American Hawaii [pp. 432-454]

OVERLAND MONTHLY
W. HI. CUMMINGS
Supt. of Streets, Ionolulu
isting industries hampered, if not extinguished.
EXEMPTION FROM AMERICAN IM MIGRATION LAWS ASKED.
It has been the belief of some, and the
hope of many more, interested in the future
of Hawaii, that annexation would bring to
Hawaii a white American farming population
which would solve both the labor and the political problem.
It is not the intention of this body to dispute the correctness of this theory, but if such
change takes place, it will, owing to the distance from the centers of over-supply of labor
in the labor markets of the United States and
the expense of getting here from there, be a
considerable period before such can be obtaina,ble upon the farms and plantations of
Hawaii.
Moreover, it is open to question whether
any considerable number of American laborers will be content to accept the wages which
the Hawaiian Agricultural industries can afford to pay, even though under the present
special tariff conditions the sugar industry
may be able to pay a somewhat higher rate
of wages than that heretofore paid.
Meanwhile the necessities of the industries
of the country are immediate and pressing.
We estimate that during the twelve months
next ensuing the date hereof, the agricultural
industries of the country will require not less
than 7,00ooo laborers in addition to those now
in the country.
The chief sources of labor have heretofore
been China, Japan and Portugal.
By the terms of the annexation resolution,
the further immigration of Chinese is prohibited, and we understand that the general
policy of the Un,ited States is such that there
is no probability of any further immigration
being allowed.
We do not propose to set our interests up
as against the general policy or interest of the
United States at large, nor to ask that any
special privileges be granted us which are
not granted to American citizens as a whole;
but in view of the fact that the entire industries of Hawaii have been built up on a certain system of labor, we do not feel that it
would be asking too much or that which is
inconsistent with the common good, to ask
that your Honorable Commission recommend
that a transition period be allowed during
which time the full'immigration laws of the
United States shall not be extended in their
entirety to Hawaii.
JOHIIN CASSIDY
Manager of Telephone System
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