The principal individuals with whom conversation was held upon the Japanese problem in Hawaii were the following: Mr. Geo. Gibb, Plantation Manager. Mr. A. G. Hime, Assistant Manager. Mr. Harold Rice, Assistant Manager. Mr. K. J. Zetdwitz, Timekeeper. Dr. L. L. Sexton, Government Physican. Dr. F. L. Sawyer, Plantation Physician. Mr. Wm. Walsh, Manager Kahului Railroad. Prof. J. S. Jernegan, Principal High School, Hilo. Mrs. Fraser, Principal Largest Grammar School, Honolulu. Mr. W. O. Smith, Secretary Planters' Association. Dr. A. H. Waterhouse, Plantation Hospital, Koloa. Mr. G. K. Larrison, Superintendent of Hydrography. Rev. Frank Scudder, Secretary Japanese Department, Hawaiian Rev. Doremus Scudder, Pastor Central Union Church. Rev. A. S. Baker, M.D., Agt. Hawaiian Board, Kona, Hawaii. Rev. Hans Isenberg, Pastor Lutheran Church, Lihue, Maui. Mr. J. K. Farley, Tax Assessor, Koloa, Maui. Mr. R. L. Halsey, Federal Immigration Inspector. Judge Lyle Dickey, Kauai. Judge C. B. Hofgaard, Kauai. The total number of individuals conversed with was 73. The most extensive conversation covered some two hours, although the most of them rarely exceeded an hour; many however ranged from fifteen to thirty minutes. Conversations were also held with eight Japanese priest teachers and with nine Japanese Christian pastors. A conference of an hour was held with some twenty of the leading Japanese citizens of Honolulu, the subject of discussion being "picture brides" and the intermarriage of Japanese born in Hawaii. A conference of over an hour was held with some eighteen leading American citizens of Honolulu, the subject being the probable effect upon Hawaii, should general immigration laws be passed by Congress embodying the 5 per cent. restriction proposal with the consequent abondonment of the "Gentlemen's Agreement." The total number of addresses and sermons given during the two weeks was eleven. The one purpose of this extended trip and of these many conversations was to find out from those who have had long direct and responsible relations with Japanese, the results of their experience and thought, to get first-hand facts, to appreciate as fully as possible the problem of the Japanese in Hawaii as seen by these various individuals, chiefly Americans but also Japanese, to bring all the facts and view-points to bear upon the larger problem of the international relations of the United States and Japan, and to consider whether additional activities are needed in Hawaii for the promotion of right international relations. In the following pages, I desire to state in the briefest possible form, (1) the pertinent facts, (2) the pending problems and (3) various suggestions. II. FINDINGS AND OBSERVATIONS 1. The total population of the Hawaiian Islands, December, 1914, is estimated at 227,000, of whom 89,715 were Japanese, 24,550 were pure Hawaiian, 24,450 were Caucasian, 23,299 were Portuguese, 21,631 were Chinese, 14,992 were Filipinos and 14,518 comprised all the other races, The total number of births for that year was 5,756, and of deaths 3,707 of which the Japanese furnished 3,039 births and 1,296 deaths. In 1910, when the total population amounted to 191,909, the males numbered 123,099 to 68,810 females. Japanese males numbered (1910) 54,783 to 24,891 females. The amounts of money sent to Japan through the post-office and banks amounted to $2,800,000 in 1912, $2,700,000 in 1913, and in 1914 to $2,300,000. 2. The maintenance by Japanese of the purity of their race stock is one of the remarkable facts that merits consideration. The Report of the Registrar General for 1914 classifies by race the marriages of the year. Of 3,149 marriages 1,806 are JapaneseJapanese. One American married a Japanese bride as did also one Spaniard. One Japanese man married a Caucasian-Hawaiian, and three Japanese men married pure Hawaiians. These figures are in marked contrast to the intermarriage of the other races. Of 210 American men 112 married American brides, eleven married pure Hawaiians, twenty-five married Caucasian-Hawaiians, three married pure Chinese and four married Chinese-Hawaiian women. Out of 102 Chinese men thirty-one married pure Hawaiian and nine married Chinese-Hawaiian women, only fifty-eight marrying women of pure Chinese blood. While 1,806 Japanese women married Japanese men, only two married out of their race; out of 806 brides of pure American, British, Hawaiian, Portuguese and Spanish blood 206 married grooms of other races than their own. I have not secured adequate statistics, but considerable inquiry leads me to infer that out of the whole number of Japanese families in the territory, in the vicinity of 30,000, there must be less than one hundred that have married Hawaiians. 3. During the past seven years, due to the strict administration by the Japanese government of the "Gentlemen's Agreement," no fresh labor immigrants have come from Japan. Thousands of women, however, have been allowed to come to marry husbands already in the islands. The result is that a large majority of the men (perhaps two thirds) are married. While some abuses have doubtless attended the coming of so many "picture brides," yet the results on the whole are satisfactory. The universal testimony of the plantation managers is to the effect that they prefer married men to bachelors, not merely or principally because the younger wives aid in plantation work, but chiefly because the men are more contented, more steady, more diligent, and more free from venereal diseases. In the employment of men and assignment of work, other things being equal, preference is usually given to men having families. 