The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1908-05-15
INDUSTRIAL
COMBINATIONS
(A6ve-1is-- Correspondence, Copyright
By Frederic J. Haskin.)

TOXIC, April 2O.-The domestic in
dustrialism Of japan Is a complex mix
TIRE Of guilds. trade-unions and coop
c-ztive stores. There are combinations
- al sorts Of skilled laborers, such as
Tilzsierers, sawyers, stone masons, bar
berS- irun-wo-kers, ship-builders, and so
forth Organizations also exist among
actnrs, gamblers, wrestlers, pickpockets,
and even the beggars have had their
uuiou- The guilds are most bewildering
% the foreigner because of the secrecy
and deception which surround their OPP
<-ztluns- They are relics of ancient
feudzl Japan and were borrowed many
centuries ago, with the most of Japan
ese learning and customs, from China.
The guilds are entirely different from
the trade unions as known in Europe
and America, although they use the
sane weapons OF strike and boycott to
enforce respect for their demands. They
have no federation or alliances with
each other. vet each individual guild
Is secure from attack from the outside
teczuse no other guild will encroach
uPon It's preserves. The adoption of
Occidental civilization in Japan has
had but little effect on those organiza-
tons. although few of them have been
revamped along the lines of American
labor unions. For the most part the
guild workers are in the lower ranks of
society. and 10 these the Western ideas
adopted bv the governing class have
not vet penetrated
II one decides TO build a house,
contract l. made with the boss of the
carpenters guild Work is begun, and
IN q short time the men are likely to
decide 20 take a holiday. Although
-hev NAV remain away from work for
GAYS even when the need for rushing
the Bob 10 completion Is most urgent.
there j. no use trying to secure other
V-s-kmen 20 take their places. They
VII return In time. and until they do
1he builder may as well possess his soul
IN patience. If. IN the course of six
months or a wear. II becomes necessary
% have repairs made on the house, the
men Of the same guild must be called to
90 the work. No others viii touch it.
The cooks guild has its OWL peculiar
way of doing business. It not only de-
se-mines what particular cook shall 90
a. certain household. but fixes the
WAGES rhat lie shall receive. The cooks
cuill maintains a close working agree
r-euE with the organizations that fur
uish the food supplies. For instance,
the cook brings forward a price list
from the butcher, but II is understood
that the man who provides the meat
mus; give the cook a certain commits
=59n- Unless the housekeeper is vigi-.
lzu- seeonl-class meat viii be charged
t1- az frst-elass prices, thereby afford
M sian further profit for the cook In
order % escape the exorbitaRt charges
If the butchers guild. two hundred for
ez-u families In Kobe organized what
3 known rs the Kobe Meat Club, and
started market Of their own. The
foreign residents Of Yokohama took
s5z5lar action In providing a steam
lalnl-r when the washers guild be
came unreasonable in its charges.
Another large source Of profit to the
cooks OF Yokohama is the control of
sae supply Of green groceries. 1t was
found that nearly all the cooks insist
el uplu patronizing a certain market.
The reason for this preference was not
because the manager offered special in
lueene1-s IN the way of liberal com
missions. hut because the cooks them
selves owned most Of the stock in the
business Owing TO the many forms of
graft radiatins from the Oriental
kitchen, the East Is a cooks paradise
1--WE of the richest foreigners in Korea
are men who went there in the humble
opacity Of chefs. yet who profted so
ueI tv the practice Of high finance in
The cuisine that they are now rated
z-oaS the bloated plutoerats of the
land.
The Grand Hotel in Yokohama is the /
lest stand in Japan for jinricksha men,
and che guild that controls the work at
-lis place Is the closest Of corporations.
Tllile -fe rates are higher from here
-aau from other portions Of the city,
--a men realize additional profit from
-a-erCEs tips. Rich Americans viii
frequently give five OF ten dollars when
-le tariff Is not more than seventy-fve
cents o- dollar. The guild puts up
deposit az 200 ven with the hotel man.
a-sueut 20 guarantee good service, and
elects one Of its members as doorman
y an any time member leaves, he is
-.--uitted 10 take down his share of the
deposit money. and 10 realize what he
e-- from the sale Of his membership in
t-e guild provided there Is no objec-
rir- 20 the successor and that he can
.rer his share If the denosit uone-