The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1921-08-12
The Formulation of
Hawaiian Islands

| Especial Correspondence to Labor
JournaD
Washington, D. c., Aug. s.
Have you studied this resolution
enough to know that it provides
for contract or peonage labor in
the United States? Do you be-
lieve the people of this country will
stand for law that prohibits free
dom of movement and that estab-
fishes peonage, serfdom and slav-
cry, when these things have been
abolished throughout the world,
except in central Africa"
There We're questions fired at
c. C. Hamlin, counsel for belt su-
gar interests, August Z, before the
House immigration committee in
the hearing on H. J. Res. III, the
Hawaii coolie labor resolution.
They were asked by Congressman
Raker of California.
Hamlin had said that those whom
he represented were taking no in
terest in the resolution and that
! he appeared to contradict a state
, men he had seen published to the
effect that the American Fedora
ton of Labor had charged that a
conspiracy existed between the
Hawaiian sugar planters and Amer
lean sugar interests. Representa-
tives of the A. f. of l.. testified
that no such charge had been made
in any statement, but that the
| charge was that a conspiracy eX-
listed in Hawaii and that repre-
sensations had been made to Amer
lean sugar interests that they would
be benefited ultimately if coolie
labor could be introduced in Ha-
wall.
Congressman Raker's questions
followed, branding the measure Just
as the A. F. of L. has branded it
"a measure to establish peonage
in Hawaii, on American soil, and
to break down the established prin.
ciple of oriental exclusion.
| Questions asked by Congressman
Guy L. Shaw, of Illinois and Ar.
thur H. Free Of California in the
course of cross-eXamination OF
George II, Wright, president of the
Honolulu Central Labor Union, APP
peared designed to break down
Wright's testimony, but with nc
success. Wright continued his tes-
tinmony today, holding to the fact
to meet Hawaiian requirements and
that the trade union movement OF
Hawaii has presented an adequate
remedy without resort to Chinese
coolie labor and peonage.
President Gompers, prtt;ent to
testify, has not yet been heard
but he has, nevertheless, found good
opportunity to interject troubld.
some questions.
Delegate Kalanianaole represent.
ing the territory in the House) from
Hawaii today broke into the pro-
ceedings with statement that il
was desired to "Americanize the
islands" to which Mr.. Gompers re-
torted, with Chinese coolies"
1t is evident that there is much
sympathy for the peonage resolu-
ton among committee members and
the battle for the measure is being
carefully conducted by sugar rep
resentatives, of whom several are
at all times present.
at is vital that all organizations
of workers or of citizens generally
| VINO are opposed TO oriental lmml
grafton and to the establishment OF
slavery, peonage and bondage or
American soil, communicate THEN
views to the House Committee or
immigration, either through Chair
man Albert Johnson, or some OF
the other members. The determine
ton to strike this blow at American
| freedom and civilization is real anC
there is influence and greedy de
termination behind it. 1t must be
fought with vigor and with a de-
termination that will be felt il
| Washington"