FACfS ABDUl' THE STRIKE ON SU PLANTATIONS IN HAWAII. - eVols

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FACfS ABDUl' THE STRIKE ON
SU PLANTATIONS
IN HAWAII.
,
BY
HAWAII LABORERS' ASSOCIATION
HONOlULU, T. H.
jUl.Y f920
'",U JU' rltlHT
51-4-1-7'i
WE ARE PLANTATION LABORERS
\\e are laborers working on the sugar plantations of Hawaii.
People know Hawaii a the Paradi e of the Pacific and a a ugar
producing country, but do they know that there are thousands of
laborer who are sutTering under the heat of the equatorial sun, in
field and in factory, and who are weeping with ten hours of hard
labor and with a canty pay of 77 cents a day?
Hawaii's ugarI \\ hen we look at Hawaii a the country po -
- ing forty-four ugar mill with 230,0:0 acres of cultivated land
area, as a region producing 600,000 tons of sugar annually, we are im
pressed with the great importance of the position which ugar oc
cupie among the industrie of Hawaii. We realize also that 50,(0)
labor rs who tog ther with th ir families number about 160,O<X> are
a majority of the total population of 250,0<X> in Hawaii. \ 'e con ider
it a great privileg and pride to live under the Stars and Stripes
which rand for freedom and justice.as a factor of this great industry
and as a part of the labor of Hawaii.
\Ve love production. Fifty years ago when we first came to
Hawaii, these islands were covered with ohia forests, guava fields
and areas of wild grass. Day and night did we work, cutting trees
and burning grass, clearing lands and cultivating fields until we made
the plantations what they arc today. Of course it is indisputable
that this would havebeen impossible if it were not for the investments
made by the wealthy capitalists and the untiring etTorts of the ad
ministrators. But we believe that the impartial public will not only
magnify and praise the efforts of the capitalists, but will not hesitate
to recognize the work of the laborers who have served faithfully with
sweat on their brows. \Ve are faithful laborers who love labor and
production.
Look at the silent tombstone in every locality, Few are the
people who visit these graves of our departed friends, but are they
not emblems of Hawaii' pioneers in labor? Turn your eyes to the
ever diligent laborersI They are not beautiful in appearance, but are
they not a great factor of Hawaii's production?
We are faithful laborer, willing to follow the steps of our depart-
ed elder and do our part tovard Hawaii' production. We hear
that there are in Hawaii over a hundr d millionaire , men chiefly
connected with the ugar plantations. It i not to our purpose to
complain and envy. but we would lik to tate that there are on the
sugar plantations which produced the fortun for their owners a
large number of laborer who are suffering under a \ age of 77 cen
a day.
When asked. "\Vhat is a labored " a certain plantation manager i
said to have replied. ": laborer i an ignorant creature." \ e do not
wi h to believe uch a statement. but when we look back over our own
experience in Hawaii, we regret to .tate that the above fact i un
deniable.
Impartial and ju t ladies and gentlemen: We are laborer working
on the plantations of Hawaii. ertain capitalists may regard u as
ignorant creatures. but as laborers working eriously and faithfully.
we wish it understood that we are willing to do our part toward
Hawaii's production and welfare the b st we know how, hoping for
the progress of civilization. and mdeavoring to safeguard justice and
humanity as members of the great human family.
- - - - -0'- - - - -
WHAT THE LABORERS DEMANDED
It is almost unnecessary to repeat here the words so often heard
and quoted coneerning the price of commoditie during and after the
great war, even in thi Paradise of th Pacific. Vole encountered hard
ships and sufferings in supporting our elves during the war, but not
desiring to cause any trouble to th indu trial world in the midst of
that struggle, we endured, persevered. and wait d. until the year 1919.
The dark cloud' of war were di pered and peace carne, but Iivinsr
condition b came more pr .sing every day. Fortun appeared to
those concerned in the owner.hip of the ugar world and thing looked
brighter even after the: dreadful war. The abolition of war taxes. the
lowering of freight rates. the reduction of prices of fertilizers-s-in
crea cd the net profits of the ugar planters.
