The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-11-25

death of Primo Katsura has removed
another Of the elder statesmen VINO
nave so long formed the advisory OF
the emperor and nave in fact con-
trolled the policy Of Japan. 1t Is a
question how long his majesty and the
men who are left can hold the people
in check. / have just received a con-
fidential lett(c from an eminent au-
thority in Toxic, describing IN |
rest among the Japanese masses. me
enormous appropriations for the army
and navy, as we'll as the extraordinary
expenses of the government and the
colonies, have brought in a reign OF
high prices which shows no sign of
decrease. At the end of the japanese
war it was promised that expenditures
would be reduced and the military
establishment cut down. Nothing or
the kind has been done.
On the contrary the cost Of the gov
ernmen has increased, and during
the coming year the expenses are to
be something like 5S5 million yen.
This is equal TO more than five dollars
gold for every man, woman and child
in the country, or an average OF
twenty-five dollars per family. In
many localities the farmers are work
ing for twenty-five or thirty cents a
day and there are women employed
in the factories who do not get more
kI1l QIlctU VI g I'll ~ NNA
or twelve hours work.
The Japanese army, on a peace pa
esi, nominally noun to 225,OO0 men
or about twice as many as we nave In
the United States. 1t is really much
larger, for every boy is now forced
into the ranks and there are reserve
forces like those of Germany. The
islands are divided into military dis
tricts corresponding to the divisions
Of the army, and each division has
recruits in its own district. Liability
to service begins at the age Of seven
teen and the actual service COM
mences at twenty. The total strength
of the field forces just now amounts
70 about 600 900 men. This is fully
one-tenth of the whole population
and at the same ratio we would have
about 1000. 900 American troops. The
army in equipping this enormous
force, and the taking Of several hun
dred thousand productive workers
out Of the ranks of industry, has a
serious effect upon the productive
ness of the Japanese nation. The
army last year cost 100000 yen.
In addition to the cost Of the army
is that of the navy, which now ranks
among the strongest of the world. The
expenses for this are now about 90
600, 900 dollars a year. The japanese
government has also large S%hipbuild-
ing yards and ar1nor factories. 1t is
making its own guns and building
and eQuipping it's own men-Of-war
and at the same time substituting mer-
chant ships. Nearly every great Japa.
nese steamer which goes to Europe
America, Australia, and Bombay get.
more or less money from the public
treasury, and there are factories which
are subsidized in one way or other.
At the same time the public deb
steadily increases. 1t now amount t,
more than 1900 million dollars, o
about $125 per family. There is ais
a great deal of private indebtedness
and it Is said that IS per cent Of tn
farmers are paying interest on mort
cages.
The distress and pauperism whic
comes from the high cost of Twin
and comparatively low wages are fo
mented and increased by the yello,
journals. A large SocialiStic elemer
has grown up. n it is from this tha
we hear the demands for war wit
China and with the United State!
The socialistic party is rapidly in
creasing. and the indications are tina
The emperor n the elder statesme
cannot long hold the masses in checl
When / was in Japan, prior to til
breaking out Of the war betwee
Japan and Russia, l was confidential
told that Japan would have to d
something in order to take the after
ton Of the people way from loo;
troubles. and to keep them from d,
handing greater share in the govern
ment. The same conditions preva
now. and they may result in the n;
ton being rushed into roubl wi,
other countries. The Japanese-Ru
sian war was largely undertaken
the japanese to keep their own ne
pie in order.
Take the assassination of Mr.. AT
the high Japanese official who adv
Gated moderation as to the troubl
in California. and who wanted mild
demands made upon China
This was brought about by the MI
and it may be his death was deere
by some Of the secret societies OF