Speech #590134173

If the Senate will pardon me. I will make a few citations from this report. This is the condition that Doctor Neill found: The first effect of the incoming of the Asiatics was the taking over of unskilled labor of every sort. but the competition has now extended until it has become active in nearly every lineof trade and in nearly all the skilled occupations. Most of the competition In the skilled trades comes from the Japanese. and it is insisted everywhere throughout the islands that this competition is growing rapidly. and that the number of Japanese in skilled trades Is larger now than It was in 1900. The clothing trades are almost entirely In the hands of Asiatics. A few white tailors are engaged In business in Honolulu. and there are several white tailoring firms in the town of Hilo. but all of these. with the exception of one firm. are reported to employ Chinese or Japanese workmen. There are practically no white wageearners engaged in making mens garments or boots and shoes. although a few whites find employment independently in repairing and cobbling. The preparation of food and drink affords employment to a number of workers. who are mostly Asiatic. The Chinese take naturally to culinary vocations. often graduating from domestic service into the systematic manufacture of food products. Most of the bakeries. confectionery shops. and hotels and restaurants employ Chinese help. or. as a second choice. Japanese. Practically all domestic servants are Asiatic. On account of the restricted field of employment. plumbing and tinning are usually carried on in conjunction as a single trade. The Japanese have for some time been steadily invading this field. They are now strong competitors in the plumbing trade. and in some places they have practically monopolized the work of making tinware for sale at plantation stores and elsewhere among the working people. This latter has been a profitable field of industry for the whites. but they are being driven from it rapidly. The building trades have also been Invaded aggressively by Asiatic workmen. The effect of Asiatic competition in this field has attracted particular attention on account of the fact that white mechanics in the various building lines have been steadily giving up the field in Hawaii and forming a procession back to the coast. When the Territory was annexed a decided building boom occurred at Honolulu. accompanied by a considerable influx of mechanics from the Pacific coast. It took only a few seasons. however. to supply the city with about all the business structures It was likely to need for a number of years to come.