Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-09-22
Rapid Progress Of Japan.


1t is the opinion of Robert P.
Porter that when the empire ofJapan
adds to the awakened energy and
genius of it's people the multiplying
power of modern machinery, it will
advance beyond it's present position
as formidable competitor for the
trade of Eastern Asia and become a
serious factor in the Industrial rivalry
OF the nations of Europe and America.
This change is going on rapidly and
Mr.. Porter, in an article in the North
American Review for August, main
talns that it is not bugaboo of
American politicians and labor
leaders, but a fact to be seriously
considered in legislative policy.
In ten years Japan has increased
her expectation of matches from $50.
900 to $4,000, 900 a year; of umbrellas
from 81, 1855 to $,50,OOO; of floor mat
ting from $685. to $S,461, 1863. Sakaye
cotton and hemp rugs are finding
equal favor in the export trade and
summer silks are produced SO cheap
ly as to drive the American manu-
facturer out.of the market, notwith-
standing the'payment of duties. No
country but japan can,now seriously
compete in the production of silk
handkerchiefs, of which her sales are
10O,OOO,00O. The cheaper grade of
tooth brushes can be wholesaled in
japan for $3.50 per gross, or but
trifle over cent apiece, while for So
per gross or less than cents apiece
the Japanese sell tooth brushes re-
tailed in America for 40 to SO cents
each. The foreign trade of Japan in
textiles of all kinds has increased
from $511, 900 in 1885 to %, III, 6s6 in
1895; raw silk from $14, 473, 1906 to $780,
92s, 44O; metal goods from $2,112, 997
to So, 53s, 2s0; drugs from 81, Os9,513 to
S3,07S, 357; straw braids from zero to
$1,3s7, 643; porcelain and sundries
from 81, 7s6,s76 to 1924, 7O1.
The civilization which produces
such a variety of articles on a COM
mercial scale is entitled to respect;
and the industrial impulse which
prompts such colossal changes is in
no danger of ebbing before it in
cludes still other industries. Wooden
and worsted goods and many other
lines OF manufacturing are sure to be
taken up, with effects on the worlds
prices and wage schedules only to
easy to foresee.
Mr.. Porter is one of those who adj
vocate the highest protective duties
as the proper policy to exclude such
goods from our markets; but til; s stop
gap can only be temporary in its eff
fects. Our industries have reached
the stage where foreign market is
required, and when our goods reach
other countries, they must compete
with those of japanese production.
Meanwhile SO long as wages in this
country are above the Eur opean
level, the Importation of laborers will
continue. The result will ultimately
be the reduction of Anne rican wages to
the European standard, and that, too
as lowered by oriental competition.
That is the tendency now ruling the
industrial world and protective
duties can only retard not abolish it.
The superior intelligence and ca
pacity of the American workingman
is the only remedy; and we are not
providing industrial training schools
on scale to maintain that advan.
tage.
1t is possible however, that the
newly awakened activity of Japan
will not be wholly q force for the re-
duction of prices and wages. The
mikado's empire may have labor Or
ganization and a determination on
the part of her workingmen to work
shorter hours and receive larger re-
ward. This would greatly modify
the resultant changes in the worlds
industries caused by the Japanese
renaissance.-Des Moines News.