The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-04

does easily and rapidly elsewhere being per-
formed by antiquated means. or by sheer
human force. The Industrial record Is one
OF muscular exhaustion or waste.
THE PRICE OF LABOR.
An ordinary family earns rarely more
than 10 yen per month. equal to about a
sovereign. That rate of pay rules because
of the abundance OF labor to be had. and
because of its quality. 1t does not signify
a grinding policy by employers, who doubt
less feel. with much reason. that the easy
going ways of those they hire deprive the
service of great value. On the other hand,
there is not only no incentive to greater
activity among the workers. but none to
thrift. Income often proves a drag when
1t does not much exceed necessary OUTLAWS
for the immediate family of the Garner. for
custom so well rooted as to be practically
immovable requires of a man that he shall
support all the relatives his means will
allow. father lays aside work ard care
when a son gets employment, and retires,
usually in his prime. and often when in
receipt of the best income of his lfe,' to
pass the remainder of his days idly at the
expense of his son. The elder brother is
expected to become the rest-provider for
the other children of a family, and any
collateral relations they nave have in
Cured. He does cheerfully, as a mat
ter Of course, while the others take their
ease. his only reward being titular. AS
head of the household he is entitled to work
for every member Of 1t.
This custom accounts for the absence of
poorhouses, and for the complacent dis
position of a people to whom fear of want
in old age is unknown. No family is with
out son, the childless providing one for
themselves by adoption. The custom also
acts as a dampener upon ambition, and
negatives in most practical and effectual
manner the boast that no station in japan
is closed to the humblest.
REMEDIES DISCUSSED IN PRINT.
There is no subject more seriously en-
gaging the thought of those interested in
public affairs than this. AS If its discus
sion in regular newspapers might be in
adequate, new bilingual publication has
been started by Japanese. ten pages printed
in English, twenty-four in japanese, which
declares its columns open to all corners
for the discussion of all subjects bearing
on the welfare of the country. when nee
essary," the editor adds in his invitation,
"use plain words, which we hope will al
ways be spoken gentlemanly," an admoni-
ton to be needed in English more easily
in the heat Of debate, 1t is said, than in
idiomatic japanese. The financial check
which came near unhorsing general bust
ness last year had filled with opinions
many men, who greeted this forum with
contributions upon general and particular
subjects of public concern. Both in that
| quarter and in the newspapers an indus
trial crusade was started which is yet &C
practically unanimous convictions that in
dustrial reform Is demanded.
Some of the writer's, dwelling on the COM
mon impulse to look to the government for
help of all kinds. have proposed the ma
| tionalization of the railways, the govern
ment to buy every private line in the en-
pire, in order that a supply of money may
be realized sufficient to float many of the
| Industrial projects which the financial
| stringency of last year shelved. This sug-
| gestion has led to other expressions regard
| ing the unbounded coalbeds and the water
| falls. Reports of experts are cited to show
that the wealth already produced by coal
has merely pointed to immense possibilities
| In that direction, while the uses that might
be made of the waterfalls everywhere to he
found seems incalculable. Occasionally in
the hills waterfalls may be seen running
mills which grind rice, but in other parts,
where the head and volume of water are
quite as strong, men sit in shops in sight
of falls perspiring over hand lathes, and
farmers winnow their grain in fields along
the banks of mill-racing rivers. Other
writers have amplifed the argument that
the hope of Japan depends upon its ability
| TO make labor more profitable than before
and comparisons have been drawn to show
that. while per capita debt and taxation in
| the United States are much heavier than in
Japan, that country fiourishes because Ia
Dor is highly productive. while Japan must
drag IL labor continues cheap. Liberal
| laws. framed to invite foreign investment.
while to. be commended on general grounds,
cannot succeed wholly in that purpose, it is
urged, until means may be devised to dig
nifty labor; foreign investment must mean
| while be slow, and advance among the
great trading nations hating. Some of the
letters in the bilingual and other current
| prints bear marks of official inspiration and
are so commonly construed.
Japan seems moving toward commercial
ism as an economic and political necessity
| No dissent opposes anywhere the counsels
which urge continually and with increasing
force the Importance of turning to large
account the diligence of the people. OF the
many propositions advanced to this end all
| have had to combat conditions of tempera-
ment and custom, agencies that have re-
sisted industrial regeneration more stub
| bornly than any other. Rapid growth of
| population and increasing insufficiency of
| agriculture for domestic necessities make it
essential that Japan shall outgrow the little
| things that have formerly satisfied, quit
| carving lucky gods in grains of rice, to be
sold for few sen, and divert the labor
and artisan classes to energies really
worth cultivating.
FREDERICK w. EDDY.
Very Irving.