Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-13

business if this policy is extended to dis
tant territories of the United States. Even
Americans cannot travel to the Philippines
by foreign steamer without paying a fine
of $500. Freight is absolutely prohibited.
The trade between America and Japan is
growing very rapidly, and the Japanese
empire, situated as it is, must take promi-
nent position the Pacific. Although we
permit coasting trade between Japan ports,
the United States proposes to prohibit
trade between United States ports and
ports of its island dependencies. In it's
proper sense coast means the sea shore of
continuous land, including adjacent is
lands, which is generally understood by
professors of international law. and it is
quite absurd to apply this to the Hawaiian
Islands, situated at a distance in the Pa
cifie, and to the Philippine Islands, in Asia,
as part of the coast of America"
Life of Asano.
The life history of Soichino Asano has
been a somewhat remarkable one. Born in
country village, his father and his ia
theirs father having been medical practi-
TONERS, the idea of following this profess
sion did not suit his ambitious designs.
and he secretly stole away to Tokyo, where
his first venture, to keep from want, was
In selling drinking water mixed with sugar.
He engaged in several similar schemes,
each a step higher than the preceding,
finally opening a coal store in Yokohama.
His first large undertaking was placing
the cement industry of Japan upon prac-
teal basis Japan cement now not only
shuts out importationS, but exports. In
1876, finding that the government gas works
in Yokohama were making no of coke
and coal tar incident to gas manufacture,
he made three years contract with the
government to handle these materials,
thus converting waste into an immense
profit.
Not satisfied with organizing one of the
most successful brewery companies in the
islands, he discovered native materials for
making bottles heretofore imported, and
manufacture them. 1t was through these
sixty men that Japan has come to make
all her own beer bottles.
In 1884 Mr.. Asano extended his energies
into the shipping business. At that time
there was but one Japanese foreign line,
the Nippon Yusen Kaisha, monopoly,
which hindered the development of both
foreign and domestic trade. He purchased
several steam vessels, at his own expense.
to engage in shipping, and his efforts cul-
minated in this line in 1899 in the estab-
lshment of the Togo Kisen Kaisha (Japa-
neSe Steamship Company, of which he be-
came president. This prince of trade is
also an extensive mine owner and oper-
ator in Japan, was the first successful OPP
ponent of the Standard Oil Company and
now owns and controls numerous wells
and tanks in different parts of the empire.
Looking ahead, he contemplates the estab-
lishment of cordage factories in Japan.
This is of interest TO the United States,
since it will make Japan a consumer of
one of our most important Philippine prod
ucts, hemp.
When a man of this stamp, whose every
private interest would suffer in case of
war, welcomes and even courts national
conflict to uphold the dignity of his coun-
try the intensity of feeling and deadly
earnestness of the people of Japan in the
present crisis can be appreciated.
ALONZO H. STEWART.