We did not desire to entirely di regard the profit. for the planter.
but we didd believe that our demands for increa ed wage at such a
prosperou time were reasonable and justifiable. Was not this the
reason that the cry for hirrh r wage wa raised throughout the i
land in the latter part of 1919?
The desire of the laborer throughout the territory at that time
3
w re: 'a $3.00 per day' eight hour work per day; change and
amendment- to agreements between the variou contractors. cane
growers etc., \rith the plantations. If we are to make a true confe -
ion in regard to the rea ons for demanding $3.00 p r day, we must
ay that that demand wa made with theamount of livingexpen e of ,
common laborer with a wife and two children taken a the ba is for
computation the large majority of the laborers are married and have
...·eral childr n). We only feared the ri from iic to $3.00 per
day wa too great a leap. Without doubt the amount of bonu i
xce dingly great when conditions in the sugar vorld appear favor
able, but bonu it elf is far from being secure and reliable and can
not alway be made to take the place of regular wage. Ju t in pro
portion a it i magnified and overemphasized by the capitali t it i
so much the les certain. For this rea on, we have earn tly de ired
to obtain the tability of our living by properly paid waees rather
than through the beneficence of bonu with conditions. Why then,
you may a k, did we not make this proposal for $3.00 per day in the
b ginning. In order to answer this que tion, we must make clear to
you the .ituation and the reason which prompted us.to demand for
$1.25 per day with bonu .
At the meeting of the representatives of laborers of 0111 the islands
h Id in the arly part of December 191~, when we were about to make
the final decision in regard to the demands to he presented to the
Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association, the following agreement was
reached by the majority of the representatives present.
"It being our purpose not to desregard the sliding scale bonus
system and the method used in encouraging the laborers' continued
service, we deem it unbecoming for laborers whose interest lies in the
hearty co-operation of capital and labor, to present the new plan im
m diately, although $3.00 per day is quite reasonable. It should there
fore be agreed upon that the amount of wages to be demanded be
computed from the sum needed for a laborer to support himself. The
bonus is to be left for the support of wife and children."
o
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Plantations FOR U ARRIED AN
Hawaii Board ClothiD& Tax P pen ClubsSodal Sundty Total
aCuiDes
Ookala 15.00 16.iO .40 1.00 1.00 6.20 5.05 $ 45.05
Kukaiau 15.00 6.45 .50 .35 .50 1.85 6.20 30.85
Kau, Pahala 15.00 13.50 ,010 1.50 1.00 5.i5 495 4210
Pepekeo 15.00 6.00 . 0 1.70 1.50 4.70 3.85 • 32.20
Kukuihaele 15.00 16.70 ,010 1.00 1.00 6.20 5.05 45.05
Honokaa 15.00 9.65 AS 1.50 1.70 10.50 6.30 45.10
Kohala 14.00 5,015 .45 .80 040 4.65 525 31.00
Kohala Union Mill 13.50 5.60 ..10 1.00 .90 5.50 3.65 30.55
