Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-29
SILK SHIRTS AND WAR

NEW pcople assessing the possibilities of
L future trouble between Japan and the
United States would be disposed to view
the silk shirt OF commerce as factor of
Importance in a question of world politics.
But the rise Of the silk shirt in war and its
decline in peace are matters that have had
q profound effect on japanese psychology
and japanese finance.
Silk has fallen in price. 1t has fallen far
In the many colorcd ways Of Toxic there are
tremulous whisperings of panic and unem-
ploymcnt. Many japanese millionaires have
become almost poor. and because of uncer-
tainty Ia an industry that depends heavily
on the United States and drew enormous
profits from this country in the days when
every one wore silk shirts, there is in Japan
no certainty of continuous employment for
any but the lively little worm that spins
night and day to make Japan rich. Fac
tories are closing and there is Of course, a
consequent progressive impairment of the
morale OF people who. even in their busiest
days. had reason to complain of the burden
of taxation necessary to sustain the schemes
Of She military party in China and Siberia.
There are two sides TO every question.
People who look with misgivings at the
steady tendency toward militarism In Japan
seldom stop TO remember that. while the
japanese have mastered pretty thoroughly
the arts Of war, they are not by any means
masters Of the economic processes that In
times like these are more necessary than
armies aud navirS in any ambitious scheme
Of aggressive expansion. The fevers and
turries that have been common for more than
a year in the Toxic stock market. the wild
imitation of industrial valuations and the
disastrous collapse that found the country
unprcparcd and the inancirrs running in
,; rho rpCklpSR DooliDr Tod
by prOtitcrrS in defiance Of the government
and 10 tho det rimpnt Of the country as a
whole. have shown that the japanese, with
all his clevRrneSs. is still something of an
amateur in big business. And since prOfteers
and rockoting prices always bring afiictfon
to the masses and create condition that
tries the patience Of the people almost be-
yond endurance. the large structure OF the
Japanese war party's plans seems to be
rising from foundations that grow steadily
weaker and more unstable.
The little old yen IL depressed in value.
People who are threatened with increasing
povcrty through enforced unemployment are
not likely to give much aid aud encourage
nent to schemes that would again increase
their taxes and make food harder than ever
TO obtain. The japanese tradrsman Is en-
during the hard cSpcricnc" that IL the best
means Of education. Hut for the present he
is pretty deep in confusion.
There are philosophical japanese almost
without number who are beginning to won
der whether mere cleverncss in imitation Is.
after all. great national asset. That trait
has led the Japanese in strange ways. It
led them to ditch their really beautiful native
garb for the pot hat and the appalling
clothes of the west, and II caused them to
turn away from their cherry blossoms TO the
mad scramble Of militarism and high finance.
There are times when II seems that the
81 .,ry '.rrn hoH'