Los Angeles herald., 1908-04-23
OF WORLD wilde INTEREST
THE GUILDS OF JAPAN
BY FREDERIC J. HAsklN


for the boss of the guild and dema1sn
that the booty be returned. In sucn
cases restitution is generally MADE
without delay. That the Japanese thief
is not wholly lacking in sense Of
courtesy, when called to task, was Ill
lustrated in the case of a pickpocket
who snatched watch from lady'a
belt. The chain ring was broken by the
violent jerk. When the watch was re-
turned it was found that the culprit
had not only gone to the expense of
having the damage repaired, but had
sent a note of apology for the poor
workmanship and the delay occasioned
by having 1t fixed.
Sometimes the thieves make their
own terms when the police call upon
them to disgorge. A clever rogue
picked the pocket of the American
consul general while that distinguished
gentleman 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,
amounting to quite a sum, must be-
returned at once. In the course of
time the report came back that the
thief had already invested the pro-
ceeds 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 po-
lice, who in turn gave their pledge to
the consul general, and at the appoint
ed time the money was returned.
While the police exercise power over
the members of the thieves union in
certain circumstances, the officials do
not come into personal contact with
the culprits. When some stolen ar
ticle Is to be returned 1t may be en-
closed in a package and thrown over
the wall at the police station, or 1t may
be left secretly where the owner can
find it. The thieves are organized to
the extent of wearing distinguishing
apparel. This fact was brought out on
one occasion when an attempted rob-
berry was frustrated by the approach
of some pedestrians. The footpads
made off in such haste that one of
them lost his shoe. The policeman at
tracted 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 between them and their en-
ployers except on the question of
wages. At present they get As cents
day. together with their noon meal
consisting OF fish and rice. The last
time they struck for higher wages
they were given an advance of 2h
cents a day. Their employers say that
they will work like beavers, but will
steal anything they can get their hands
on and will never fail to lie in pref
erence 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
concerns 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 concert
ed effort. BY fixing upon certain sta
pie grades and appointing a common
selling agent, the general standard of
the output will not only be raised, but
the 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 comforting
with leaders an dthere are rumors of
subsidies being granted upon certain
conditions, but there can be no con-
firmation of these reports. Even the
most ordinary matters are hedged
about with such secrecy and deception
that it would seem to be country
where nothing is ever known that can
be kept secret: where the whole truth
is never told if a half truth will suf-
flee. All this evasion and indirection
Is an ingrained characteristic of the
people that has it's root in the feudal
practices of ancient days.
In the time of the clans the MEM
bers of each clique used their utmost
endeavor to keep their affairs from
their rivals, and to that end used
every device their cunning could In
vent. 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 consequence even
the most trivial matters concerning the
individual are still hidden under
mantle of concealment. Even the
Japanese government, claiming the
right to stand among the powers and
asking their frank consideration, be-
fogs it's affairs and proceeds IN the
same devious way as II the other ma
tions, whose confidence and co-opera-
tion it solicits, were rival clans that
purposely misled.
Copyright. 1908. by Frederic ]. Haskin)
ro,,,or-ou,-Trada Follows the Cross