New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-27
LABOR UNIONS IN JAPAN.
THE


MOVEMENT SPREADING THROUGHOUT THE
EMPIRE - THIRTY WEIGHT STRIKES
WITHIN YEAR
". E. Curtis in The Chicago Record.
Labor unions have been introduced into Japan
With considerable success. The ideas they rep
resent seem to appeal TO the japanese working
people and the movement is SPREADING throuEh-
out the empire with such rapldlty that II mas
already attracted the attention OF Parliament
and Is likely to create disturbance. INC
strength Of the movement although II Is sun
in its infancy, was DEMONSTRATED recenuy " nGh
the Union of Ironworkcrs in the city Oh TOXIC
held a public meeting The entire membership
Of the union 100 i'm number. and reprr7en-
fatives of other organized labor were pres mt
Speeches were made by Messrs. Shimada Sa-
buro vice president Of tn Lower House oI fdF-
lament: Nivoshi Taizo. Chief Justice Of the
Supreme Court, Professors Takano ana Su"uN4
II the University Of Toxic. and Professor
Katayama Of the University OF Wisconsin Inc
IrouyOrkers' Union is the largest and the nlos'
PROSPEROUS in the empire. which Is probably
due 10 the fact that the representatives oI thls
trade are more intelligent and better paid
thirteen other organizations in Japan. II who n
ten are located in the city OF ] ko Inc
union Of the railway men. al of whom are en-
rloyod 10y the Government, Is second IN sti'hS'h
20 the ronworkcrs.
ncnt are endcavoriIS to steer clear OF po"'lcdI
influences. although they have mot WIN 80
difficulty in doing 50. chiefly be. ause the "orh a.
inc people Of Japan demand the extension OF
the right Of suffrage. which y now HnIlrd to
people who pay taxes TO the amount @i - yen.
or silver dollars. year. Inc ostehSIoe ""l'' -
~ the organization are 10 MAINTAIN wages 10
nromote education TO elevate the condition Of
the Vage-earncrs and furnish a system u N
s1rancn which gives 20 sen 30 cents day ioF
sick members funeral benefit OF SIo ana .,lors d
death benefit - $50 10 the families OF iheiiotIS'
he % cents a MONTH
There have been no less than thirty-cSh nj
strikes in Japan within The last year III Nil.-i u
several classes Of lahorers were represent
silk and cotton operatives. carpenters 81 ~
c,,lice dock laborrrs Miners. railway cNnl'! 80
and others These disturbances have cIcdl,. d
distrust and apprehension among ca'i-"" !,
that has been communicated TO Farldin'H', anu
several bills have been introduced i"r lp' -u-
lation and protection OF labor on one HdhI ai-I
tho protection Of capital on the rth'I. ~
are LARGELY based upon British statu S. H'
Department Of Agriculture and Conn rec ms
ken the matter in hand ana mas pI.P"r,i - :.
general bill covering the whole subject Nfllch
Is intended for the benefit OF hoth inc I"l 10y -
crs and the employed. 1t PROVIDES lot tHo SIH san,
.arv insnection Of factories. the LIABILITY ~ ON
Movers in cases of accident safety lTo'iS ''l7
FOR the protection of operatives h-di.S' go, !,
gerous machinery and fire; II lrohiois emo
IA ho- under ten years and limits working hpdfs
or children under fifteen; prohibits the cm;I ~
mont Of women when they are IN con III. N
that makes them sensitive 10 INJURY, INNS ''c
working hours Tor dluIS 10 tN'iF'' -
navrnent for overtime. and 10 prevent SUik :
and the coaxing Of labor away from one ,act 81!
ia another There t. provision relurl',7
every person employed in the factories 10 oo-
ta,n from the municipal authorities a S''r' ~
cate or license which is 10 be deposited WIN
his or her employer. Employees are lui'uueI j.
n hire persons who do not present certihcd.,
and no person can leave factory aSaihSt III.
In -, be or her employer without suTTenderInS
mic certificate All disputes are referred 70 tH'
,'CIica authorities for decision mus il M
iou, = nassel strikers can never obtain employ
mont SO long as their employers reiusr 10 ~.
urn their certificates. and at the same tihe on
|~r,,nver will not be- able to enuce ava! Inc
oufratives Of another, which IS a frequent P''0
tce in Japan . 49,.
Tho employer class particularly the C"'io"
,farufaottlrinc Association. oppose the mn !"
r,,,e@ i, limits the hours II labor requires III,
Introduction Of sanitary improvements anu
,,,,.rn,ut for overtime. While thr WI M
classes object because II disarms orEaIlH'r "a. "a
hnr Of It's strongest weapon by introducing TIC
certificate system ,tor.re wages
with the exception - farm iahoieI - ~
Ao,'a a1vanced from 20 20 40 per cent throut.
ali lines Of industry IT. JaIan durIhE m "a
- vears The result has beer unheaitny con-
".t.j,r ror eronlovnent and the d"morallIalioI
=. inc agricultural interests People are Cav ~
~ farms and crovding into the cIuts I" - -
vork for which they have no eNp'rIg" :, g..
qualifications And. on the o'h'' la"n' / 20
rorreeentod TIA. the manufacturers are H"Ht.I7
- l,il,,s mistake by n,glecting their ma mn
erv Nv employing incNperienc"d "l,r' a. ,,in .
toII1 NOR looms and spndcs. ana 10y uS.HI
49,, Iuhric1nts which not only mas y,
- 30 ranid depreciation Of the value ~ ".
rlants but IS injurnS the REPUTATION
PRODUCTS.