Mohave County miner., 1916-10-14
JAPANESE LABOR
 LEADER ID ATTEND A. F. DEL. CONVENTION


 that Dr. Bunji Suzuki, president of the Laborers' Friendly Society of Japan, will attend the annual convention of the American Federation of Labor at Baltimore in November as fraternal delegate from Japan, has drawn at tention to the extraordinary growth of the organization of the working peo pie of the Japanese empire. Dr. Su- zuh went to the United States last year, and by meeting the leading trade unionists of California did much to clarify the labor questions pending be- tween the two countries. Representa- tive Japanese believe that his forth coming visit to America will material ly advance the work begun last year and help to the attainment of better understanding between Japan and the United States.
 The grouping of Japanese laborers into one national association consti- tutes one of the most dramatic chap ters in the history of modern Japan, and the fact that only last month the doors were thrown open to women and that 5000 are already enrolled has sud denly concentrated interest in the movement. Conceived only four years ago by Mir. Suzuki himself, the idea has developed so rapidly that 23,OOO working men and women are affiliated with the Iaborers' organization and 5000 new members are joining every month.
 Great strikes are as yet unknown in Japan, where an oligarchic govern ment keeps jealous watch and control over all associations and meetings of it's people, yet President Suzuki and his fellow officers have settled no fewer than 27 small strikes by concil- iation and arbitration.
 How far the laborers' movement will spread and what place it will fill in the economic and industrial life of the na- tion are questions which are holding the attention of the empire. Certain ly, for the present, the attitude of the government seems not only friendly but actually helpful.
 That it's future is great because its object is in no sense political but dedi- cated to the welfare of the working people was the opinion voiced by President Suzuki to the correspondent of the Associated Press. He talked with glowing enthusiasm about what he considers his great ife's work de- voted to the advancement of the inter ests of the people. Of massive build earnest in manner, direct in gaze, modest but convincing in speech, Mir. Suzuki resembles a prosperous busi- ness man or university professor. He graduated from the Imperial univer- sity at Tokio, and began his life as a reporter on the Tolio Asahi In 1909 he became secretary to the Rev. Clay MacCauley, the head of the American Unitarian mission in Japan. Adopting Christianity, he flung himself with fervor into the work of Dr. MacCau- ley's mission in ToEio and took a lead ing part in the social service work of the church.
 'That work" said Mir. Suzuki to the correspondent, brought me closely in touch with the working men and wo- men of the great metropolis. Much was being done for them in philan- thropic ways, but one night, like an inspiration, came the thought that a great service for my people was pos sible. And it was that they should be banded together for their mutual hap piness and for their improvement morally and socially, economically and technically. So went down into the factories and gathered together in Unitarian hall a few of the leaders and we talked it all over. It was no easy thing.
 "We knew that many might deem it bold and even revolutionary. We knew that the government did not tol- crate trade unionism. How were we to bind the people together for their welfare and happiness and be not mis- understood? Then we saw light. We decided then and there that our or ganization would never indulge in vio- fence and that it would never enter politics. To that platform of negation we have steadfastly adhered, and it is the sacred determination of us all to adhere to it always"