The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1921-08-06


importation for peonage on Hawaiian
blow here today when Hawaiian la
President Gompers Of the American r
other labor representatives appeared b.
ton.
President George w. Wright Of Il
the committee a complete account of
it clear that, entirely aside from the l
no economic excuse for the importatl'
An Island Of Criminals.
AS important as any statement
made by the labor representatives
was statement of Congressman
Raker of Oregon, member of the COM
mittee on immigration.
The proposed joint resolution, If
adopted" said Congressman Raker,
would make of Hawaii an island OF
criminals 1t would let down the
bars TO every criminal class every
where in the world. And once on
American soil they could go anywhere
on American soil without passports" :"
President Wright described planta-
ton conditions and told how planta-
ton workers had gone into govern
ment works because of better pay
He made it ,le.r tNat with the es-
tablshment Of suitable wage condl-
tions the labor supply necessary to
the handling Of the sugar crop would
be available. He added that il there
then should be any shortage the
Philippine Islands would furnish the
required number Of workers. Methods
Of plantation operation were severely
criticized from the standpoint of in
efficiency.
PrODOsal for Relief.
The Honolulu Central Labor union,
it was testified, submitted to the
sugar planters a proposal. or pro-
gram, for the relief and remedying
Of the labor situation in the islands.
This program contained a diagnosis
Of the situation and a remedy there
for as follows:
Labor's Diagnosis.
We find that the plight in which
the sugar industry finds itself today
is due primarily to the lack of a
proper understanding and co-opera-
ton between employer and employees.
This results in the Encouragement
and antagonism of the workers which
lowers their efficiency to approxi-
mately so per cent of the normal,
and causes dissatisfaction and the con-
oSNuSHI Uniting away AlO111 l11S pAe1AI-
tations of the laborers whose serv-
ices are required to take off the crop.
Extremely low wages and the i'm
possibility Of earning a living except
at the lowest possible standard of SUBJ
sistence prevents those living outside
the plantations from taking planta-
tion. jobs. though there are probably
enough unemployed and temporarily
employed who would be willing to fill
the jobs if the conditions were such
that there was any inducement o.
fered.
Union Labor's Remedy.
"Follow the approved industrial
methods and endeavor to increase the
efficiency Of your employees by effect
ing a right understanding with them.
Recognize the principle of collective
bargaining and signify your willing
ness to meet with representatives OF
your employees i'll conference which
we will arrange and to which we. as
representatives of the Central Labor
Council. will be present as the third
party acting as mediators. .
I'VE will guarantee that If this is
done in the right spirit of co-opera-
ton on your part it will be met in
the same spirit by your employees and
an agreement reached whereby you
will gain the friendship of your men
and increase their efficiency to nor
NAL
"As one of the chief matters to be
considered at such a conference we
suggest the establishment of new
wage scale based upon the cost OF
living, details as to flexibility and de.
termining factors to be worked Out
later.
Draw From Philippines.
IF this increased efficiency does
not then relieve your shortage, an6
the return Of workers drawn back
to plantation life by incentives offered
still falls short Of your requirements
we believe that plenty of new labor
can be recruited in the Philippines
with the cooperation of the Filipino
labor commission.
LAS an added source of supply we
point out that large number of mer
will be discharged from federal con
struction work upon the signing o1
the rehabilitation bill, or shortly
thereafter, who will be forced back
on the plantations where they belong
provided you make it point to EN-
ploy citizen labor in the skilled and
semi-skilled industries which your in.
fluence dominates.
There is no question in our minds
but that you will thus be able to fill
your shortage Of labor and maintain
your Industry at normal pace with.
out the importation of any other
Oriental labor"
Labor Man Stood Pat.
Chairman Albert Johnson conduct.
q Ing the hearing, made what labor rep.
+ resentatives declared to be studied
effort to entangle President Wright
and to discredit his testimony, bu1
to no avail At the conclusion Of the
days testimony Chairman johnson
on InaTe.