui may well join that movement.
Now comes the revelation that a part of the expenses of the So
called labor leaders who went from Honolulu to Washington, $500
at least of their funds, was raised by and among the japanese mer-
chants of Honolulu; the two men admitted it before the committee;
they have placed themselves in an ugly light and they have preclpl
tated the japanese issue. L will tend to stultify their own argu
ments.
Hawaii has been the action of Maui Post, American Legion, and
Maui has been the only post to act. 1t is only a short time since the
country was saying, 'NOlnlnS Is 100 SOOu U or oIulerS ]" Is
the time for the former soldiers of the Territory to speak, as they
have done on Maui. The voice of the former soldier through the
land should be more commanding than that of organized labor. They
have shown their patriotism without price in the past and may be
credited with the same patriotism today.
In the opinion of Maui News the most effective thing that could
be done would be for each post and for the Legion as a whole to
declare itself in the words of Maui. The Washington correspondent
of the StarBulletn forecasts that a vote will not be taken in con-
gress soon, 81 there may still be time at the Legion convention in
IIilo, September 2 and 3, to pass such an endorsement, and it is the
suggestion of Maui News to Maui Post that its delegates present and
push to the fore such a resolution at that time.
The fight must be carried forward; it is a desperate one, but
not hopeless, and each and every person who makes his living or
secures his income or a part of it from these Islands should be in the
front rank of the fighting for its best interests. If the other posts
hesitate to act, Maui need not fear to take the lead, for it is already
on record. f.