The San Francisco call., 1896-02-08

the Chinese must CO. So also the solu-
ton of the Japanese manufacturing prob
lem must be settled by the people. am
not here to take sides in the matter which
is subjected to the Chamber of Commerce
Tor the. careful consideration which it
merits"
William L. Merry, who, in conjunction
with Frederick I'll. Dingle, acted as secre-
tary, then read the following report pre-
sented by the special committee nomi-
mated by the Chamber of Commerce and
the Manufacturers and Producers Asso-
clat1on to investigate the point at issue:
To The Board Of Directors of the MdnstJactur-
ers ana Producers Observation-Disclosures: :
Your committee appointed to confer with a
committee from the Chamber of Commerce on
the subject of the Japanese invasion of our
manufacturing field beg leave to report as fol-
lows:
The committee appointed by the Chamber of
Commerce consisted OF Messrs. Hugh Craig
Makeheld Baker and George II Collins, which
gentlemen, with Messrs. Julian Sonntag A.
Sbarboro and j: P. Currier from this associa-
ton, composed the joint committee of confer
ence. This joint committee held meetings on
December 23, 1885, January 8, 16 and 23,
1896. Copies OF the minutes OF said meetings
are hereto attached.
The joint committee called to their assist
anee IN the investigation OF the subject in
nand Messrs. w. b. Curtis of the Traffic Asso-
citation, State Labor Commissioner Z. L. Fitz-
gerald, W. T. Bowers, Professor George David
son and William Rutherford. AT the first
meeting several subcommittee were ap-
pointed to investigate the different lines of
manufactures, and after thorough investiga-
Ilon by SAID committees reports have been
made showing that the invasion of the manu-
featuring field of the United States by Japan
ese cheap labor manufactures threatens to be-
come most formidable one. Your committee
most respectfully call the attention of the
board to the report of William Rutherford,
which goes very much into detail on the sub
Ject under consideration. Your committee
further beg to call the attention of this board
OF directors to the resolutions passed at the
last meeting of this committee, as follows:
Resot0ed, That this committee report to their
respective bodies, including in such report the
reports made by the subcommittee, and also
thar OF Mr. Rutherford, and urge upon the
Manufacturers and Producers Association and
the Chamber OF Commerce to request the Cali
fornla delegation in the Senate and House of
Representatives of the United States to
recommend the appointment of COMMITTEES
Of three to investigate the question OF Japanese
manufactures, importations and export trade;
and furthermore be it
ResoIped, That this committee recommend to
the Chamber OF Commerce and to the Manu-
facturers and Producers Association that a
ass-meeting be held in the Chamber of Com
merce at the very earliest date possible, in
order to set before the people the position that
we now occupy toward Japan.
And having presented these resolutions vour
committee hope that this board of directors
will take the matter up Immediately and follow
out the suggestions contained in said
resolutions. Respectfully submitted
JULIAN SoNNTAG, Chairman.
A. SBARBoRo, Secretary.
The reports of the various sub-com NIT
tees dealt fully with the several branches
of industry said to be most in danger by
reason OF Japanese cheap labor, and Mr..
RutherforG's special report, which has
already been published i'll a formen issue
OF IHE CALL, gave mastery resume of
the entire question. The reading of the
reports was listened to with every mark of
interest by all present.
Julian Sonntag, chairman of the Joint
committee, was then called upon for some
remarks on the subject. He exhibited a
copy of the Japanese American CONNER
cial Pioneer, published in New York. and
having. he said, circulation IN japan
alone of over $4,000.
"It has been said" he remarked, "that
Japan can never compete successfully
with England or America in the field Of
commerce and manufacture. This idea
is dangerous failacy. To-day you can
go into any dry-goods store, and unless
you are thoroughly conyersant with tex
tile fabrics you cannot tell French and
Japanese silks apart. Japan once i'm
ported large numbers of clocks and
watches. Now there are thirteen large
watch factories in Japan. Millions and
millions of gross OF Japanese matches,
equal to the best iucifers, are finding their
way into China, the entire Orient, Europe
and America"
Mr.. Sonntag then read number of ex-
tracts from consular reports and from
English, American and German paners
from which it appeared that the Japanese
ara making great advances in every variety
of skilled labor. One extract mentioned
the immense increase in the expectation
of carpets from Japan, notably from Osaka,
which rival those of Egypt, Turkey and
Persia. These carpets, it was said had
found their way into every market, being
exported to America in particular by large
shipments. Mr.. Sonntag concluded by
earnestly recommending that the state of
things be brought to the attention of Con-
gress, in order that some remedy be de-
vised for the protection of American in
dustry and trade from danger of extinc-
ton by reason OF unrestricted Japanese
competition.
Charles ]. King, the next speaker. re-
marked that i'll the past it had seemed as
though. the authorities at Washington
were singularly apathetic regarding mat
ters particularly affecting California.
Now, however, he thought the good of the
western coast-the garden of the Union
was beginning to receive some considera-
tion at the hands of the far-away Federal
authorities. He earnestly commended the
project OF sending memorial to Congress
In which the protection of the Government
be invoked IN favor OF Pacific Coast indus
try and trade.
Walter Hirschfeld took another view of
the matter. lie said Americans were as a
people averse to mental work and that the
real problem was not how TO protect
American Industries, but how to build up
among Americans q spirit of industry.
The Japanese were bound to go ahead be-
cause they were workers, and until the
American people learn to go to work like
the people of other nations he opined that
foreign manufactures would always have
a market in the United States.
M. III. Barnett disagreed with Mr..
Hirshfeld. That speaker had referred to
the small attendance at the meeting, but
Mr.. Barnett contended that the absence of
some of the business men of the CITY
proved little. He said the factories and
workshops of the country were slowly fill
ing up with Japanese, who were learning
the ins and outs of American industry so
as to dominate itin time.
Oscar Lewis said the American is slow
and loQg-sufferiIlg man. but after beino