The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-07-15
RELIEVE THE SHORTAGE

Conflicting is the news which comes from Washington relative
to the hopes for passage of the Hawaii Labor Relief resolution. The
resolution has been amended and has been reported out favorably
by house immigration committee. AS reported upon favorably the
chief clause in the measure reads as follows:
"For a period of five years from the passage of the reso-
luton that whenever the President shall find and by procla-
nation declare that an emergency exists in the territory of
Hawaii by reason of a serious shortage of labor, either gen.
eal or of any particular class or classes, the Secretary of
Labor shall be and is hereby empowered, under such condi-
tons and regulations as he may prescribe, to admit to the
Territory of Hawaii such aliens Is otherwise are inadmissable
and as he may deem necessary to meet the existing emer-
gency.'
On the other hand, organized labor on the mainland is opposing
the resolution, has expressed its determination of opposing it to
the end, and representatives of organized labor in Honolulu ire re
ported to be going to Washington to join such opposition.
Excuse can be found for mainland labor leaders in their oppo-
sftion to the bringing of Oriental labor into the Islands. They do
not know conditions here, have had no way of getting first hand in
formation, jump at the conclusion that imported labor would crowd
out citizen labor by filling the trades with other labor that would
leave the plantations when the immigrants would come in, thus de
pressing wages in trades where citizen labor is now willing to work.
But for the representatives of organized labor from Honolulu there
can be found no such excuse. They should know the situation bet
ter; they must know that citizen labor would not work in the fields
at a very much higher scale than now prevails at anything like the
wages that prevail the year through in any agricultural district in
the United States. They should know that there is not sufficient
citizen labor to conduct public work in the Islands, work Of the ma
tue that citizen labor to perform is required by law. At Pearl
IIarbor 600 or 700 alien laborers must go and work there will drag
or halt.
If any refutation to labor leaders arguments be needed, it is to
be found on Maui. Contractors here would not enter into compe-
titon for school building contracts, but each bid on one job only.
Ask any one of those contractors if they have enough skilled citizen
labor to perform the contracts they now have and each one will. tell
you he has not and cannot secure all that he wants. They cannot
undertake more work and finish what they have under way now in
the contracted time. L It's not a case that they will not pay, but that
they cannot secure the workmen. Buildings actually needed for the
opening of the next school year will not be ready; perhaps some of
them will not be started. That is the situation the Honolulu labor
leaders are ignoring. If they tell the truth as they know it, they
VIII be advocates, not opponents to the importation of Oriental labor
into the Islands.
Millions of dollars have been lost to the sugar industry this
year as result of the labor shortage. The plant is late, and that
means that more millions will be lost two years hence. There have
not been adequate labor forces to cultivate and irrigate next years
crop and still more millions will be lost as a result. The losses to
the plantations cannot but be reflected in the wages they are able
to pay, not to the field workers alone, but to more skilled labor. to
higher employees and to office forces. 1t has been estimated that
the labor shortage will cost the sugar and pine industries Of Hawaii
$50,O00000 in the year 1923.
1t is by such action as labor is now undertaking, such blocking
methods as it now seeks to employ, that organized labor stultiies
itself, rouSes antagonism and engCnderS bitterness. It's mainland
leaders are quoted as saying that they oppose the resolution in prin-
cipe. It is a tremendous cost they would make Hawaii pay for the
principal. The higher ideals of organized labor may be commended
but its methods and lack of wisdom and foresight, the sacrifices it
causes others to bear, can have only condemnation and be viewed
sOrrowfuly.