New-York tribune., 1921-11-30


Dean Inge has lately been expatiat-
ing on the direful effects that await
the West when the East "scales the
protective barrier which the whites
have erected (i e., the immigration
laws) and competes with white labor"
We are bidden to ponder on the ap-
preaching onslaught of Asiatic labor
on the worlds industry in order to
realize what is the "real yellow peril"
Like Rudyard Kipling, the dean "is
fascinated by "the deadly efficiency of
the Chinese" and shudders to think
Of the economic competition that will
overwhelm the world when it is
matched with our "ca' canny."
confess do not share the appre-
tensions of Dean Inge. The approach
ing Asiatic competition in the indus
trial field is dogma that is preached
so constantly that the average man
accepts it almost as an inexorable law.
yet the picture is utterly false. It's
painters make the initial mistake of
assuming that the Asiatic is as efficient
as the European workman. Tourists
carry home impressions of that "dead-
ly efficiency" and "prodigious industry"
for the ediication of the workmen of
thu West. 1t is hardly necessary to
correct the misconception to a Far
Eastern audience; Dean Inge's assump-
tion has been disproved on countless
occasions. The ratio Of efficiency be-
tween European and Asiatic is at
least three to one.
The Rice-Eati,,g Fallacy
But it is argued by those acknowledge
ing this point that the low subsistence
level of the Asiatic and his abnormal
hours of labor amply counteract his
comparative ineficiency. Now, it is the
fashion abroad to refer to the "rice-
eating Chinaman" as if he lived on
nothing else but rice. It is taken for
granted that rice will be his eternal
diet. The European press is fond of
publishing figures to prove the infini-
tesimal portion Of that commodity that
will sustain Chinese laborer. No ac-
count Is taken Of the rise in the stand
ard Of living that has affected Asia az
we'll as Europe and America. The
prosperity that elevated Japan in the
commerce Of the world during the war
period led to the enrichment Of the diet
and tho betterment Of the conditions
Of life Of the Japanese laborer. So
much SO that the governor of the Bank
Of Japan (Mr. Jonnosuke Inouye) il
now complaining Of the alarming In
crease In home consumption, which, he
says, Is inimical to the growth of the
export trade so desired by Japan. The
Japanese producer is eating too much
Of his own produce and enjoying toe
many Of his own manufactures. Such
. state Of things is the logical outcome
| Of better wages. 1t is paralleled in
British and American industrial history
OF every epoch which saw an adjust.
ment of wages in favor Of the work.
man, and rs recently as the "munitior
era" Man is man whether he be white
yellow or brown; he will satisfy his
own wants Cor fancied wants. if ths
necessary purchasing power is placet
| in his hands. So it Is with the Chinese
When the family can buy -four the
members Of it will indulge in dump
lings in addition to rice. Flour-millins
has developed to such an extent tha
bread is as much q staple as rice; i,
some areas, in fact, the population hal
4 grown 80 fastidioua that rice Is n,
longer cultivated. The people Of Man
churia, who formerly ats only cor,
and kiaoliang, are enjoying bread from
aour milled by the many factories