Kohala, Hawi 15.50 9.55 .50 1.00 1.00 7.00 6.30 40.85
Hamakuapoko 14.00 4.90 ,010 125 .70 2.65 5.90 29.80
Hakalau, Honohina 15.00 8,010 ,015 1.00 .70 8.75 4.90 39.50
Kamuela 15.50 5.90 .45 .75 .75 3.75 3.00 30.10
Maul Average 36.93
Waimalu 15.00 7.60 ,013 1.50 .50 4.00 4.55 33.58
Pauela 13.50 6.55 ,010 .85 1.00 425 4.25 30.80
Kahului 15.00 7.05 .45 1.00 .25 4.10 2.35 30.20
Lahaina 15.00 8.75 .42 1.50 .10 8.20 3.00 3697
Oahu Average 32.89
Kahuku 14.50 3.80 .42 .85 3040 2040 25.37
Wahiawa 13.00 6.05 .50 .85 1.00 4_'0 255 28.45
13.00 6.90 .85 .Q? 3.10 4.80 28.90
Aiea 15.00 IU5 .40 .75 .20 255 1.65 31.90
boai Average 28.6S
icBryde 1250 7.35 . 5 1.00 .50 4.75 7.00 33.55
Kilauea 13.00 8.45 AS 1.00 .30 2040 6.20 31
Hanalei 13.00 5.20 AD 1.00 ..50 5.75 195 27m
Kapaa 13.50 8.05 ,46 1.00 .30 4.10 5040 3281
Average 31.49
5
PlantAtions FOR MARRIED AN
Hawaii Bo rd Clothing Tax Papers Cluba ocial Sundry Total
aguIDes
Ookala 31.75 22.10 .40 1.30 1.50 9.20 4.20 0.65
Kukaiau 35.60 7.85 .50 .30 1.00 2.60 4.10 52.15
Kau, Pahala 34.00 15.50 .40 2.00 .75 7.25 7.05 66.95
Kamuela 30.00 6.00 .045 1.25 1.50 6.50 5.30 51.20
Pepekeo 28.65 6.55 .40 1.75 1.50 6.00 16.35 64.80
Honoka 25.50 12.90 .42 2.00 2.00 15.50 7.30 65.82
Kohala 28.00 6.40 .45 .80 AD 7.15 4.10 47.30
Koh 101 nion •fill 28.50 10.10 AD 1.00 .95 R75 3.25 52.95
Kohala, Hawi 25.00 12.55 .50 1.00 1.25 11.00 6.85 58.15
Hamakuapoko 28.50 6.45 .40 .50 1.00 5.90 2.90 45.65
Hakalau, Honohina 30.50 16.55 .45 1.00 .50 12.25 6.35 67lfJ
Maul Average 59.38
Waimalu 29.55 9.05 .45 1.00 .25 6.10 4.05 50.45
Pauela 27.50 8,45 .50 .85 1.00 8.50 4.80 51.60
Kahului 33.00 J2.50 ,43 1.75 2.25 12.00 5.95 67.88
Lahaina 39.85 13,40
Oahu Average 56.28
Kahuku 23.00 6.75 .42 .85 .25 3.65 4.98 40.40
Wahiawa 30.00 10.25 .50 .85 2.00 7.00 4.20 54.80
30.00 8.05 .85 2.55 6.65 6.60 56.70
Aiea 32.30 24.20 .40 .75 .20 2.55 2.95 63.35
Kanal Average 53.81
McBr)'dc 27.10 10.55 .45 1.00 .75 8.85 8,45 57.15
Kilau 28.10 9.95 .45 .50 3.75 4,45 47.40
Hanalei 13.50 5.85 .040 1.00 1.00 10.50 3.15 45.40
Kapa 28.75 10.95 .% 1.00 AS 7.30 5.80 54.71
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PllIntatiOl13 FOR ARRIED AN WITH TWO CHILDRE
Hawaii Board Cl thinjt Tax Paper. Club Social Sundry T tal
ajtuinea
a kala 46.85 27.W AO s 1.50 3.00 11.80 5.45 96.60
Kukaiau 35.ss 7.85 .50 .50 1.00 2.60 4.10 52..
Kau. Pahala 00 17.50 AO 2.00 2.75 825 7.05 85.95
Pepekeo 38.55 65 ..10 1.75 2.00 14AO 4.85 76.85
Kamuela 43.90 820 A5 1.25 3.50 7.00 725 71.55
Kukuihaele 48.40 10..10 ,45 1.50 4.50 .50 4.50 74.75
Honokaa 35.50 19.70 ..12 2.00 4.00 17.00 10.30 88.92
Kohala 35.50 7.90 .45 .80 1.15 7.65 5.25 58.70
Kohala Union Mill 42.75 17.00 .40 1.00 5.75 9.75 4.85 81.50
Kohala, Hawi 48.50 19.50 .50 1.00 5.50 14.00 9.80 98.80
Hamakuapoko 36.00 8.95 040 1.50 1.00 820 4.65 60.70
Hakalau, Honohina 41.75 20.55 .,45 1.00 2.00 16.75 7.20 89.70
Maul Average 78.03
Kahului 48.65 12.10 .45 1.00 2.50 7.10 5.50 77.30
Pauela 75.00
Waimalu 77.80
Lahaina 5·1.35 17.80 • 1.00 .75 625 5.10 8425
Oahu Average 78.59 .
