7. That we are appealing to reason and justice of the planters, and that we are not, as alleged by the press, appealing to force or violence. Such in brief being our position in this higher wages movement, it is respectfully submitted that you will do justice to the demand of labor which we trust is just and equitable.

Very respectfully, yours,

(Signed)

FRED K. MAKINO,

Chairman Executive Committee Higher Wages Association.

EXHIBIT A.

Japanese labor and sugar industry.1

The following table will show how large a part the Japanese labor has contributed to the building up of the sugar industry of Hawaii:

1 When differences appear between the figures of this table and the table on p. 687, showing the nationality of plantation laborers, this is due to the fact that such figures, for the same year, are for different months.

EXHIBIT C.

Statistics of children.

The following table will show the number of children and the increasing burden of the laborers in plantations:

This table shows in the period between 6 and 15 years ago the birth rate of Japanese was only 500, but that in the last four years it reached 2,000 a year. The latest statistics of birth, according to the official record of the Japanese consulate, is as follows:

The following table shows the increase of women and the tendency of still further increase:

This shows an increase of women in four years of some 1,500. And as during the last year more women came to Hawaii than in any previous year, the number of women at the end of last year would not have been less than 21,000, and it may probably have reached 22,000.

These statistics are taken from the official record of the Japanese consulate. According to the same official record, there were 42,082 Japanese male population. Therefore, there still remain 22,473 unmarried men. With the higher standard of living in Japan, the actual increase of women, and the tendency still further to increase, the future will see a rapid increase of married laborers, who must provide for their wives, their children, and for their old age.

EXHIBIT E.

Statistics of Japanese schools.

Schools are maintained by the Buddhists, Christians, and by the general public, irrespective of religion, which we may call nondenominational.

This table shows that the number of schools has more than doubled since 1904, the year before the present wages schedule was adopted; and that since the present schedule was adopted the number of schools have increased by 37 per cent. This is the increased burden of the laborers on account of education of their children. When we consider the future increase of children and the consequent increase of educational expenses, and when we consider also the necessity of improvement in the schoolhouses and the quality of teachers, a far greater expenditure on this account must be looked for and provided for.

And, besides these, there are 5 churches whose dates of establishment are not known; and, as since 1905, 2 churches had been added, there are 26 Christian churches and worshipping places. Of these,

those having buildings worthy of the name of churches are only seven, namely:

Other 19 places of worship of Christian God do not have buildings. worthy of the name of church. The salaries of the preachers are paid by the Hawaiian board. It goes without saying that the Japanese are ambitious enough that they have better places of worship and that they may build them with their own money, and pay out of their own pockets the salaries the men who minister to them the heavenly manna. This ambition can not be realized at the present rate of wages. Even at the present time the ordinary expense for the maintenance of the churches are borne by the members, which is in the neighborhood of $30 per month. Hitherto their churches were mostly built with the money contributed by their American friends.

EXHIBIT G.

Increase of the Buddhist temples.

There are two sects of Buddhism which are engaged in the evangelical work among the Japanese in Hawaii, viz, Hongwanji and Jodo. The following table will show the increase of their temples by years:

The construction expenses are borne by the Japanese, for the Buddhists do not dare ask the Christians to contribute to the fund for construction of their Buddhist temples.

The total construction expenses of the respective sects are:

The Hongwanji.....

The Jodo......

$87,750

14,000

Of these buildings, the most expensive one cost $20,200, and the least expensive one only $600, and the majority are from $600 to $1,000.

These statistics will show two things:

1. That the laborers' burden is increasing in respect of their religion.

2. That the present place of worship needs a great improvement, if the laborers were to maintain a respectable place of worship, which they deserve.

EXHIBIT H.

Laborers' life on plantations. ̧

[The Nippu Jiji, Nov. 27, 1908.]

Mr. Fujitani, collector of the Nippu Jiji, relates the following in the Nippu, which he obtained from a responsible Japanese while he was traveling the island of Hawaii on business. The responsible Japanese said in substance:

There is a Japanese woman on this plantation who has been here for 15 years. Her husband is now 48 years old. They have four children. The price of rice alone consumed by this family foots up to $10 a month. This woman has her hands full in caring for the children and the house. Her husband has in Japan an old mother, 73 years of age, to support. This woman once related to him the efforts she is making to make the ends meet. She related with tears in her eyes how difficult it is to get along with only her husband's earnings, especially when the prices of everything are high. She wondered what she would do if her husband should be overtaken by sickness or otherwise be disabled, and she said that her only hope was that the children should grow up so that they may help support the family.

EXHIBIT I.

Laborers' standard of life rising.

[The Nippu Jiji, Dec. 12, 1908.]

When seen, the Rev. E. Imamura, the superintendent of the Hongwanji Evangelical Mission of Hawaii, said:

"I have made a tour around these islands lately, and have found the standard of life of Japanese laborers by no means low. They are consuming beer, whisky, and wine. They also eat fresh fish. This is quite a change as compared with conditions of several years ago. The change is accounted for by the fact that the laborers are gradually becoming resident and settled labor from transient labor, which they were before. Consequently they care more for their health and for the satisfaction of human desires than for saving money. They can not maintain their health and enjoy their life if they were to take such food as they used to take several years ago. The standard of life of Japanese laborers is not inferior to that of other laborers.".

EXHIBIT J.

Unsatisfactory state of the laborers' living quarters.

The following is an excerpt from an article written by Mr. Y. Tasaka of the Nippu Jiji, after a trip over the island of Hawaii:

"I went to Honomu and made a call on Mr. Tanimoto, merchant; Mr. Awaya, liquor dealer; Mr. Taniguchi, druggist; and Mr. Morimura, hotel keeper. They informed me that the laborers are all complaining of the uncleanliness of the camps and of the planters' indifference to the laborers' health, and that the laborers are earnestly wishing that the planters improve the camps or build new and more sanitary quarters for laborers to live in. They informed me, also,