Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-10
OF WORLD wilde INTEREST
JAPANESE LABOR CONDITIONS
BY FREDERIC j. HAskiN

when two or more are working to-
gether at any task they keep time by
chanting a droning song. One of the
reasons that this labor is cheap Is be-
cause It's productive power is SO small
One popularity of q Japanese house
is that Its dimensions are governed by
the size of the mats which are to go
upon it's floors. These mats are al
ways made in multiples OF three, and
the floors are made to correspond to
their size. Japanese lumber is cut to
conform to this arrangement and there
Is no waste to 1t at all. The native
carpenters are completely baffled when
they get hold of American lumber with
its odd sizes, especially If they are rel
quired to construct something OF di-
mansions which are not on their sys-
tenn of multiples of three. The roof
of house is built on the ground and
is then put up on top Of the frame.
While steam piledrivers are used in
constructing large government work,
the great majority of contractors stick
to the old fashioned Japanese way. A
crude pulley arrangement is suspended
ON poles, and a rope extended from the
driver to each man-1usually a dozen
or more. AS they begin to lift they all
join in q song. At g certain point in
the chant all hands let go, and the
weight drops onto the pile. The con-
tractor is furnished with lot of crude
music while his men perform their
work. The laboring man in japan has
to know a lot of tunes. He also has
to be well posted in his cues, or he may
let go at the wrong time and mix
things up generally
The average family among the labor
ing classes probably will consist of five
persons. In most cases both the man
and the woman work. and their COM
bined income win not exceed six or
eight dollars a month. They live in
house twelve by fifteen feet In size,
which costs from seventy-five cents to
dollar month rent. Their food con-
sists of rice, fish and vegetables-the
very poor cannot afford rice. Fish and
vegetables are extremely cheap. The
furnishings of the house are so scant
that there is no need for hiring dray
when moving day comes-they. can cas-
lily carry everything on their backs.
The fragile, inhammable houses are
easily consumed, and the first indica-
ton Of danger from this sources viii
cause the immediate exodus of
whole community. household effects
and all.
The expense for dress is Insignificant.
The cost of a mans winter outfit will
not exceed s1.50, and In summer he
wears no clothing except a cioth ABOUT
his loins. The woman can purchase
kimono at almost any price. Foreign
ers wonder why the natives DO NOT as
card their wooden clogs and wear leath-
err shoes. If these wondering strangers
can furnish something equally as serv-
iceable as the native sandal for 3 cents
pair they will doubtless be able TO
secure many customers.
On account of the low scale Of wages,
merchants, peddlers and vendors have
to get along on scant margin OF pront.
The average store is about twelve rect
square. The proprietor has such a linz
tied stock that his customers can usu-
ally point to any article In the place.
AS a rule the merchants family lives IN
the rear, and the store is utilized as
sleeping room when the blinds are put
up for the night. Show cases and coun-
ters are used in some places. but as
general thing the customer sits on
small elevation in the front part of the
shop while boys bring the goods for
ward for exhibition. Many dealers cam
not afford to pay even the smallest
rent, and they move about the streets
with their stocks on their backs The
fish market halts regularly at the kitch-
such item of expense as rent and clerk
hire. Dealers in lamps. flowers, baskets,
brooms, dishes and so forth. go about
looking for trade rather than wait for
customers to come to Them
The extremely low standard of wages
and of cost of living in Japan explains
WHY the people are determined to emil
crate. and II also accounts for their be-
ing unwelcome in countries where high
err standards prevail. A Japanese labor
err can go to the United States and in
crease his income tenfold, live In style
which he considers luxurious, save
money to send home, and at the same
time sell his services to employers for
less than white man can live upon.
Naturally when the Japanese man. VINO
can earn but is or 20 cents day at
home. reads of. the great wages In the
lands across the sea. 1t whets his am
bition to try for share in the milk and
honey of Canaan.
Copyright. 1908. by Frederic J. Haskino
Tomorr0w-Pglitics in Japan