Kahuku 33.50 10.05 .42 .85 1.55 4.65 5.78 56.70
Wahiawa 010.00 11.25 .85 2.55 6.65 6.75 68.05
Aiea 3-1.00 31.35 .40 .75 120 2.65 3.40 73.75
,
Kauai " A erage 66.17
fcBryde 35.70 14.45 .45 1.00 .75 18.85 11.50 85.45
Kilauea 41.50 17.30 .45 I. .25 .90 8.10 69.50
Hanalei 37.00 8.60 .40 1.00 3.50 17.50 4.80 n
Kapaa 3520 13.35 .46 1.00 120 7.80 7.85 66.S6
Average 73.65
7
THE D A D8-RESOLUTIONS OF THE ASSE BLY OF
REPRESENTATIVES.
I. The wage of common man laborers. hich at present are 77cents per dOl)
shall be increa ed to 125. and those of the higher salaried men shall be in
crea ed in proportion:
And minimum wa es for l\ man laborersshall be fixed at 95 cents per day:
However. it i 10 beunderstood that the pre ent bonus system hall be retain
ed with changes h reinafter menti ned. and same to be paid in addition rc
the wages already menti ned above,
2. The pre ent bonus ). tern hall b changed in the folio ing particular .viz:.
(a) That the principle or the bonu system shall be made so that the laborers
may claim the arne in court of justice as of right if it is not already so.
(b) That all men laborer who hall work 15 days or more and all voman
laborer who hall rork 10 days or rmre per month, shall be entitled to the
bonu ; and that II cane gro -ing contractors who may be employed by th
plantation to do work for them. hall be paid their bonus irrespective of number
of days th y work for the plantations:
(c) 75 per cent of bonus hall be paid to laborers every month. the remain
ing 25 per cent to be retained by the plantation to be paid at the end of each
bonus year: 1rovided, however. that whenever the laborers shall le ve the
pI ntations beau e of their intention of returning to Japan. or change of place
of work. or of di charge, they shall be paid at once the .....hole remainder of the
bonus. which has been so ret ined,
3. Eight (8) h ur shall constitute a day's work, with the wages and bonuses
hereinabove mentioned.
4. Woman laborer shall be excused from their work for two weeks b fore
and six weeks after th ir delivery, during which time, however, they shall be
entitled to their wages and bonuses as if they were actually at work.
5. For work on unday" legal holidays, or overtime services, the laborers
shall be paid double their regular wages and bonuses.
6. Regarding the cane growing contract.vit is requested that the same be so
changed. after deducting the marketing expenses, that the share of companies
shall be 40 per cent and that of the planters shall be 60rD of the gross value of
the market price 0f sugar.
7.That the price or cane paid to the cane growing contractors be increased in
proportion to the increase of wage and bonus as outlined hereinabove
8.That the planters shall further improve the provisions made for the health
and amusement of laborers.
o
RESOLUTIONS SUBMITTED TO PLANTERS' ASSOCIATION
The Assembly of the representative of Japanese Laborers, which passed the
above resolution , submitted the same accompanied b)' a letter, to the Planter'
Association on Deceml r 4, 1919. thru a delegation consisting of one repre en
tative from each island. It should be remembered that similar demands were
Iso presented to th me I ociation by the Filipino Laborer ' Union on the
same day.
8
It was our finn belief that a request moderate in its nature as the one
above referred to. would naturally be ccepted by the Planters' Association.
This belief we held not without reason. for vord and ctions of the various
plantation managers revealed. in un:>ffici I manner. the assurances that the
demands would be accepted. But. contrary to our expectation, the annual meet
ing of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association resulted in the total rejection
of our demands, excepting that single clause relating to the bonus system.
It was an unexpected i ue. However. we were not entirely disappointed. Be
lieving that an honest explanation of our situation would cause our sincere
desires to be acknowledged. we again submitted a similar request with the fol
lowing reason in support of it on December 27, 1919.
