Ke Kiai, Volume I, Number 5, 18 September 1902 — FOR CHEAP LABOR. [ARTICLE]

FOR CHEAP LABOR.

The lahoi* ciuestion now beingf agitated hy our loeal press and ]ilaced helore the - Gongress'ional Comnūssion is one of the vital questions pertaining- to the welfare of Ilawaii and should receive our ~eurnest and proper attention. It is an undisputed fact that without asiatic labor our two great and" principal incfusfrfes—sugar and nee —'will suffer considerably. Eaeh day without it driftiug' them on to Ihe verge of a. <feneral co!lapse and hankruptcy. We admit that the„sugar industry does not sufter as mueh at present as the rice industry yet it needs eheap Jaborers. With the present low prices of sugar and al the same time price of lahor it will only be a c|uestion of time when our niain suppoit wlll have to give way and Avith our prosperity. Thc cry against the importation of Asiatic laborers has eome from our cttizen mechanics and artisans who are effort to protect theniselves. We support them in, their attempt for self protection but not iii Ihe «tand tbey have taken tO llie detrim<£iit of the t\vo important ind'ustries nH:ntioiH'd. It is t}i e; duly (jf' every. loyal citi> xen these hours of our cryinj4 need aiul business staynation io devi.se w : ays and means to solve this pi-ohlem of the 'neeel of eheap lahoi".. The sujjar barons āre lorcheap labor, while our are- protesting ajjainst the impOrtation of any more Asiatic lalK)rers,' . and in the meantime the two indii.stries, whieh are the mainstay (/f this Territory suffer. . The >Sk : ntinicl the folsoliition providing- of cou»"se bo(h, plaī3ters and mehanics will meet eai}h'half way: h'irst ,/ Hct conjrress enact,a law the importation of Asiatic

with a provision m said act "that they are to be employed as field labor'ers only. M Second: —Under no circumstance would any such field laborer be employed on any skilled labor. Third Any Sugar Owner, Agent, Manag*er, Luna, or any one connected or who has authority to employ laborers for said plantation, if he ©r they should emp!oy a field laborer on any skill e d work, should be punished by a fine the of whieh .should be as-hjg-h as possible to prevent the evading* h of the main intent of the law. Fourth—Such owner, agent, manager, luna, or any one connected with the plantiition when the term of the helel laborer firstagreed upon is up should see that such laborer is sent back to his own native land. For every such field laborer who is •left on līawaii and not returned, the plantation should be made to pay a dai!y fine to be agreed npog by congress until the iielel laborer is returned.