The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-01-24
Inside Infermatloo on Japan
Irving Ryttenberg Gives the
Facts From His Own
Observation.

ODS6fVdtiOU.
Kobe, Japan, Dec 27, 1899
telegram received via London, dared
Dec 81, gives the following inforna-
tion
ga bill has been introduced into
the United States congress to author
iae the appointment of commission
to report on the industrial condition
of China aud japan" !"
As this is in pursuance OF Pres'
dent McKinley's message | have no
doubt that ere this reaches you it
will have been passed and the com
missioners about to be appointed.
Is this commission going to be-
come another of the tarces or will
really competent men be appointed
thereon Will they come out here
and be wined and dined by officials,
given Ge;sha sprees and dances.
have lot of statistics rammed down
their threats aud then go home saying
what a 6ne country it is aud what a
splendid race of people the Japs are!
An investigation of this sort which
is TO be reference for commerce and
Will no doubt have some effect there
upon, should be made rigorous and
;rnn.rt;a| to ali concerned /; the
Dad as well as the good side of the
country being shown up to the light.
| do not wish to take away from
the Japs any credit that is due them;
but as 80 much has been said and
written "pro,' don't you think IT IT
time that some one put few ICONS"
in the case Comparisons being at
all times odious, l shall avoid them
altogether, besides am not acqaalot
ed with the Chinese except by hear
say, though their aptness for business,
and commercial proclivities are su
perior to any Oriental nation.
The japanese, as all foreigners
doing business here know, are. with
a very few exceptions, "strictly un-
reliable. +" fact of which the govern
ment officials and even some OF the
best merchants are fully aware aud
will when pressed admit as truth
Occasionally articles appear 10 Jap
anese newspapers which when trans
lated prove to De 70 more nor less
than appeals for reform in this d'rec-
4ion
s.S,rict honesty" in business is al
most unknown What importer 10
the country when the question is put
straight to him can deny that if the
market price fell how much trouble
he would have in making his Gus
toner toke delivery of goods, it be
succeeded at all ? What exporter is
there who has not found out after
making a contract for merchandise
that his neighbor, who ali uncon-
scious of the fact, has been willing
to pay triding advance in price. is
receiying his goods whereas he is
met With 'smiling bow" and emo
goods The Jap says he is very
shumpai (full of anxiety about it, but
.sshikata ga mai" (it cant be helped)
Wten this latter phrase is obliterated
from the language and no substitute
allowed then will the Jap become
reliable merchant.
1t is 80 much easier for him to
shrug his shoulders and say "shikata
ga mai" than to give the real ard
truthful reply
.eMake contracts the uuinitiated
says Very good. but contract is
only good when you are holding
cash money as security, and this
can seldom be furnished, as the Jap
anese do larger business on a
smaller capital than any one can
readily imagine. Alec interest rates
are very high. owing to the lack OF
proper security
Will contract bold good IN
Japanese court ? Well, 6guratively
It is supposed to do so, but 1t will be
many days before foreigner Can get
Justice in a Japanese court unless
some of the powers vino were 80
ready to ratify the treaty will step
in and take hand
beg so cali attention to a case
which is exciting the indignation of
every foreigner 10 the Orient and |
feel sure that the British consul is
only waiting for the proper time to
have his say in the matter
The case i: question is that of A
Kent, second officer cf the "Tamba
Mara" japanese steamer. with
foreigners for chief officers
Mr. Kent reprimapded and reported
the japanese quartermaster for
smoking on duty which was against
Tho r,,loo