REASONS'III SUPPORT OF REQUEST FOR HIGHER WAGES, SHORT
ER HOURS, ETC., FOR PLANTATION LABORERS OF HAWAII
There is something astonishing in the: price movement of living staples. In
order to ascertain what effect the present high prices have had upon the life
of the plantation laborer . our Federation has chosen 45 articles of provisions.
clothing and kindred commodities. and has investigated the retail prices thereof.
We find that the highest has increased as much as 20770% and even the lowest
40%. averaging an increase of 115% as compared with normal pre-war prices.
Unfortunately there are no authentic figures available which refer to the few
years immediately preceding 1916. We have: therefore adopted the latter as a
basis of comparison with the prcscnt,-but, in doing so, would ask you to re
member that, even in 1916, the increase, as compared with say. 1912,was already
strongly marked. .
II.. INCREASED COST OF LIVING
It is inevitable that such increase in prices should bring about an increased
cost of living, and according to our investigation, the present cost of living
per month is about as follows. vizt-
1. Single Persons at May 1916 $2·1.81
Single Persons at Nov. 1919 $35.19 .41.80/0
2. .Iarried Couples at May 1916 $46.81
Married Couple at Nov. 1919 "7,05 27.6'70
3. Married Persons with 2 children.
May 1916 2.36
Married Person with 2 childr n
Nov. 1919 ..75.72 44.50/0
III. INCO ES OF LABORERS
Now. turning to the incomes of laborer at the present time. men earning
$20.00 per month are common and there are not a few who are working at
Tic: per day. Of course there i a bonus which increases quite materially.
their earnings. But the bonus is not ufficient to supply the discrepancy
between the increased cost of living computed at pre-var rates, and the low
9
present wages, And for those who. from sickness or oth r reasons cannot
obtain the benefit of the bonus. their difficult), still more empha izcd,
IV
:\ laborers's wage should be ufficiem to support him and hi family in de-
cency and in comfort. Only 0 can his physical encrgie be rea onably con
served. But a mere exi tcnce or suh istcnce, i. not enough and the laborers
WIll mu t pend his entire earnings for living .pcnses i. in ufficienrly paid.
There should alway be available a reasonable mar in of earnings. in excess
uf nece sary expense . to et side as an insurance fund to provide again t
the hazards of misfortune and the approach of old age. To provitle lcs than
thi. for a laborer is to IIIace him m a class beneath the beast of hurden
which are used on the plantation . and to treat him with le s consideration
than i. accord to a working mule. The latter bast. whether from moth,'s
of self hness or of humaneness. is fairly certain of rot only adequate support
during hi working carcer.- but of a humane provision for his needs, when
old age or accident sh 11 have incapacitated him for further ervice. But
where. let us a k, in the wage scale as now existing, can the plantation labor
ers in Hawaii find a guaranty or even a promise ()f provi ion for his main
tenance when age or misfortune shall have placed a period upon his earning
capacity? His condition in this respect compare unfavorably with that
of the heas s of burden now in use upon your plantations, nut if the laborer
from the inadeqmuc wngc now in vogue. should nevertheless, endeavor to set
aside scmcthingc--cven a trine, each month to assist in such provision for the
future. he can do so only at the sacrifice of his comforts. necessities and
even features of decency. of which he should not. upon grounds of morality
and justice. he deprived. In short. then. and to epitomize the present situation.
the plantation laborer is enabled to exist hut not to live. and support those
dependent upon him in any just and rcasonnhle sense of those terms.
To enforce upon labor, here, a wage scale that Iorhids a reasonable pro
vision for the future as well as for the present. is tantamount to thc destruc
tion nf the very basis of their lives. degree of contentment and for that
absence of unrest among the laboring clement, which arc so desirable as pro
rnorers of efficient service.
The profits to the planters in Hawaii for years past. have been most generous.
and late pres. de patches indicate the certainty of enormously increased prices
for our great sugar staple. In the light of these profits. and of this prospect.
we again rcsp-ctfully hut urgently invite your recon irlcration of your an
nounced position upon this subject,
And it i for the skilled. and .erni- killed labor now employed by you
that we request thi increase. a well as for the men and women who serve
in the humblest capacities. The same arguments will readily apply to each
and all of them.