The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-07-22
LEGION OUT
WITH ANSWER
FOR GOMPERS
Ex-Soldiers Protest Against
Accepting Declaration They
Say Is False; Want More
immigration.

Resenting the aspersions cast upon
industrial conditions in the Territory
of Hawaii in the reported remarks of
Samuel Gombers before a congress
ional immigration committee, Maui
Post No. s, American Legion, is on
record as characterizing the labor
leaders statements as false and mis-
leading and as protesting against the
acceptance of them as fact by mem
bers of congress or government Off
cials. Proceeding further the Maui
American Legion urges upon congress
passage of the resolution which Com
pers opposes, the measure which is
designed to relieve the labor shortage
in Hawaii.
Consider Carefully
Action was taken by the members
of the Legion at a specially called
meeting that was held in the Bank OF
Maui Monday evening. The meeting
was protracted one but during its
course no opposition to the resolu-
tions was voiced and its adoption was
by unanimous vote. The only ques-
tion was whether the subject was a
proper one for the Post to consider.
Since the prosperity of the chief in
dustries of the Islands is essential to
the members of the Legion, whether
they be higher or lower employees In
those industries and since the utter
ances attributed to Gompers reflected
upon the community in which the
members live, the subject matter OF
the resolutions was held to be proper
fot action.
Strong Resolutions
There is nothing of spread eaglism
in the wording of the resolution, high
sounding words and phrases are
avoided, they are straight forward,
outaDoken and to the point and their
text follows:
Whereas, it has been brought to
the attention of Maui Post No. s. Amer
ican Legion, Department of Hawaii,
that Samuel Gompers, President of
the American Federation of Labor,
had made public certain declarations
as published in an Associated Press
dispatch from Washington, d. c., da-
ted July 18th, 1921, regarding the
House Resolution which authorizes
the President of the United States, to
suspend temporarily laws excluding
Oriental labor, to wit:
THAT the Hawaii planters de-
sire the importation of Chinese la
Dor because they find the coolie the
most easily exploited, the least re-
sentful of exploitation and brutality
and the most easily kept in bondage
Further:
"'Time after time the true situa-
ton in Hawaii, where poverty and
profiteering have been pictured in
terms almost unbelievable, has been
I presented in government reports
and these have been suppressed.
Present reports to the Department
of Labor and Congress are mean
ingless.
investigators have SO thorough
ly learned their lesson by eXper-
ience that they now include in their
reports only a few tables on the
cost of living and wages. They
make no effort to depict conditions
and analyze the great questions af-
fecting employment in Hawaii
(which statements are entirely with
out foundation, and absolutely mis-
represent the true situation.
Therefore, be it resolved; that
Maui Post No. 8, American Legion,
Department of Hawaii, protests the
acceptance of these declarations
without a close and impartial investi-
cation.
BE it further resolved, that copies
of this resolution be sent to all posts
of the American Legion in the De-
partment of Hawaii, requesting that
they take action.
BE it further resolved, that. the
Executive Committee, American Lee
gon, Department of Hawaii, be re-
quested to forward the result of the
action of the posts of this Department
to the National Legislative Committee
of the American Legion, requesting
them to present the matter to the
Committees on immigration o. the
Senate and House of Representatives,
BE it further resolved, that the
Executive Committee, American Lee
gion, Department of Hawaii, be re-
quested to send the result of the ac-
ton of the Posts of this Department
to the Committees on immigration of
the Senate and House of Representa-
tiyes.
'Be it further resolved, that, we,
the members of Maui Post No. 8, Am
erican Legion, Department of Hawaii,
do petition Congress to act favorably
upon and pass the joint resolution in
troduced in the United States Senate
under date of June Goth, 1921, per-
hitting importation into the Terri
tory of Hawaii, for limited periods of
sufficient agricultural labor to relieve
the present local labor shortage,
which action is vital to the best in