The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-10
Measures to Meet a Threatened
Invasion of Cheap Asiatic
Labor.
COOLIES OR THEIR PRODUCTS?
Manufacturers and Producers and
Labor Commission In.
tereSted.

The importation of Japanese mannfac-
tured goods and its effects upon home in
dustrles are now agitating the Manufac-
turers' and Producers Association and the
Labor Commission. Diverse opinions are
entertained upon the subject. All agree,
however, upon one thing and that is the
American laborer should be protected
against reduction of wages that would
necessitate a mode of life not in keeping
with free and Independent people.
This afternoon the Manufacturers
and Producers anticipate quite lively
meeting, when they shall discuss the Jap
anese invasion and devise some method of
dealing with the problem that is confront
ing the producers on this coast. Julian
Sonntag of the Giant Powder Company.
chairman of the committee, will report on
that occasion what course is deemed ad-
visable.
When seen yesterday he said that the
committee had not yet outlined Its course,
but that he thought it probable that the
meeting would result in Congress being
asked TO appoint committee to inquire
INTO japanese importation to see if it is
detrimental to home interests.
James Sproule of the Sunset Seed Com
pany, another member of the committee.
said that he recognized Japan as con-
sumner of American goods and would not
on that account be in favor of unlimited
restrictive measures. al do not believe
though, In allowing anything that tends to
depress American wages, and | think that
some legislation ought to be passed to
make an equality of cost for the imported
and homemade article, and where that is
the case do not think the home product
ought TO suffer. At least that has been
the theory of the Manufacturers and Pro-
ducers' Association, and we hope before
long to have the people OF California give
preference to all the products of this
State
While the association has devoted its
attention to the greater grievances of home
manufacturers, such as the protest against
the Introduction of Eastern goods manu-
featured by convict labor, convict labor
products of this State and cheap labor
goods from Japan, 1t now purposes to turn
its attention more particularly to the prl-
yate consumer. An effort will be made to
have families agree to patroniZe home
product wherever possible. A fair is to be
given in Alameda County next week with
this purpose in view. Each woman visitor
will be asked to sign an agreement to favor
California manufactured goods, and little
badge in the form of metallic bookmark
p
glance to home industry.
The, Labor Commission takes very DIFF
ferent view OF the japanese question. Com
missioner Fitzgerald thinks that the i'm
pOrtation OF Japanese goods is the lesser
evil when compared with Japanese coolie
immigration. He saws that little Japan,
with its population of 50,000.000 people,
has a surplus OF cheap labor that it cannot
employ, W hile 1t can keep its manufacturers
at work, and that if the importation OF
Jauanese- made goods were restricted by
heary} duty or otherwise the immigration
ot lhkap japanese labor could not be
STOPPED.
japanese would come here" continued
the Commissioner, land make the goods
here for even lower wages than they re-
ceive in their native country, for their de-
sire for education and the opportunities of
residence in America would make them
willing to work for less than what they re-
Ceiye in Japan-from 80 cents to So a
month. There is guarantee company in
Japan that agrees to have each Japanese
properly landed on these shores and to
keep him in work for three years after he
arrives, and all for the sum of so.
"At a school the coolies are taught the
answers they are to make upon arriving
here.
The sending of cheap goods I realize is
a serious problem to the manufacturers
here, but the invasion of japanese labor is
more serious. The country is in a posi-
ton where 1t has to provide for its cheap
laborers, and it must send them to
America, while it does not have to send
its goods here"
In an analysis of the Japanese and
Chinese labor question in California being
prepared by the Labor Commission occur
these sentences:
The Orientals, who formerly gave England,
france and America cause for felicitation that
they would forever be importers, are to-day
not only not importing their own goods, but
are manufacturing them, and have become
exporters OF the surplus in competition with
america and England.
One matter that has perhaps never been
noticed is the possibility of an East India in
vssion of the California labor market: The
prejudice is general among the native OF Hin
dostan TO crossing the seas, as 1t results IN a
loss of caste. But the establishment OF new
steamship line requiring business in the way
OF coolie Importation to be made Tor 1t might
disclose the fact with startling suddenness that
thousands upon thousands OF the natives OF
Asiatie India would avail themselves OF the OPP
pOrtunity to reach the Pacific Coast OF the
UnIted States and that the fear OF loss OF caste
would cease to be universal. This is feature
to be considered in the framing of an exclusion
act and of memorial 10 Congress. The popu-
lat1on OF Indie is estimated at 24O, 600, 600,
and ii is awakening to modern conditions.
The Aryan in the struggle for existanee has
reached the highest level OF humanity. On
by lack of an exclusion law brought into COM
petition with Mongolian farming class
evolved under the conditions of earnings out
OF which it feeds and boards itself for 121%
cents day. The manufactured articles that
the white man buys are protected by tariff
but there is no protection for his labor, and
when he shall go under from inability TO meet
Asiatic conditions and maintain himself on
plane of American civilization the schools and
churches, the business, manufacturing and
professional classes go under with him. for the
bulk OF the community, even where earnings
are low, is the foundation of the edifiee Of
civilization.
who and where are the persons that ad-
vanced funds for an extensive and systematic
OF cooIie labor? The imprison-
ment of an Asiatic whose time does not count
for much will not tend 10 break up the system
II the financial hackers of it are out OF reach
1t would be sound policy for the combined
savings bank depositors OF California to see
that none of their money was loaned to any
landholder employing japanese or chinese
labor, for vast amount OF the loans made by
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