The Washington herald., 1921-09-12

frsr.irn cors,pondenee Sf TIE Washington
Herald and the New York Evening fost)
TOKYO, Aug. 1.-THE growing
unrest among the workers Of Japan,
which has eliminated in the great
strikes in the shipyards in Kobe and
elsewhere and in the strikes of ar
senal workers in Tokyo, are OF the
utmost Importance as they show for
the hrst time in the history of the
country a sharp demarkation of the
classes, with the workmen as
class lined up against the employers
as class. Spectacular as the
strikes have been, with the seizure
OF the plant by the Kawasaki dock;
yards employer and saber charges
by the police, the great Importance
in the recent demonstrations lies in
the fact that at least part Of the
workmen have finally gained a class
consciousness. Intrinsically they
are as yet comparatively unimpor.
tant, as the Industrial workers Of
Japan are still too few in number,
in proportion to the total popula-
ton of the empire, to be influential,
but the possibilities are consider
able.
Demsnds I'm New Forn.
| Attention has been very generally
called to the fact that in the present
strikes demands for higher wages
and shorter hours have been made
| subordinate to demands for recogni-
| tion of the rights of labor, of collec-
| tive bargaining, partial control of
plants by shop committees, greater
security for the workers. As a mat
tor of fact the workers are getting
| together an organization which
gives them a strength not possessed
by the employers, who still prefer
to deal each with his own problems
and resent offers of mediation from
government officials. and others.
What the worker wants first and
foremost is security. He feels that
during the present depression he
may at any time lose his job and be
helpless. 1t Is true that some en-
ployers are very considerate and
give large discharge allowances to
their men. Some such sums have
run into the thousands Of yen. and
a new word discharge narikin,'
narikin meaning newly rich, has
been coined to describe such much
cnvied individuals. On the other
hand, such cases seem rather to ag-
gravate the position of the work
man, who is made to shift for him.
self with a small allowance, or none
at all, and the laborers generally
clamor for some regular system in
this respect. While on their side
some laborers are making ridicu-
lous claims. which the employers
cannot possibly meet IL they are &c
cut down cost of production, and
thus survive In the strenuous COM
petition in which they now find
themselves in the world markets II
is evident that many of the com.
plants of the workmen might bt
satisfied II the employers dealt with
them in the spirit Of give and take
Enpioyers' Attitude Hostile.
The trouble today seem. to b,
largely in the fact that the EN-.
ployer insists on regarding himself
as too superior to discuss matter,
with his employees. The minister OF
war refused absolutely even to SEE
delegation Of arsenal workmer
VINO came very quietly and respect.
fully to the war office, and his at.
titude seems characteristic of man,
employers. For this reason public
sympathy Is very generally with the
laborers, and the press seems fairl,
unanimous In condemning the polio,
for having used saber and the de
pendence which has been placed OF
military forces.
The average employer feels tha
the plant belongs to him, that h,
alone has a right to say how &
should be run, that the workmer
may take his terms or leave them
and that he can rely on the polio,
and military IL the workmen try {,
interfere. Some employers, 1t Il
true. some years ago started a Cap
italist-Labor Harmony Society, will
a capital Of about lo.0oo,o0o yen, bu
those back of the movement wer,
men like Prince Tokugawa ant