The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-26
Producers Association of California, in an

Producers Association of California, in an
interview yesterday.
Tomorrow, at $3.50 P. NJ" he con-
tinued, ''there will be meeting of the
directors of the association, and beyond
doubt that matter will take up great deal
of our time and will receive the attention
it deserves. Very few people in America
realize that the introduction of Japanese
labor is to the detriment of the industries
of the country. There is no nation of
people in the world who are so adept in
the art of imitation as the Japanese, and
with the pauper wages paid there, coupled
with their wonderful faculty for duplica-
ton, they will soon be able to undermine
all our manufacturing industries, and thus
throw thousands of Americans on the
community as unemployed men. They
have looked forward to the time when they
would be bic to step into this country
with their cheaply produced articles and
sell them at figure far beneath the prices
brought by American-made articles. With
this prospect in view they have sent
japanese to this country who have gradu-
ated in our best educational institutions,
and who are familiar with the needs Of
America. They have studied the demand
existing here for every production they
it is possible to compete with America at
greatly reduced prices and still make
handsome profit.
In the last few years Japan has takenHa
step in the commercial world that has
taught her :he Importance of competing
with other countries, and she has begun
her experiments, it might be said with
reasonable success so far, on America and
American manufactures. To-day she is
making watches for one dollar that are
selling all over the civilized world and are
being introduced into this country to an
alarming extent The wages paid her
working men and women range from two
cents day to S. month when computed
in American money. The most skilled arti-
sans within her borders are paid the fabu-
lous sum of 81 80 month. Compare this
with the wages of American workingmen,
who receive on an average from 81 a. day
for ordinary labor to s. day for skilled
workmen. Is 1t possible under the circum-
stances to compete with the ignorant pau
per labor OF Japan and at the same time
uphold the great futures OF our people and
the betterment of our citizens? 1t is true
that they can even go under the rates now
secured Tor their wares and still make a
most substantial profit.
"What, under these circumstances, what
will be the result? Our manufacturing
centers would have to go under with the
pressure OF japanese prices, and Americas
demands would then be supplied ex-
clusively by the people of Japan. They
are too well aware or the strength they
have with the cheapness of their produc-
tions, and just as long as it is possible we
can EXPECT to see them dump their goods
into this country"
What course would be the most reason
able one for the purpose of protecting our
selves ?"
at is the duty of the Manufacturers and
Producers Association to go into it more
thoroughly than ever before and as soon
as it is understood call mass-meeting and
through our Representatives and Senators
mere sectional fight. Itconcerns the entire
United States and should not be belittle d
to the extent of combining it to the Pacific
Coast alone. It is the duty of the in
habitauts of the United States to protest
against this invasion in as strong terms as
possible and stop it as soon as it can be
done.
Look out upon the street to-day and
you will see some of our best-dressed men
wearing clothing made in Japan. Our So
ciety people send their orders across the
Pacific Ocean and in short time they are
filled by the skillful, initiative, pauper la
Dor of the Orient. Already the result is
beginning to be felt and merchants whose
trade is entirely confined to the United
States are aware that something is wrong
with the market. 1t Is nothing more nor
less than the rat labor of foreign countries.
''The rapidly with which Japan has in
vaded the commerce Of this country is best
understood by the merchants who attended