Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-09-22
EFFECT OF THE WAR ON
JAPAN AS A NATION

was pretty sure to give large orders for
goods. This was just to make his guest
happy, to see him smile. The Jap would
give the orders without having the
slightest intention of taking the goods,
n without stopping to think. appar-
emily, that the drummer's discomfort,
when they were refused, would greatly
outweigh his pleasure at taking the orr
ders.
Japanese Laws.
There was a general cry OF dismay
among white men doing business In
Japan a few years ago, when fifteen diff
ferent nations negotiated new treaties
with Japan by which the extra-territor-
ial or consular courts were abolished.
So long as they were running, they
said. there was some chance that a
white man In a legal dispute with a
brown one might have a show OF the
white mans Justice; their abolition, 1t
was predicted, would make II possible
for the Japs TO swindle the whites right
and left. The Jap judges. working UNI
der Jap law, would always decide In
favor of the Jap and against h for
eigner. AS a matter of fact, there were
many stories told, soon after this
change, that went to support this view,
n any among the Japs doing
business in Japan prior to the change
closed up their affairs and left the
country.
Japan's Spy System.
The Japanese watch the foreigners or
whatever calling who visit their country
as no other civilized people. except possi-
bly, the Russians, watch them, and far
more effectively than the Russians, since
whatever the Japs do is done thoroughly.
A newspaper correspondent who was al
lowed to investigate the police regulations
OF Japan was positively startled by the
complete record kept of every foreigner,
whether a resident OF some years stand
ing or merely q visitor. The moment a
foreigner puts UP at a Japanese hotel the
proprietor notifies the police. The depart
ment at once prepares a card on which Is
Inscribed the visitors name. an accurate
description OF his personality and any
thing else that can be earne about HIM.
From time to time additional informa-
ton Is added to the card. n after a
while 1t becomes a fairly complete record
CT the visitor, his position In life and his
record while In Japan. Tn cards relative
to foreigners, In Toxic, for instances. are
kept in alphabetical order, exactly like q
library card index. All this Is done with
out any fuss and feathers, though. and
with perfect politeness. A large percent
age Of the foreigners In japan never know
how closely they are watched, and In
carrying on their espionage so quietly n
skillfully the Japs exhibit one Of their
most characteristic traits.
1t is only fair to add that the Japanese
system Involves the watching of the ma
tive Japanese as closely as the foreigners.
Police spies are everywhere. They take
note of the incomings and outgoings OF
everybody. BY mani people 1t Is counted
a disgrace to the Japanese that they legal
lie the social evil, but the Japanese them
selves say that the workings Of their spy
system largely offsets the evil effects OF
the recognized police-protected Yoshiwu-
ra, or quarter of SIM TO be found in
every Japanese city OF any size.
TIL pessimists concerning Japan and Its
future hold hat as soon as the war Is over
and the Japs are free TO resume their
normal life, the personal traits that help
to make them so patriotic will be dis
played most u~npleasantly.