Excerpt from Conditions Affecting the Suffrage in Colonies: Thesis Japanese and over one-third Of the Chinese are employed on the sugar plantations. Originally the Hawaiians themselves worked on the plantations, but as the demand for agricul tural labor increased after the expansion Of the sugar indus try in 1875, when a reciprocity treaty was made with the United States, they were unable to meet the new demands for labor, and the planters were therefore forced to look else where for the required supply. An unfortunate experience in the violation Of labor agreements led to the introduction Of a contract system Of labor, in order that the planters might be protected at a time when it was absolutely necessary that a sufficient supply Of labor should be at hand to carry On the Operations Of the sugar industry. A proper understand ing of this is necessary to explain the existence Of such a large number Of Asiatics on the islands, and the effect in turn upon industrial and political conditions. This contract system, which furnishes house rent and weekly wages Of three dollars, attracts a comparatively low type Of labor and sets a low standard Of living. But a high political develop ment Of the islands can only be fully realized by the intro duction Of efficient labor and a high standard Of life. The productive power of such labor is relatively much greater than the temporary additional expense entailed in increased wages. As has been shown, climatic conditions also are favorable to white labor, since the islands are tropical only in so far as latitude is concerned. However, the actual as well as the formal control Of the islands by the United States, and the consequent probable application Of American methods Of industrial enterprise, will exert an influence tending to replace the lower type of labor for the higher and more efficient. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.