The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-01
Not True That This Country VIII be In
jured by its Cheap Labor.

jured by its Cheap Labor.
New York, Jan. 31-Japanese resi-
| dents of Jew York CITY have been an
| noyed lately by the repeated reports
that the cheap labor of Japan was
about to compete with the skillful labor
of this country. The secretary of the
! consul stationed al New York today
| said:
81 am surprised that people believe
| the reports which are circulated about
the Industrial invasion Of this country
1 by Japan. Nothing could be more RI
! diculous. and 1 can state positively that
! the reports are without exception in
| correct and a piece Of political by-play.
The merchants of this country are be-
! ing misled. 1t is prominently sta ted
that Japan would choke up American
markets with cotton goods. You can
state that even if labor is gratis in Jap
an our manufacturers can never COM
pete with American mills. 1t is true
that we are proficient in the working
of clay and wood, but our only compe-
tftor in this class of merchandise IS
China.
"a great deal is said about cheap la
Dor IN Japan, but have it officially that
since the termination of the war trade
has received such a great impetus and
there has been such a great demand for
labor that wages have been raised over
so per cent, and prices of all commodi-
ties have advanced in proportion. When
we are in a position to manufacture ar
ticles that are produced in this country,
the cost of labor and raw material, will
be so much greater that We could only
export to the United States at a loss.
The indemnity paid by China to Japan,
$40,000,000, has been distributed and
there is a great movement of currency
and more liberal buying for home con-
sumption than even Before.
Japan cannot produce iron or steel
commodities, for she has no raw mate
rial, and all the machinery which is be
ing put up in the mills and factories
has TO be imported from the United
States. In the event of our success in
mechanical arts, and that viii take at
lest fifteen years. all our raw material
viii have TO be drawn from this cOun-
try.
The action last week by a conference
of merchants held in Chicago only goes
to show how little people know about
the true situation If labor is COM
paratiVely cheap at this time. it will
keep pace with the demand, and it will
always form barrier to any extensive
expectation to any country. In fact.
l believe the east, and not the west, IS
the section of the globe that Japan IS
aiming at Our aim in supplying this
country VIII be TO choose such cOmmodi-
ties as DO not conflict with any that are
produced IN the United States.
Manufacturers here ara irving 10
cross a bridge before they come 10 il.
They must remember that japanese
manufactures are hardly born Yet, and
it VIII be a great many years before
they can compare with the worlds
standards.
Reports concerning the building OF
Immense steamships and putting I'D
large plants are erroneous. English
capital has much 10 do with all the gil
ganuc schemes. but the majority of
them are on paper and may never be re-
allied. Al any rate, Japan is too lar
removed from this country to compete.
because The bulk of raw material would
have 10 be supplied by this country. and
i japanese manufacturers have TO pay
market prices and then pay high ocean
irelEh;S hack and forth, where in the
World are rhey going 10 stand 10 COM
pete with This country? The whole OBJ
Jet has been introduced by politicians
and VIII he vigorously agi-ated until
after the election IN November. and
then the matter Will drop"
WE NAV read. and read. and read again.
ana still ina something new. something 10
please, and something 20 instruc1.-Hardis.