Evening star., 1920-03-07


twenty-five years ago; since
then factory industry has
steadily gained upon home or So
called cottage industry. though the
latter is still extensive. especially for
domestic requirements.
What are the comparative advan-
tages and disadvantages which con-
front industrial Japan?
First among advantages should be
counted cheap and abundant labor,
the earnestness and ambition of la
borers. male and female alike. skill
in handicraft Can inheritance Of
many centuries), and the faculty of
imitation and adaptation for enter
Ing new lines of endeavor. Also. at
least in the past, there has been ex-
ceptional cooperation between en-
ployer and employe. which is in part
a survival from the feudal system and
Is aided by the homogeneous quality
or the population. To all these must
be added their uniform placidity and
good nature. In three months asso-
citation with them on land and ship,
heard no word of anger or irritation.
in congestion on the narrow streets
or In crushes at railway stations and
elsewhere order and discipline were
always manifest. and there was the
utmost politeness to foreigners as
well as among themselves. 1t is the
BOAST OF the Japanese that they have
no swear-words In their language.
II the cost OF production depends
upon wages the figures are striking,
though the lack of skilled workmen is
sun handicap. The last official sta
tlsucS available are for the year 1916,
when $4,000 operatives in textiles,
cotton and silk received wages vary
Ing from cents per day for girls
under fifteen to 25 cents for male
weavers of adult age.
In the same year the average year.
~ wages Of farm laborers. including
their keep. were $26 for men and SIS
Tor women. while house servants re-
$1-59 for women. Wages not in
cluding living were: Carpenters 43
cents per day; stonecutters. so cents;
caoinetmakers. 40 cents. and black
smiths. 3S cents. The ordinary la
1orer earned a wage Of 20 cents.
The statistics show a considerable
advance over the wages of nine years
previous, though unequal in different
trades. From 1916 to 1919 there was
a very substantial advance
Wages There and in U. 8. Compared.
A publication of 1919 by the Japan
Cotton Spinners Association includes
a carefully prepared comparison be-
tween the wages of cotton operatives
in the southern part Of the United
states and those paid in Japan. Ex-
Guiding overseers, with whom the
disparity 10 less, the average rates
n W In hA
given az 21Q to S76 per cent of those
In Japan. The average income of
cotton operatives in Japan in June,
1919. is figured at SIS per month for
females and $22.50 for males. Board
ana lodging are furnished at very
low prices. $3.50 per month for wom-
en- and $2.70 for men.
The same publication gives the
wages OF carpenters in 1919 as vary
ing from minimum of s. cents in
in the city. Plasterers get the same
and masons slightly more. Day la
borers receive so to IS cents per day.
1t seems impossible that these low
rates Of wages should continue:
strikes by abstention from work have
become frequent. 1t Is the general
opinion of observers that. with higher
pay. efficiency has not improved in
proportion. The labor of children is
diminishing: emphasis laid on educa-
tion~ has much to do with this. to-
Eether with more humane consid-
Grafton for women and children.
though as regards female labor the
oriental attitude toward women is
involved. In no other country is the
proportion of women employed in
factories SO large.
Legislation for 1891.
4 factory law was promulgated
some years ago limiting hours and
NJ oh nd
forbidding the employment OF women
at night or in dangerous occupations.
This. however. does not go into ef-
feet until 1881. Labor unions as Or
Eanized elsewhere are not tolerated.
Picketing and the collection of strike
benefits are strictly prohibited. Thus
far the policy of the government has
been altogether partial to the en-
ployer rather than to the employe.
In nothing has Japan manifested
ment of shipping and shipbuilding.
To make effective policy of nom
intercourse with other countries
decree was issued by one OF the sho-
guns in the year AS3S forbidding the
building Of boats of more than sew
more than two hundred years. Now
Japanese ships are upon every sea.
and Japan's mercantile marine is in
creasing by leaps and bounds. Chief
among snlppinS companies stdHus t.S
Nippon Ysen Kaisha Japan Mail
Steamship Company. the head OF
which, Baron Kondo. recently visited
the United states. The emperor is a
large stockholder. No steamship com
pany has shown a more rapid increase
in tonnage and the handling of traf-
nc. With other Japanese shipping 1t
was in a position to reap unheard-o of
profits in the world war, and its div
idends have been enormous. Japan
is truly a country of colossal divi-
dends. Second to this is the Osaka
Shosen Kaisha, or Mercantile Steam
ship Company. These two companies
are in class by themselves. although
there are numerous others of large
and growing Importance. 1t is pos
sible to recruit an almost unlimit ed
number of sailors from fishing fleets.
Japan's ability to maintain ships
on the Pacific in competition with the
United States, where there is no pre-
dilection for seafaring life. is very
much increased by the handicap OF
unfavorable legislation in the United
States.
Formerly Japan obtained steel boats
from England or elsewhere. Now she
has five large shipyards. one of them
These ships have greatly stimulated
she trade of Japan. Preference is
given to the carrying of japanese
goods.
SubsidlxinG Industry.
The activities of IA paternal govern
ment are ever present to promote in
dustry. Government factories have
been established. often operated at a
loss, to develop new lines of manu-
facture. When successful they are
SSaaSay transferred to private own.
ere. Subsidies and bonuses are liber-
ally granted. Inventors are rewarded
Investigators are sent abroad and in
etructors are furnished at home. In
aha nrnunnfion of industry h,, fha