The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-05-15

the police send for the boss of the guild
and demand that the booty be returned
In such cases restitution is generally
made without delay. That the japanese
thief is not wholly lacking in a sense of
who snatched a watch from a lady Is
belt. The chain ring was broken by
the violent jerk. When the watch was
returned, it was found the culprit had
not only gone to the expense of having
the damage repaired, but had sent a
note of apology for the poor workman
ship and the delay occasioned by hav-
ing it fixed.
Sometimes the thieves make their
own terms when the police call upon
them to disgorge. A clever rogue pick
ed the pocket of the American Consul
General while that distinguished gen.
tleman was taking a journey on the
train. The matter was reported to the
police, and they OF course sent word
to the guild that the money, amount
ing to quite sum, must be returned
at once. In the course of time the re-
port came back that the thief had al
ready invested the proceeds of his haul
to good advantage, but would return
the exact amount if allowed to keep 1t
for three months. His guild stood as
security to the police, who in turn gave
their pledge to the Consul General, and
at the appointed time the money was
returned.
While the police exercise power over
the members of the thieves union in
certain circumstances, the officials DC
not come into personal contact with
the culprits. When some stolen article
is to be returned, it may be enclosed
in a package and thrown over the wall
at the police station, or it may be left
secretly where the owner can find it.
The thieves are organized to the ex-
tent of wearing distinguishing apparel.
This fact was brought out on one occa-
sion when an attempted robbery was
frustrated by the approach of some
pedestrians. The footpads made off in
such haste that one of them lost his
shoe. The policeman attracted to the
scene merely glanced at the shoe and
said: II can tell from certain marks
on this that the men belonged to the
robbers guild"
The stevedores have one of the oldest
guilds and one of the largest member
ships. There are over 5000 OF them in
Yokohama alone. While their work
cannot be classified as skilled labor and
they have no written rules at all, yet
they hold together so well that they
can boast of never having lost a strike.
Their guild makes good any loss that
may result from reckless handling of
freight, and there is little friction be-
tween them and their employers, ex-
cept on the question of wages. At
present they get forty-five cents day,
together with their noon meal consist
ing of fish and rice. The last time they
struck for higher wages they were CIV
en- an advance of two and half cents
a day. Their employers say that they
will work like beavers, but will steal
they can get their hands on,
and will never fail to lie in preference
to telling the truth.
While the government gives no Of
fetal recognition to the guilds, it is
known to be assisting financially and
supervising some of them, particularly
those in the weaving industries. When
left TO themselves the independent con-
Germs turn out varying styles and
grades of goods. and have to find their
own market, thus wasting much of
their energy from a lack of concerted
effort. By fixing upon certain staple
grades and appointing a common SELL
ing agent, the general standard Of the
~v,Hs will 10 r.
market can be approached to much
better advantage on account of the
unity of purpose.
Information about the guilds is
most difficult to obtain. One hears of
some high government official confer
ring with the leaders, and there are
rumors of subsidies being granted upon
certain conditions, but there can be no
confirmation of these reports. Even
the most ordinary matters are hedged
about with such secrecy and decep-
ton that it would seem to be a coun-
try where nothing is ever known that
can be kept secret; where the whole
truth is never told if a half truth will
suffice. All this evasion and indirec-
ton is an ingrained characteristic of
liz pOOBAC mat AIdS It's lOOl III Tie
feudal practises of ancient days.
In the time of the clans the members
of each clique used their utmost en-
deavor to keep their affairs from their
rivals, and to that end used every de-
vice their cunning could invent. While
the need for such caution ceased with
the passing of the old order of things.
the hereditary traits of reticence and
suspicion remain as racial faults AS
a consequence, even the most trivial
matters concerning the individual are
still hidden under a mantle of con-
cealment. Even the japanese govern
ment, claiming the right to stand
among the powers and asking their
frank consideration, befogs its affairs
and proceeds in the same devious way
as if the other nations, whose con-
fdence and cooperation it solicits, were
rival clans that must either be kept in
he dark or purposely misled
SNEAK THIEF CAUGHT