The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-10-16
JAPAN'S HARSH
EXCLUS|ON|SM
Hundreds of Chinese and
Koreans Left Stranded
and Destitute.

TOXIC, October SIT will be a mat
learn that recently Japan herself has
been obliged to assume toward alien
labor exactly the same attitude that for
some time she has been Directing to
on the part of the United States. OF
late the hundreds OF foreign laborers
that have been in the employ of var
ious contractors throughout the en-
pire have been summarfly dismissed
and ordered TO return to their native
countries. Thus Japan has meted out
to others a treatment on the same level
with that to which she has been so
averse on the part of other nations
toward her own subjects. Now that
Japan has authoritatively placed her
ban on the importation or employment
of foreign labor, it viii be increasingly
difficult for her to maintain her aver
sion to the adoption of a similar policy
by other nations.
The existence of an alien labor law
on the statute books OF Japan appears
gotten by a great many people, even
among the japanese themselves. IL
viii be remembered, however, that up
on the conclusion of the new treaty
with the United States in July, 1899,
the clause that was inserted at the in
stance of the latter country, placing
the mutual exclusion of foreign labor
at the disposal of either nation at any
time deemed advisable, applied as much
to immigrants from all nations as to
those from the two countries immed-
lately concerned. Although Japan at
the time little thought that she would
ever have need of exercising this pre-
rogative, she now finds il extremely
as the most satisfactory and
expeditions way out of a very unpleas- |
ant difficulty to which the increasing 1
of foreign labor has re- !
Gently given rise within her own
borders.
AS soCn as the authorities became /
awake to the seriousness of the situ-
alton the exclusion law was put into
force with most sweeping and impress
sive effect.
The occasion for the revival Of the
luiescent regulation has arisen over
he opposition of the Japanese TO the
Increasing Importation Of Chinese and
Korean Iaborers TO this country. OF
ate, certain railway contractors and
Of mines have been bringing
-hinese coolies to Japan in large mum
,ers, as being a great deal cheaper and
more mana geable than japanese labor
RS In Japan the Chinese is content
With a wage Of 20 cents a day, while
lis more ambitious and naughty Jap L
.nese colleague demands and receives
more than double that amount; hence
he growing demand for Chinese labor :
n railways, in mines and on various /;
ublic works. Matters reached a con-
itfon where as many as goo coolies at {
time were frequently landed in Japan. I
nd recently the Koreans, being driven {
rom home by the aggression 81 the /
apanese, began TO enter the hsld OF ]
a panese labor competition working
Or the same low scale OF wages as
ne Chinese.
The sudden influx Of aliens created
! the labor circles Of Japan condi-
on no less alarming and violent than
nat recently displayed by the labor ;
cement in California The circum-
.ances were practically the same {
we're frequent, racial animus /,
larked, and the situation in some sec
ous Of the country socially menacing.
The strangest aspect Of the case IS
lat the Japanese authorities appear
, have either forgotten or connived z
the law prohibiting The importation 7
alien labor, for they profess 10 have J
aown nothing Of the immigration OF Z
lasa foreign Iaborers until the cry b
Used by the labor circles Of the en- L