4. There is general agreement in the opinion that on most of the plantations no regular prostitution exists, and also that the Japanese are more free from venereal diseases than any other race. Some of the physicians and managers made amazingly strong statements on this point. In the city of Honolulu, however, the situation seems to be reversed, Japanese prostitutes being found in relatively large number. A recent investigation of the red-light district showed that out of 107 prostitutes, eighty-two were Japanese. 5. Examination in detail of more than a dozen "camps" showed that that name should be abandoned. They are villages rather than camps. A few plantations still use some of the old barracks. As a rule, however, they have been entirely given up. Each family has a home for itself; if the family is small, it has two rooms and a kitchen, two homes being covered by a single roof. Large families have an entire building. The houses have each its own plot of ground. In many cases these are cultivated; but the custom is still far from universal. The apparent indifference of so many Japanese families to the appearance of their homes, whether inside or without, is one of the surprises of my visit. Japanese peasants are distinctly inferior to Portuguese in this respect, though superior to Filipinos. Portuguese villages appear as a rule attractive, being well provided with trees and flowers, while Japanese villages as a rule are distinctly unattractive. There is, however, much difference between the various plantations in this respect. 6. Particular inquiry was made in regard to Japanese financial relations. I learned that while work that lasted from two years or more was given on regularly recorded contracts, contracts for shorter periods were merely verbal, covering work that would be completed in the course of a few months. The fine relations of mutual trust and good-will displayed by this arrangement were highly impressive. The adjustment also of rates of payment, so that the laborer shares with the plantation the advantages or disadvantages of large or small crops and also of high or low prices of sugar, evinced the desire of the managers to deal fairly with labor and also the confidence of labor in the honesty and fair dealing of the managers. The fact that while Filipinos, Portuguese, Porto Ricans, and others as a rule are given only day labor, the contracts are given largely to Japanese, speaks volumes for the superior ability and fidelity of Japanese labor. 7. The financial prosperity of the Japanese was also a cause of surprise. In addition to wages, every laborer is provided free of cost with a house, all tools, fuel, water and medical treatment. As already noted, during the past few years the housing arrangements have been greatly improved at a cost to the plantations of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Statements from Japanese working men show that while the minimum earnings for a year-receiving only day wages-amounts to about $200, the total expenses of living for a single man amounts to about $125, leaving thus a clear profit of $75. A man and wife with two or three children at the minimum, earns about $280 and spends about $250, leaving only a small balance. Where a contract is taken, the laborer still receives house, fuel, etc., free and his income and savings depend on his energy and skill. A man and his wife can earn as much as from $50 to even $80 per month. Exceptional cases run high. The highest earnings reported were those of two men who took a contract for the cultivation of a twenty-five-acre field. The work was completed in 235 days, and for that period they received $1,856.50, being $3.95 per day each. 8. The system of making advance payments on contracts, as the work is accomplished, and also of providing a yearly bonus for all laborers who remain throughout the year and work an average of twenty days per month, proves still further the desire of the managers to deal helpfully with their labor. Reports (not complete) show that during the three years of the operation of the bonus system, the total amount distributed was over half a million dollars. The amount of the bonus is made to depend on the average price of sugar and to be a definite per cent. of the total earnings of the workmen for the year. In 1912, 15,994 workmen received $335,732, or $20.99 per man. In 1913, 14,934 workmen received $48,716, or $3.26 per man. In 1914, 15,985 workmen received $189,025, or $11.20 per man. It will be seen from these figures that the amount of the bonus per individual is not very large. 9. A question constantly asked concerned the tendency of children born in the islands to go on to the plantations. In Hawaii and Maui, the invariable answer was that only a few do so; the large majority leave for Honolulu and invariably seek an easier life than that of their parents. In Kauai and Oahu however, many young people seem to be taking up work on the plantation. Plantation managers on the former islands regard with anxiety the future of the labor supply and would like to see fresh immigration from Japan and China, while those on Kauai have no such anxiety or desire. 10. I was much surprised at the number, equipment and fine locations of the Japanese schools. I judge that there must be more than one hundred, having an attendance of from 10,000 to 15,000 children. The teachers of the independent and Jodo Buddhist schools seem to be fair-minded men, with some appreciation of their problems. The priest teachers of the Shinshu (Hongwanji) Buddhist schools did not make a like impression upon me. The presence of these schools, with the temples and shrines of two or three of the most superstitious sects of Japanese Buddhism (Shingonshu and Daishi) |